Customer Reviews

Camping and Backpacking San Francisco Bay Area

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I bought this book so that my boyfriend and I could do more camping and hiking closer to home instead of driving all the way to the mountains.

If you are interested in exploring the bay area this is a fine book to start with. It is easy to flip through and it is categorized by region and interest, like where to go to see waterfalls, and wildlife etc. There is also a handy little map for each site along with it's topography. There are sections for family oriented visits as well as more secluded areas to camp or hike in. The book gives details on camp fees but have not been able to confirm if all are up to date. At least it's a good starting point!

Any San Francisco hiker needs a copy of this one on their bookshelf. Great descriptions, from where to park to the hours of the campground pool, this book has it all.