Top Trails Sacramento: Exploring Valley, Foothills, and Mountains in the Sacramento Region (The Top Trails) (Paperback)

by Steven L. Evans (Author)
Key Phrases: historic interest, vault toilets, ponderosa way, Sierra Nevada, Top Trails Sacramento, The Great Valley (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Near Sacramento, numerous trails access the Central Valley's wildlife-filled wetlands and traverse riverside forests and grasslands. In the Coast Range and Sierra foothills, trails lead to scenic waterfalls, wildflower-studded meadows, and high mountain lakes. Longtime Sacramento resident and intrepid hiker Steve Evans has selected the 43 "must-do" hikes in Top Trails Sacramento, the only guidebook specifically targeting the region's outdoor enthusiasts. Most trips are within two hours of the city. Whether you're looking for a scenic stroll, a full-day adventure, or even a spectacular alpine peak-bagging trip, you'll find it here.

• Trails ranging from 1 to 10 miles and sea level to 9000 feet.
• Elevation profiles, detailed maps, driving directions, and "don't get lost" trail milestones.
• At-a-glance information shows which trips have the best opportunities for camping, running, biking, and which are child-friendly.

About the Author
Steve Evans was born and raised in the Mojave Desert near the typically dry Mojave River. So when he moved up to Northern California in the 1970s to go to college, he discovered that most rivers actually had water and fish in them. He began exploring the wild places of the Sierra Nevada and when he discovered that many of them were threatened by logging and other development, he became a full time environmental activist as well as a hike leader for the Sierra Club. Steve's environmental activism has always been motivated by the need to protect the wild places that have so generously provided him many outstanding outdoor experiences. Steve has been hiking and backpacking Northern California trails and running its rivers for more than 30 years. As a resident of the Sacramento region for the last 20 years, he is familiar the many trails in the valley, foothills, and mountains beloved by Sacramentans. It took Steve three years to hike the more than 235 miles of trails in Top Trails Sacramento, while continuing to work full time for Friends of the River (California's statewide river conservation organization). It's no coincidence that many of the trails lead to or follow some of the most scenic rivers and streams in the region. Top Trails Sacramento is Steve's first book for Wilderness Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 361 pages
• Publisher: Wilderness Press; 1 edition (November 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899973817
• ISBN-13: 978-0899973814
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #232,548 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great guide that inspires you to get outside!, November 28, 2007

By	riverlady "riverlady" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

A lot of people think of Sacramento as a place that is "close" to everything -- the Bay Area, skiing, the Sierra -- but nothing to write home about. This book shows that Sacramento is a place in its own right for outdoor lovers. It has easy hikes for families and challenging ones for people who aren't shy about a little elevation gain. There are some Sierra gems -- after all, Sacramento is too close to the Sierra NOT to include some spots. But the book's great asset is in showing people what's close to home: where to go on the American River trail (on foot or bike), the Gold Country and in the flatlands.

The author is an engaging writer and his descriptions are lovely enough to make you feel like you've gotten a little exposure if you don't get beyond armchair exploration. There's also essential stuff, such as whether DOGS are allowed (yay!), and where to find waterfalls.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something for everyone, January 19, 2008

By	madmont (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews

After 20 years of hiking Bay Area trails, I recently moved to Sacramento. It took me years to find favorite trails after I moved to Oakland, but thanks to this book, I've got new favorite local trails in Sacramento already. The best part about this guide is that it offers something for every outdoorsperson, and goes beyond the usual hiking guide fare of whole day slogs to mountaintops. Don't get me wrong, those slogs are great for some days, and they're in here, too. But sometimes I've only got half a day, or want to spend time on the trail with my less active, less outdoorsy friends. This book has some cool, really local urban hikes for those times. The author also does a great job of providing historical information to make the hike more interesting, and makes recommendations about dog and child friendly spots. Something for everyone!

Top Trails Sacramento has been instrumental in helping me acclimate to my new home. I highly recommend it to both the avid hiker and anyone who is interested in exploring and learning more about the Sacramento region.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Trails is Top Notch, January 27, 2008

By	Betsy R. (Sacramento, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

I've used many hiking books over the years, but Steve Evans' Top Trails Sacramento is by far the most user friendly. The book gives you good directions to each trailhead and a realisitic assessment of difficulty. Best of all, you feel like you have the author along with you, pointing out interesting tidbits and things to watch for along the way. The maps and trail directions are also easy to follow.