Top Trails California Central Coast (Paperback)

~ Brian Milne (Author)
Key Phrases: tide pools, trail description, pelton wheel, Top Trails California Central Coast, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara County (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, California's Central Coast is a treasure of beaches, rolling foothills, poppy-dotted meadows, and countless lakes and streams. Stretching from northern Ventura to southern Monterey counties, this region offers a nearby destination for outdoor adventurers coming from both Northern and Southern California.

In this guidebook--one of the only books dedicated specifically to the unspoiled trails of the Central Coast--outdoor writer and lifelong Central Coast native Brian Milne has selected his favorite 46 trips for hiking, running, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Whether it's an easy stroll to the majestic pools of Salmon Creek Falls along the breathtaking Big Sur coastline, or an inland trek around the perimeter of Santa Margarita Lake in San Luis Obispo County, this book has a getaway for everyone.

• Trails range from a half mile to 18 miles, covering the mainland to the Channel Islands.
• At-a-glance information shows which trips have the best opportunities for fishing, bird-watching, camping, running, and other outdoor activities.
• Part of the award-winning Top Trails(tm) series, which feature elevation profiles, detailed maps, driving directions, and "don't get lost" trail milestones.

About the Author

A California native, Brian Milne is an avid outdoors writer who grew up hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and fishing in Central California. Milne earned his B.A. in Journalism at California Polytechnic State University and is an award-winning senior reporter for The Tribune newspaper in San Luis Obispo, Calif. He also contributes regularly to outdoors magazines and Web sites. His first guidebook, Fishing Central California, was published by No Nonsense Fly Fishing Guidebooks in 2007.

Product Details

• Paperback: 311 pages
• Publisher: Wilderness Press; 1 edition (June 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899974376
• ISBN-13: 978-0899974378
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 4.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #565,378 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There is a Coast between Santa Barbara and Big Sur, June 15, 2008

By	Fritz R. Ward "dayhiker" (Crestline, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

San Luis Obispo, Cambria, and the rest of the central coast is stunningly beautiful but it is not widely traveled. Yet in April and May this is probably the nicest part of the state for hiking. Finally, Brian Milne and Wilderness Press have realized this and published a guide to the region. Utilizing the very successful "Top Trails" format, this guide is both aesthetically pleasing and a useful compendium of some of the best trails in the region.

The "Top Trails" series provides detailed write ups, maps, lists of trail features, and sharp black and white photos. Milne divides the central coast into five portions, each of which receives a chapter. These include southern Monterey County, northern and southern San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara and northen Ventura county. Each chapter describes anywhere from 6 to 12 hikes, most of which are fairly easy and can be done by any reasonably fit person. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that over 1/4 of the hikes were under 2 miles and many more were in the 2-3 mile category. Hikers looking for longer workouts will also find a few trails here that meet their needs including an 18 mile trek along the shores of Santa Margarita lake, but this sort of trip is far more the exception than the rule.

I suspect I am not alone in confessing that California's Central Coast is one of the few parts of the golden state that I have not really explored. I've only hiked 12 of the 46 selections the author describes here, many in the last few months. But I am very impressed with the region and I want to return. All the trails I've hiked were winners and this guide will be my first resource on my next trip. When the subtitle says, "Must Do Hikes for Everyone" it means just that: everyone who discovers this treasure should do these trails. I strongly recommend this book and this region.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Hikes..Great Book, January 6, 2009

By	McHops "Wacky" (Central Coast of Ca) - See all my reviews

Love this book! Every hiker, whether beginner or expert should get this.
I definitely recommend it!