60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Baltimore: Including Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties [Paperback]

Evan L. Balkan (Author)

Book Description

Series: 60 Hikes within 60 Miles | Publication Date: April 10, 2006

Within an hour's drive of Maryland's largest city, an abundance of natural and scenic places remain. From hikes within the city, including a new 14-mile greenway running through the largest unbroken urban forest in the United States, to the solitude of rural Carroll and northwest Baltimore Counties, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Baltimore is a guide to great hikes in the area. Not only are the big state parks and reservoirs covered, but readers will also find hidden treasures throughout the city and six surrounding counties, from vigorous day hikes to pleasant strolls. Walk along beaches, rivers, rolling farmland, waterfalls, mixed forests, the Chesapeake Bay -- even a prairie; areas rich in history and wildlife await the Baltimore area hiker. This book tells readers how to get there and what to see once they are there.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"To help take the sweat out of finding a trail near you...buy one of the 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles guidebooks."
-- Newsweek (praise for the series)

About the Author

Evan L. Balkan teaches writing and literature at the Community College of Baltimore County in Maryland. His fiction and nonfiction, mostly in the areas of travel and outdoor recreation, have appeared in many publications throughout the United States, as well as Canada, England, and Australia. He lives in Baltimore with his wife Shelly and daughter Amelia.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press; 1st edition (April 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897326237
• ISBN-13: 978-0897326230
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,475,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #69 in Books > Travel > United States > States > Maryland

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible Hiking Book, February 24, 2008

By 

Eric L. Gorr "ericgorr" (Laurel, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Baltimore: Including Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties (Paperback)

First, I love the book 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Washington DC and would highly recommend it. Based on my experience with that book, written by a different author, I was looking forward to trying out the hikes in this one. After trying out a few of the hikes, I must say that I cannot be more disappointed. The writers instructions for the hikes left out many critical details. One of the hikes I picked at random, was #55 in Patapsco Valley State Park. This hike, like the others, left out critical details to complete the hike as described successfully. My friends and I ended up forging our own path because of the uselessness of what the author wrote. Furthermore, hike #55 has the hikers cross not just one, but two bridges which are unsafe for pedestrians to cross. The description of hike #55 even uses the, unfortunately, accurate phrase 'admittedly, it isn't very pleasant' to describe one part of the hike. It is my opinion that if one has to use a phrase like this, that one should rethink the hike entirely as hikes are supposed to be pleasant.

Please, save your money and avoid this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 60 Hikes within 60 miles:Baltimore, July 9, 2009

By 

S. Morris (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Baltimore: Including Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties (Paperback)

I have found this to be a nice guide. It details a variety of hikes within the city and outside of it. This includes directions, contactinformation, and GPS coordinates . It could stand some improvements. The directions for the Double Rock Park trail is unclear for the return, but then the trail is not well marked and it may also have to do with the copyright date. The map for Lake Roland trail is way off the mark. Part of that is due to copyright date, and the southern end is closed off, but 85 is shown on the wrong side of Falls Road. Get the guide but verify with the DNR or other resources to help you keep on track.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars both are right, October 9, 2007

By 

Richard Gorelick (Baltimore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Baltimore: Including Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties (Paperback)

I think both reviews above are correct. The book has absolutely inspired me to explore my own region. It's really changed my outlook and my health. However, there are times when the author's instructions are hard to grasp (especially when they seem to conflict with trail maps and signs -- and I think the map for the hike I took yesterday was just plain wrong.) I have already recommended (or bought) this book for several friends and all have been excited to know about it.