Customer Reviews

Day Hiker's Guide to Southern California

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John McKinney has assembled a great collection of day hikes in this excellent guide. Each (in typical hiking guide fashion) includes a well done map, background on the area the hike covers, directions to the trailhead, and a technical description of the hike itself. The key here is variety... from one mile to ten mile hikes, easy to strenuous, seashore to high mountains to desert. Coverage ranges from north of Santa Barbara south to San Diego, east to the San Bernardino Mtns., Palm Springs area and Mojave Desert (including Joshua Tree). No matter what your hiking preference, you'll find something to like in this book. Black and white photos (both historical and present day) are included for many of the hikes and the historical sections are fascinating.

If you're just getting into hiking, are not in excellent shape and have a little trepidation about venturing into the "wilderness," then I highly recommend this book. It has good descriptions of each trail and driving tips to the particulae trailhead. It also gives essential basic information about hiking gear, equipment and style that novices will need.

However, if you're an experienced hiker, this is not your book. Opt for the John Robinson guides, because the treks here are not strenuous. It's inconceivable that any guide purporting to be about Southern California omits the three greatest hikes of the region: Mount Baldy, San Gorgonio and San Jacinto. But again, this book is for beginners and it goes a good job for them. I just don't want someone looking for long, strenuous hikes being disappointed with this purpose. Happy hiking to all!

A very useful guide; would be better if he added information on which hiking trails permit dogs.