Jeffrey Schaffer has selected 46 “must-do” Yosemite hikes. Whether you’re looking for a scenic stroll, a full-day adventure, or even a spectacular backpacking trip, you’ll find it here. And with at-a-glance information for each hike, visitors can determine which hikes are most suitable to their skills, schedules, and preferences. Books in the affordable and easy-to-use Top Trails series feature elevation profiles, detailed maps, driving directions, and “don’t get lost” trail milestones. Innovative trail-feature charts give information on which trails are child-friendly; which allow horses; where to see giant sequoias, waterfalls, lakes, wildflowers, and autumn colors; which trips have the best photo opportunities; and which have camping, running, or biking opportunities.
Top Trails
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"...this hiker's companion is an important addition to any travel library." -- Coast Views Magazine, May 2007
"If you'd like to experience backcountry wonders that can't be seen from car windows, check [this book] out..." -- Fresno Bee, May 5, 2007
"[Schaffer's] love for Yosemite National Park and its backcountry charms comes through, backed by a good-natured authority." -- Sacramento Bee, February 7, 2008
"If you'd like to experience backcountry wonders that can't be seen from car windows, check [this book] out..." -- Fresno Bee, May 5, 2007
"[Schaffer's] love for Yosemite National Park and its backcountry charms comes through, backed by a good-natured authority." -- Sacramento Bee, February 7, 2008
From the Author
Jeffrey P. Schaffer made his first backpacking trip in a 1962 traverse of the Grand Canyon, at age 19. The following year the climbing frenzy seized him, which lasted until about 1972, some 200 roped ascents later. In that year he began working on his first book for Wilderness Press, The Pacific Crest Trail. Between then and the late 1980s, he was the sole or principal author of 12 guidebooks, and had mapped about 4000 miles of trail for his books and 15' topographic maps. Wilderness Press books authored or coauthored by Jeff include Hiker's Guide to the High Sierra: Yosemite, The Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California, The Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California, The Pacific Crest Trail, Vol. 2: Oregon and Washington, Yosemite National Park, Desolation Wilderness and the South Lake Tahoe Basin, The Tahoe Sierra, and The Geomorphic Evolution of the Yosemite Valley and Sierra Nevada Landscape.
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50 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Wilderness Press originally conceived of the 'Top Trails' series as a set of hiking guides to the best trails in an area. This purpose sets these volumes apart from typical hiking guides which tend to fall into two categories: comprehensive guides to all trails in a region, or descriptions of short day hiking opportunities in an area. The idea was to give visitors to a region quick access to the best hiking and to facilitate ease of use. Perhaps no area of California needs a 'Top Trails' guide as much as Yosemite and very few authors are as qualified to write one as Jeffrey Schaffer.
This book is divided into seven chapters: one for each region of the park. Each chapter lists 5 to 8 hikes ranging in distance from the 1/2 mile walk at Bridalveil Falls to a 33 mile excursion among the High Sierra Camps. Obviously, some of these trails are more suitable for backpacking, a feature that distinguishes this book from others in the 'Top Trails' series. All the great hikes are included. Readers will find route descriptions for Half Dome, the Tuolomne Grove of Sequoias (my favorite grove in the park), Clouds Rest, Hetch Hetchy Resevoir, Glacier Point, and many more. In all, there are 45 trails and routes described here.
What makes this book so good are the standard features found in other 'Top Trails' guides and the expert commentary of Schaffer. Each chapter begins with an overview of the region, a trails summary page listing distance, difficulty, and some highlights of the trails, followed by detailed trail descriptions and carefully drawn maps. Schaffer is one of the top cartographers in the west and his maps are second to none. But in addition to these standard features, Schaffer also offers an extended commentary on the geology, geography, and plant and animal communities found in the park. His theory that Yosemite Valley's rock walls were formed by faulting and vertical fracture planes, not solely by glaciers, is explained in these pages, along with the evidence for it, so that non-specialists can easily understand what they observe as they hike. This sort of expert commentary adds immeasurably to the joy of hiking. That is why I strongly recommend this book by Schaffer. It can enhance any vacation to Yosemite.
This book is divided into seven chapters: one for each region of the park. Each chapter lists 5 to 8 hikes ranging in distance from the 1/2 mile walk at Bridalveil Falls to a 33 mile excursion among the High Sierra Camps. Obviously, some of these trails are more suitable for backpacking, a feature that distinguishes this book from others in the 'Top Trails' series. All the great hikes are included. Readers will find route descriptions for Half Dome, the Tuolomne Grove of Sequoias (my favorite grove in the park), Clouds Rest, Hetch Hetchy Resevoir, Glacier Point, and many more. In all, there are 45 trails and routes described here.
