Customer Reviews

Hiking Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: 25 Day and Overnight Hikes (Regional Hiking Series)

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

 

 

Anza Borrego is the largest state park in California and, for that matter, in the lower 48 states. With over 600,000 acres it roughly the size of Sequoia National Park and during the early spring there are few nicer places to visit. Because of its size this park perfect for auto touring and off road vehicle use, but the park does boast well over 100 miles of developed trail and many other nice overland routes as well for those who prefer to hike. This latter group is the target audience for Bill and Polly Burke's latest guidebook.

This book features 25 (actually 26) hikes in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, arranged from southern to northern portions. One cannot complain about their selections. I personally have walked 16 of the routes they suggest and all are winners. Moonlight Canyon (in the moonlight), Kenyon Overlook (great vistas), Mountain Palm Springs (five tightly nestled palm oases in rugged canyons) and the Park's signature hike, Borrego Palm Canyon (where one can often see Desert Bighorn Sheep) are simply required walking for tourists visiting the park. Similarly, the routes up Alcoholic Pass and Ghost Mountain (home of poets Marshall and Tanya South) or a hike along the old Mormon battalion road (still visible in places after 150 years) will give hikers a good sense of local history. And Anza Borrego has some of the best developed nature trails all of which are discussed in this guide.

So why not 5 stars? First, this book is simply an outtake of a larger book, Hiking California's Desert State Parks. It's fine if Anza Borrego is going to be your only outdoor desert destination. Indeed, during the spring wildflower bloom it is hard to imagine wanting to go anywhere else. But on the outside chance that this book whets your appetite for more, you may want the larger volume to go explore Joshua Tree, Death Valley, and the Mojave National Preserve. Second, too many of the trails require a high clearance vehicle with 4 wheel drive. These are essentially all the hikes I have not done in this guide. If I were a slightly more dedicated desert rat, I guess I would shell out for such a vehicle, but for now I prefer fuel efficient compacts. Finally, I simply disagree with some of the writers choices. Indian Gorge is not signed and is a difficult route: Mountain Palm Springs is better without this diversion. The two hikes they describe on the PCT, while nice, do not account for all this national treasure of a trail has to offer in the park. The authors complain that too much of the PCT follows roads, but that is not entirely true. Indeed, I think the segment along the Sunrise Hwy, an area where it is close to the road, offers some of the most spectacular vistas in the park. Parts of San Felipe Hills and the hike around Granite Peak are also very nice.

Still, this is a fine guidebook and worth its price on any visit to Anza Borrego Park that is more than just a drive through. Those interested in shorter outings without difficult drives to the trailhead will find the authors' Best Easy Day Hikes Anza Borrego useful. If you want more on the history and geography of the region, and information on other recreational opportunies in the park, you might also want to consider The Anza Borrego Desert Region by Diana and Lowell Lindsay. But regardless, get out to this area and experience it for yourself. Anza Borrego is one of the few parks where most camping and hiking is still free, but given the nature of the California state budget, it is unlikely to remain so.

I took a trip to Anza Borrego from Los Angeles this March. I wanted a guide to review before I got there. This fit the bill. I was able to plan a couple of hikes suited for a family with small kids, and learned some things in the process.

Good, handy book. Small and light enough that you can take it with you. I suppose if you were really into hiking and such, it would be even more useful, but for my level and price range it was great.