Top Trails: Yosemite: Must-Do Hikes for Everyone [Paperback]

Jeffrey P. Schaffer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Top Trails | Publication Date: March 12, 2007

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...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

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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Product Details

• Paperback: 386 pages
• Publisher: Wilderness Press; 1 edition (March 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899974252
• ISBN-13: 978-0899974255
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,075 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Travel > United States > States > California
  • #21 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Hiking & Camping > Excursion Guides
  • #42 in Books > Travel > United States > Regions > West

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Addition to the Top Trails Series, April 5, 2007

By 

Fritz R. Ward "dayhiker" (Crestline, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Top Trails: Yosemite: Must-Do Hikes for Everyone (Paperback)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide, September 16, 2008

By 

Scott Davis "ScottInHawaii" (Honolulu, HI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Top Trails: Yosemite: Must-Do Hikes for Everyone (Paperback)

This is a great guide to the most popular hikes in Yosemite. His previous book that I love is Yosemite National Park, A Natural History Guide to Yosemite and It's Trails. This book has less about the flora and fuana, but adds much needed trail maps and elevation diagrams. You won't find anyone that knows Yosemite better than Mr. Schaffer.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Best of the Best", December 2, 2008

By 

Sierra nomad "YosemiteTrailsDVD-com" (California) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Top Trails: Yosemite: Must-Do Hikes for Everyone (Paperback)

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.