Touring California and Nevada Hot Springs, 2nd (Touring Hot Springs) [Paperback]

Matt C. Bischoff (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

For more than twenty-five years, FalconGuide® has set the standard for outdoor recreation guidebooks. Written by top outdoors experts and enthusiasts, each guide invites you to experience the endless adventure and rugged beauty of the great outdoors.
Whether you're seeking a soak in naturally heated mineral water or out for a sightseeing adventure, Touring California and Nevada Hot Springs guides you to more than 100 of the best sites for soaking in the beauty of the region. Historian and veteran outdoors author Matt Bischoff reveals his favorite "hot spots," from primitive pools in the backcountry to handcrafted bathhouses surrounded by civilization.
Look inside to find:

Firsthand descriptions of more than 100 locations
GPS-compatible shaded-relief maps and detailed directions
Historical background information on the springs and their surroundings
Tips on safety, access, and availability of services
Best time of year, restrictions, water temperature, camping info, and much more

About the Author

Matt Bischoff received his bachelor's degree in History and Geology at the University of California, Davis, and his master's degree in History and Historical Archaeology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He has worked for several private consulting firms in San Diego and in Tucson, Arizona. He currently works for California State Parks and lives in the foothills outside Sacramento, California, with his wife and son.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: FalconGuides; 2nd edition (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762736410
• ISBN-13: 978-0762736416
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #305,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Travel > Specialty Travel > Spas

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Helpful But Inadequate February 28, 2009

By H. S. Walters

We've used the guide extensively, with generally good results, so my hesitation between giving two or three stars eventually resolved in a more generous direction. Clearly, an admirable amount of work went into the guide; however, there are several frustrating deficiencies. First, it's maddeningly disorganized, with chapters arranged in a completely geographically-challenged manner. For example, no one would ever refer to Big Sur as the "Point Sur" region, and certainly Mono Hot Springs - incomprehensibly included in this section - is nowhere near either Big Sur or Point Sur. Saline Valley is similarly omitted from the Death Valley section and incomprehensibly placed elsewhere. The book is rife with problems of this sort. Second, descriptions of the springs, while generally adequate, vary erratically in detail and are more often than not prosaic. Finally, as other reviewers have pointed out, the book omits a great number of wonderful springs, at least in California. So it's a helpful guide - I'm grateful to have it - but is certainly not comprehensive.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll Never Get Lost! October 7, 2007

By Martin A Hogan HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Amazon Verified Purchase

Length: 0:52 Mins

Matt. C. Bischoff has clearly and concisely listed all the great hidden and publicly known hot springs in Nevada and California. It's a great regional hotsprings guide.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but could be better April 4, 2007

By Daniel T. Calvert

I found this book to be generally pretty useful. My only real issue is that there are quite a few hot spring gems that I'm aware of in CA and NV that aren't featured in this book. I did a recent tour of the Black Rock Desert area in Nevada and I passed several spectacular hot springs that weren't listed in the book. I have also backpacked in to some hot springs in the southern CA area that weren't described.

If you're looking at doing a hot spring tour in NV and CA it might be worth looking into getting some other guide books (in addition to this one) or doing more research online or elsewhere. Once again this book did do a great job of describing in great detail how to get to some very out of the way places, but there are other springs that are well worth exploring that aren't mentioned.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Guide To Hot Springs October 24, 2006

By John Beowulf

There have been many guides covering this subject in the past but this one is really the benchmark. Matt Bischoff includes interesting history, and geology notes for his subjects. I have visited a few of his springs listed in the book and found his descriptions to be complete and factual. His maps area really good too, as anyone who has searched for a hot spring just based on someone's verbal directions knows, they can be darn hard to find. Good job, Matt!

5.0 out of 5 stars can't wait to check out these places July 23, 2012

By future Mrs. B

Amazon Verified Purchase

Great book with pictures, great description and driving directions and in great condition. Can't wait to go and visit these places.

4.0 out of 5 stars has done well February 16, 2012

By dane a silchenstedt

Im not an expert and other reviewers seem to have a much stronger foundation to compare it to buuut for me....so far so good. I have had a great deal of success finding springs and have found descriptions to be fair.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great resource! October 30, 2011

By R. Ryan

Amazon Verified Purchase

This book will take you to the well known and well hidden hot waters in Cali. I have hit several, but have yet to venture to Nevada.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice book January 10, 2010

By Joan G. Zakrzewski

Amazon Verified Purchase

Used the book, but the hot springs were just to far away. Everything in California is far away. You have to have a lot of time to find these places. The book is good and the only one that really shows you where these hot springs are.