Camping and Backpacking San Francisco Bay Area [Paperback]

Matt Heid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2003

The first and only guide to fully explore the Bay Area's campgrounds and backpacking trips, and to describe the best overnight excursions for locals and visitors alike. Every public campground in the North Bay, East Bay, South Bay, and Santa Cruz Mountains is included (more than two dozen unique destinations). For backpacking trips, over 30 backcountry trail camps and more than 200 miles of trail are featured. Matt Heid simplifies an overnight getaway with this comprehensive guide and includes: in-depth descriptions of campgrounds, driving directions, facilities, parking, regulations, and fees, as well as other indispensable tips for when it's best to go; where the serenity, beauty, and ecodiversity are greatest; and how to avoid crowds and make reservations

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...one of the Bay Area's most knowledgeable hikers." -- Sierra Club Yodeler

"...the first comprehensive camping guide focused on the Bay Area." -- Oakland Tribune

"For those wishing to experience the Bay Area's natural wonders, [Heid's] latest book will prove to be an indispensable guide." -- Hills Newspapers, The Montclairion

"Heid's book is well written, exceptionally organized and chock-full of helpful information...an excellent reference book." -- Fremont Bulletin

"The maps are exemplary....Some of the photographs, you might expect to find on gallery walls." -- Bodega Land Trust

"[Heid] has lots of ideas for quick camping escapes. He's no help at all with excuses to stay home." -- Marin Independent Journal

About the Author

Matt Heid holds a degree in Earth & Planetary Science from Harvard Universitry and has been hiking the trails of California for more than 20 years. His first book, 101 Hikes in Northern California, received Honorable Mention in the 2001 National Outdoor Book Awards.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Wilderness Press (September 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899972950
• ISBN-13: 978-0899972954
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best in Bay Area Recreation, July 5, 2004

By 

Fritz R. Ward "dayhiker" (Crestline, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Camping and Backpacking San Francisco Bay Area (Paperback)

I visit the San Francisco Bay Area several times a year and am always astounded by the amount of outdoor recreation that is literally at the doorstep of local residents. Yet most Bay area hiking seems to be of the "day-outing" variety. You can stroll through the redwoods at John Muir Woods National Monument, walk along the Golden Gate Bridge, or visit numerous regional parks for an afternoon picnic. But, as it happens, camping and backpacking opportunities also abound within just an hour or so drive of the metropolitan area. To learn about where you can do these activities, just pick up Heid's book.

This book has a number of virtues to recommend it. It is very well organized. Camping and backpacking are in separate portions of the book, and each section is further subdivided into three geographical regions: North Bay, East Bay, and Santa Cruz Mountains, making it easy to locate a camping or backpacking option. Additionally, the book has excellent topographical maps for the backpacking routes. Heid has carefully checked the mileage (trail signs tend to vary) and also provides detailed information on what to expect at the backcountry sites. Finally, Heid provides information on how to "give back" to the various organizations that protect open space in the Bay Area.

I will personally use this book mostly for camping. I like long day-hikes and most of the backpacking routes described in the book can also be hiked during the day. Heid's information on what to expect at the campground (and how far ahead to make reservations) are invaluable, as well as his discussions of area highlights nearby camps. This book was my most valuable purchase on a Memorial Day visit to Big Basin State Park. Everyone who loves California hiking and camping, particularly in the off season, should get it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well written, but contains some misinformation, July 14, 2008

By 

WoodRat (SF Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Camping and Backpacking San Francisco Bay Area (Paperback)

This book is well written and does a good job of covering SF Bay Area backpacking trails. However, while reading the sections on hikes I am intimately familiar with, I find some misinformation. For example, Camp Herbert on the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail has been closed for well over a decade, but sadly, it is discussed as if it were still open for trail camping. So be sure to make some phone calls and check out the facts before you commit to a backpacking trip from this book; it could save you much frustration. This is still a good addition to any hiking library, unfortunately, you'll need to double check it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not your average "Hike in the Bay Area" book, January 16, 2008

By 

Rich Johnson (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Camping and Backpacking San Francisco Bay Area (Paperback)

I bought this book after flipping through it at REI, and I thought it had hiking routes in it. But the hiking routes were actually backpacking trips, with routes to campsites. This was not a disappointment as I was actually looking for a book with more detailed information on overnight trips vs general day hikes.

This book is broken into two parts: camping and backpacking. The camping trips are generally areas that you can drive to and park, where as the backpacking trips require you to hike to your destination. Each half is divided into 3 sections, covering the North Bay, East Bay, and Santa Cruz Mountains. Furthermore, the table of contents has a second organization method, grouping the trips by theme. Some of the themes are waterfalls, wildlife, lakes, and dog friendly campgrounds. This is a great tool if you're in the mood for something specific on your trip.

The part where this book shines is the information included on each park. Take a look at the excerpt provided by Amazon and you will see the type of information given. One of the most useful pieces of data that would be difficult to find on the parks websites would be when the best time to go is. Crowds can put a damper on a peaceful walk in the woods. My favorite though is at the end of each trip's listing, where the author tells you who to contact if you would like to contribute back to the park.

One downside of the book is the limited number of trips. There are only about 25 each of backpacking and camping trips. But if you went on an overnight trip every two weeks this would still be enough trips to last you two years, so that's not too bad.

If you simply want to take day hiking trips then another book might suit you better than this one. But if you would like to go overnight camping in the Bay Area, either at a campground site or in a remote backpacking camp, this book is an excellent place to start. The information provided is well worth the cost of the book.