Day Hikes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks [Paperback]

Robert Stone (Author)

Book Description

Series: Day Hikes | Publication Date: April 1, 2001

Day Hikes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is a clear, concise guide to 61 of the most rewarding day hikes in these two incredible parks. (The parks are adjacent without a noticeable boundary between them.) These hikes will introduce you to the giant sequoias, the world's largest living organisms, and some of the most impressive canyons, rock formations, and panoramic overlooks found anywhere. Highlights include valleys with towering canyon walls and granite monoliths, verdant alpine meadows fringed with giant sequoias, cascading creeks and waterfalls, and phenomenal views. Hikes range from easy to moderately strenuous, accommodating every level of experience. Each hike includes a summary of its highlights, a map, and clear driving and hiking directions.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Day Hikes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is a clear, concise guide to the best day hikes in these two adjacent national parks. These 61 day hikes will introduce you to the world's largest trees and some of the most impressive canyons, rock formations and panoramic overlooks found anywhere. Hikes range from easy to challenging, accommodating every level of experience. (5 1/2 x 8 1/2, 144 pages, maps)

About the Author

Robert Stone grew up hiking and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California. As a boy he learned and practiced the basics of wilderness survival and low impact camping. Robert has lived in the Rocky Mountains of Montana since the late 1970s. When he is not traveling, he continues to horsepack and hike extensively throughout Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and the Beartooth Mountains. His love of travel and deep interest in the outdoors led Robert to work on hiking guides year-round as a writer, photographer, and publisher. He has hiked every trail in every Day Hikes book.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Day Hike Books, Inc.; 1st edition (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573420301
• ISBN-13: 978-1573420303
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,101,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For more than a decade, veteran hiker Robert Stone has been writer, photographer, and publisher of Day Hike Books. Robert resides summers in the Rocky Mountains of Montana and winters on the California Central Coast. This year-round temperate climate enables him to hike over 200 trails throughout the year. When not hiking, Robert is researching, writing, and mapping the hikes before returning to the trails. Robert has hiked every trail in the Day Hike Book series. With 20 hiking guides in the series, he has hiked over 1,000 trails throughout the western United States and Hawaii.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For beginners only, but still good, September 26, 2003

By 

Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Day Hikes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (Paperback)

Many people who routinely hike in Yosemite inexplicably ignore her lesser known sister park to the South: majestic Sequoia. I have hiked in both parks for 15 years and Sequoia is an outstanding National Park, particularly for serious hikers seeking a challenge. Yosemite's Half Dome remains one of the most beautiful and "must do" hikes in California, but Alta Peak in Sequoia is comparable and its beauty is sheer majesty. You can get greater elevations in Sequoia and the alpine terrain, especially in the early summer, will remind you of Switzerland.

This Guidebook is exceptionally useful and small enough to carry with you in your pack as you hike. The maps are detailed, as are the driving directions to each trailhead. The descriptions of each hike are concise, yet sufficiently detailed to give you the feel of each hike before you attempt it. There is little superfluous information, which is a frequent complaint of other hiking books.

If you have never visited or hiked in Sequoia, you're in for the unexpected treat of a lifetime. The park is incomparably lovely and the hiking is among the best in the Western states. This guidebook will help you discover the wonders of this underrated National Park. One caveat: this book only deals with short hikes, suitable for people with a family. Don't expect anything over 5-6 miles.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for day hike planning but needs to be updated, June 26, 2006

By 

Dean Baird (Sacramento, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Day Hikes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (Paperback)

I just got back from a week in Sequoia/Kings Canyon.

I'm a fan of FalconGuides. The problem with FalconGuides is that they try to be everything to everyone. They include many more hikes, but several of them are "shuttle hikes," which require traveling with non-hikers or using multiple cars. If you're a fan of the shuttle hike, stay with Falcon. Then again, I doubt we will ever see the publication of a trail guide devoted to shuttle hikes. "Great Shuttle Hikes of the Rocky Mountains"? Don't look for it on Amazon!

Anyway, author Stone sticks to hikes that can be done by day hikers. No 45-mile, 9-day pack trips. Again, if that's what you're hoping for, Falcon is your guide. But if you're looking for a nice walk in the wilderness, Stone's got that covered. And there are a number of 6-mile or longer hikes. I hiked to Mist Falls (9 miles round trip).

That said, this volume is in serious need of an update. The General Sherman Tree area has been completely redesigned and now requires a significant walk. The Congress Trail is also farther from easy access than it once was. And the Kings Canyon entrance station has been moved away from a "dangerous tree" into the Big Stump parking lot. So for now, there's no parking for the Big Stump, Hitchcock Meadows, Viola Falls trails. Stone might also consider a description of the trail to Crystal Caves.

This is the book I took on the trail. (The FalconGuide was used, but it stayed at the lodge.)