Customer Reviews

Hiking Nevada, 2nd: A Guide to Nevada's Greatest Hiking Adventures (State Hiking Guides Series)

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

 

 

Bruce Grubbs is the author of a very good hiking guide to Great Basin National Park, so one might expect that his guide to hiking the whole state of Nevada would also be a gem. And indeed, this book does list some nice hikes throughout the state ranging from short day hikes to multi-day backpack trips. Directions to trailheads, route descriptions, hypsometric maps (where appropriate) and such useful information as "canine compatibility" (ie. where you can walk with your dog) are all more than adequate. In addition, the second edition features a little more than a dozen new hikes in the Silver State.

Nonetheless, I cannot give this book more than 3 stars, and this despite the fact that it has very few competitors in the market. In the first instance, I don't really like the format which, like the first edition, is more a work of compilation than a work of authorship. In many cases, Grubbs simply prints comments from brochures (or other sources) by Nevada Parks, the Forest Service, or the Bureau of Land Management. I prefer authors write their own trail descriptions. It helps assure me that they have personally hiked (and rechecked) the trails. Beyond that, I still wonder about some of his trail selections. Red Rock Canyon, outside Las Vegas, gets a lot of (well deserved) attention, but Mt. Charleston Recreation Area has only 1 trail listed. Insofar as this recreation area offers some of the premier hiking in the southern portion of Nevada, I'm curious why a guide to the state would mention so little in this region. On the other hand, some of the "trails" listed, especially in northern Nevada, have long dirt roads for access and offer little in the way of such amenities as trail tread. After reading this book, I certainly don't feel much desire to go explore the area around Winnemucca and Denio.

So in the final analysis, I think this book could offer more in terms of really scenic hikes and drop some of the long desert washes. Still, you can find some neat little out of the way trails with it. Last winter, my wife and I explored the Grimes Point Archeological Area, a short leg stretcher just off our route from California to Boise, Idaho and really enjoyed the place. We would never have found it without this guide, so until something better comes along, this is the book to get for Nevada outdoor recreation.

Well I would say this is a basic overview of Nevada... Not really super detailed to any one particular area, but a good general description of some key hikes in the great state of nevada. If you buy enjoy it....

delivery was slower than usual, but the book is easy to use and will come in handy