Customer Reviews

Great Hikes in the Poconos: and Northeast Pennsylvania

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

 

 

This is a good book, it gave me lots of ideas for hiking that I doubt I would've found otherwise. The hike descriptions are generally informative, giving you an idea of interesting features, terrian, elevation changes, ect. Also, a great idea is the use of GPS coordinates for locating trailheads- I found them very useful.

The only thing keeping this from a 5 star rating is the maps/directions once your on a hike. To be fair, I'm a recreational hiker at best, but using the directions and reference points given, it was easy for me to get off course and I often spent alot of time backtracking. I've had several disappointing hikes where I didn't get to see all of the features that I had wanted to.

I wish they would've went further with the GPS locating and listed coordinates for different features and waypoints along the hike to make it easier to stay on course. But, overall this is a good book for hiking NE Pennsylvania.

This is a decent book and it's fair to say worth the $20.00 even though I was able to withdraw it from the Library ;) ! I agree with the previous reviewer about the directions being vague while on the hike. I am an avid hiker and familiar with the area and even I had trouble. SEVERAL TIMES I WAS FRUSTRATED BY THEIR TRAIL GUIDES... The one about Shohola Lake comes to mind immediatley -- that was a long day LOL. The authors need to realize that the more info you can give the better -- there is never such a thing as too much info when you're trying to find trailheads and trails!
As far as directions to the trailheads (which really is the most important and hardest to get information for) I was satisfied with...They gave directions down to the last 10th of a mile! But I recommend purchasing a map of the region as well so you can cross reference the information. Please also note that this book has featured a limited number of hikes in the area, but definitely enought to get you started.... -- I was aware of most of them but it's fun to follow along with the authors as you make your journey...just don't use it as your hiking bible -- internet search for any and all info you can obtain about the hike that you're about to embark on. You'd be surprised about how much info you can find out there! localtrails.com

The authors bring to light some fine hikes, but their directions while on the trail can be ambiguous, bordering on the nonsensical. The trail guide writer's task is simple, but not easy: above all else, write with clarity. Bring an extra water bottle and be prepared to do some back tracking.

My best friend and I have used this book to go on several hikes in the Poconos. Overall, it is a good book and probably the best available on hiking the Poconos. The maps seem to be pretty accurate and the driving directions are ok. The major drawback, however, is the this book is extrememly outdated. If you are from out of the area, you will be confused while driving down the interstate to a hike, because the exits have all been renumbered since the book was published. However, as long as you keep a keen eye out for town names, the numbering problem isn't too bad. Also, some roads have been renamed, which will make getting to your hike frustrating at times. I suggest using Mapquest or Google maps ahead of time to get updated directions if possible, so that you don't end up lost looking for a road name that no longer exits.

As for the hike descriptions themselves, they could be a little more detailed. I ended up walking in the wrong direction on a trail that wasn't even part of the hike because the book told me to go around a gate and follow the trail. Since the book was published, the gate was removed and a different gate was put in elsewhere. Luckily, as I looked at the map while walking, I realized I was on the completely wrong side of the lake and was able to find my way to the trail I was supposed to be on. Had the book mentioned direction (north, west, etc) and a major landmark, I would have instantly known I wasn't supposed to go around that gate.

So it is a good book, but it could be better. Pay attention to your maps to make sure you're going in the right direction and perhaps bring a compass just in case.