Customer Reviews

Rails-to-Trails California (Rails-to-Trails Series)

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This book is a guide of abandoned rail lines that are now in use as trails for hiking, mountain biking, or just plain walking. Covering all of California, the trails rang in difficulty from short, smooth trails within city limits suitable for a short walk or bike ride, all the way to long distance mountain trails, for hiking and mountain biking. Great photots, and the maps and directions are very detailed. If your a hiker or mountain biker in California, or planning to take a trip here, I would recommend this guidebook.

Founded in 1986, the Rails to Trails conservancy has been busy establishing recreational parkways on the sites of old railroad lines and incidentally preserving some wonderful historical buildings from the railroad era. This book by Tracy Salcedo-Chourre describes the whole rail to trail system in California as of 2000. Although these trails are officially designated multi-use trails, many of them cater predominantly to bikers and joggers. Some true gems are included in this guide, most notably the Bizz Johnson Trail, the Sir Francis Drake Bike Path, and the Mt. Lowe Railway Trail. These trails should be experienced by everyone.

That said, this book definitely needs a new edition. The conservancy is constantly adding new trails and lengthening old ones. At the time this book came out, there were very few of these trails on the central coast. Hopefully more have appeared since. So if you are interested in pleasant, relatively level walks and bike rides, by all means get this book. And keep a sharp eye out for new editions.

This book is a guide of abandoned rail lines that are now in use as trails for hiking, mountain biking, or just plain walking. Covering all of California, the trails rang in difficulty from short, smooth trails within city limits suitable for a short walk or bike ride, all the way to long distance mountain trails, for hiking and mountain biking. Great photots, and the maps and directions are very detailed. If your a hiker or mountain biker in California, or planning to take a trip here, I would recommend this guidebook.