What makes this book so good are the standard features found in other 'Top Trails' guides and the expert commentary of Schaffer. Each chapter begins with an overview of the region, a trails summary page listing distance, difficulty, and some highlights of the trails, followed by detailed trail descriptions and carefully drawn maps. Schaffer is one of the top cartographers in the west and his maps are second to none. But in addition to these standard features, Schaffer also offers an extended commentary on the geology, geography, and plant and animal communities found in the park. His theory that Yosemite Valley's rock walls were formed by faulting and vertical fracture planes, not solely by glaciers, is explained in these pages, along with the evidence for it, so that non-specialists can easily understand what they observe as they hike. This sort of expert commentary adds immeasurably to the joy of hiking. That is why I strongly recommend this book by Schaffer. It can enhance any vacation to Yosemite.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Sierra nomad
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Mr. Schaffer has authored many hiking books, and also a very comprehensive book on Yosemite Geology. This is at least his second on hiking in Yosemite, and is my favorite. His is the voice of authority. I have read many books on Yosemite, because of having authored a DVD Hiking Guide to Yosemite (Yosemite National Park (Jon's Hiking Guides)). Mr. Schaffer's books have influenced the DVD more than any others.
Up until the release of this book, my favorite Yosemite hiking book was "A Natural History Guide to Yosemite and its Trails" also written by Mr. Schaffer. The potential drawback with "Natural History Guide", though, is that it covers (literally, I believe) EVERY Yosemite trail. All this information could be more than a little overwhelming to a Yosemite "newbie" trying to find the best trails.
The answer is this book. Every one of the trails in this book is "World Class". They are all excellent choices. And they run the gamut from easy to very strenuous. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed.
Up until the release of this book, my favorite Yosemite hiking book was "A Natural History Guide to Yosemite and its Trails" also written by Mr. Schaffer. The potential drawback with "Natural History Guide", though, is that it covers (literally, I believe) EVERY Yosemite trail. All this information could be more than a little overwhelming to a Yosemite "newbie" trying to find the best trails.
The answer is this book. Every one of the trails in this book is "World Class". They are all excellent choices. And they run the gamut from easy to very strenuous. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is by far THE best hiking guide if you plan on doing day hikes or extended hikes at Yosemite. I planned a trip from Chicago to Yosemite for 14 months and ready every book out there in advance to my trip and this one is by far the best. 1) The trail descriptions are incredibly accurate 2) It includes an incredibly detailed map of every hike. There were a few times we got a bit crossed up out there and having this book and a compass was all I needed. 3) The way this book approaches/describing elevation gain for hikes is different than any other book. For example...Hikes at Yosemite may climb 800 feet then dip 800 feet then climb 800 feet, truly netting you only 800 feet in elevation gain in total...which is what all other books will state. That's deceiving because in the scenario i described, you're actually climbing 800 feet TWICE. This is significant when planning and understanding hike difficulty. The book also includes a visual of the elevation ups and downs as well!! Awesome!!! 4) Hike difficulty ratings: You'll have to hike a trail first and compare your personal impression with how the book rated it. (i.e. I thought it was STRENUOUS but the book rated it MODERATE. Keeping that in mind, the ratings are VERY CONSISTENT across all hikes in the book itself. Just don't compare a MODERATE hike from the "Top Trails Yellowstone Book" to a MODERATE hike from the "Top Trails Yosemite Book". They won't compare. Different park, different hikes, different author rated them. Both are consistent tho. Don't leave your campsite without this book in your pack. It's was my bible for 10 days! I can't wait to go back!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Hiking Guide
I have been to Yosemite many times as a kid and had done the same 5ish hikes for years. I wanted to find some know hikes that I could do with my husband starting from Yosemite... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stephanie Alberty
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book if you are planning a hiking vacation
Very comprehensive guide for hiking in Yosemite area. A lot of good info about all of the trails and some helpful charts to help you narrow down the hikes by difficulty, views,... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Diana Bertram
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Book
If your looking for hiking routes in Yosemite, this is the book for you. It has alot of hikes listed and much more information.
Published 3 months ago by Teena Fithian
5.0 out of 5 stars
SUPERB Giude for Superb Hikes
Yosemite has so much to offer, and many guides (e.g. from AAA, Fodors, etc.) provide suggestions for driving through the park and taking short hikes. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Thomas J. Berna
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for Yosemite trails
This book was really nice for deciding which trails to hike in Yosemite, and provided good info and trail maps
Published 9 months ago by Jonathan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent source
Getting ready for my first visit to Yosemite, this has been a great source of information and is very well-organized. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Veronica S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great manual
Nothing lacking, and a perfect size. We got this manual for planning hikes--the detail is just what we needed and the commentary is great.
Published 11 months ago by Jesse B. Rothschild
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a fantastic guide for backpackers
This guide is very well-done. I'm really tired of hiking guides full of non-ambitious strolls. I'm looking for multiday backcountry trips that present serious challenges, and this... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Renevas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Resource for Yosemite Hiking
We thought this was a GREAT book and a great resoruce for our week of hiking in Yosemite. It took awhile to get used to the book's organization but once I did I was able to use it... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Victoria L. May
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Everything that could be said about this excellant publication has been said in the previous comments/reviews and I can only concur. Read more
Published on December 4, 2010 by W. W. Researcher
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