Customer Reviews

Foghorn Outdoors California Waterfalls: More Than 200 Falls You Can Reach by Foot, Car, or Bike

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Just last weekend I went to Monrovia Canyon Falls. Record rainfall this year (2005) has put an end to a multiyear drought and the streams are flowing nicely. The falls in Monrovia Canyon were stunning, and I found myself simply sitting beside them enjoying their wonderful music. This for me is the ultimate in hiking. If you feel the same way, be sure to pick up the new edition of California Waterfalls.

The author, Ann Marie Brown, is arguably the best outdoor writer in California. I have gradually adopted her philosophy that dayhikers enjoy "more smiles per mile" than backpackers as my own. Her approach is always to provide the maximum scenic return for any hike she includes in one of her many guides. And, while there are several outdoor writers producing "peak guides" she is the only one with a waterfall guide. It is a joy to read and even more fun to hike. The main change in the new edition is that hikes are organized now by the same geographic scheme used in California Hiking, a book Brown co-authors with Tom Stienstra. Photos are somewhat sharper as well. I've personally hiked to about 30 of the more than 200 waterfalls she describes and have never been disappointed. You won't be either.

Although this book is in lackluster black and white and not all chapters have waterfall photos, Brown's descriptions have spunk and her maps are adequate enough to get oriented (though you'll still want to supplement them with Topo! maps).

Even when we're not out in the field, I sometimes catch myself reading chapters in this book spontaneously because of how entertaining and well-written the text is. Indeed, it's easy to lose yourself and envision yourself on the trail through Brown's words eye descriptions.

My wife and I have used this book since 2000 or 2001 visiting about a third of the waterfalls listed within. And we still consult it to visit the state's waterfalls to this day.

We also own other California Waterfall books, and I'd have to say Brown's book is by far the most thorough, useful, and professionally done.

I rarely buy book. I read most of informational book online or through community forum whenever I want to go anywhere. However, when I saw this book in the bookstore. I grabbed and read a few chapters. I got hook instantly and ended up buying it right away. I've never known there are so many waterfall so close to home until reading this book. The directions are clear. Photos are nice, but I just wish they're in color. The rating system and distance are really helpful for planning my trip. I've never written any product review. This is my first because I love this book so much.

My husband and I have been using this book for a few years and it's wonderful. We live in San Diego County and have done 4 of the hikes in the San Diego chapter. We had trouble finding Barker Valley Falls and Los Penasquitos Falls. We were able to find Cedar Creek Falls (in early 2008), Three Sisters Falls (in early 2007), Cottonwood Creek Falls (in late 2005), Kitchen Creek Falls (in early 2007). The area around Cedar Creek Falls was burned in the Southern California wildfires of 2007 but the waterfall was still very impressive. We drive a Toyota Prius and it was a little nerveracking driving the dirt road to the Cedar Creek Falls trail head but we made it ok.

My spouse & I have owned the Moon California Hiking (Moon Handbooks) book for years and love it. We decided to branch out into a Waterfall specific book, and choose this knowing Ann Marie's general style.

We've used it for close to 10 hikes so far, and have been very happy with the quality of the hikes themselves. She's accurate, IMO, on the beauty and difficulty of a hike.

Unfortunately, she is very NOT accurate in regards to distances to places and elevation ups & downs. When you're going to an unsigned road (Whitney Falls, p 46), it's helpful to have the exact mileage; not have her mileage be off by 2-3 miles. Not that the elevation gain was difficult, but Mossbrae Falls (p 56) is not 0 elevation gain. It's minor, but a very definite grade on the tracks you're following. And these are just some of the examples we've found.

All in all, I recommend the book. However, if the exact distance matters - like when you're trying to find an unsigned road - check other sources first. Don't just rely on her.

What a wonderful book! Each trail is carefully researched to lead you to an exquisite waterfall. What a treat! You can tell the care that this author takes in researching her material, in hiking each trail, in ensuring that you, too, discover the wonder of waterfalls.

A great gift! Or buy one for yourself.