Yosemite National Park: A Natural-History Guide to Yosemite and Its Trails [Paperback]

Jeffrey P. Schaffer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1992

In this recent edition of our classic bestseller, all trail descriptions have been updated. Schaffer also covers the practical aspects of hiking including regulations, permits, trailheads, campgrounds, and more. Comes with folded topo map.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 274 pages
• Publisher: Wilderness Pr; 3rd Bk&Map edition (June 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899971075
• ISBN-13: 978-0899971070
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,805,547 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is, by FAR, the best trail book on Yosemite Nat'l Park, January 19, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Redondo Beach, California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yosemite National Park: A Natural-History Guide to Yosemite and Its Trails (Paperback)

When reading any book describing trails, you look for how thorough and useful it is to the hiker. And this book is clearly, in my mind, the benchmark. And with just about ever trail in Yosemite decribed to this standard in this book, you need look no further for information regarding Yosemite's trails, flora, fauna, and grand rock formations, and even a little bit of history. If you're going to Yosemite, you MUST get this book first.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential book for Yosemite lovers!, April 4, 2000

By 

KC "KC" (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yosemite National Park: A Natural History Guide to Yosemite and Its Trails with Map (Paperback)

Whenever Jim and I are packing for our frequent trips to the world's best place (Yosemite of course! - we were married there) this book is the very first item that goes into my duffle bag! Jeffrey Schaffer describes 100 hikes through and around Yosemite National Park in vivid detail, with photographs and descriptions of the flora, fauna, and geology guaranteed to heighten your awareness of the awesome surroundings of Yosemite. Even if you don't hike, this is a great book to read. We always try to do at least one new hike out of the book each time we visit. Plus, a large geological map is included with the book - whadda deal! Don't miss it!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, essential guide for backpacking Yosemite, September 9, 2002

By 

hivequeen - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Yosemite National Park: A Natural History Guide to Yosemite and Its Trails with Map (Paperback)

I have to disagree with the two previous reviewers. First, as someone with no previous knowledge of the park, I did not have too much difficulty using this book. The excellent topo map that is included helps to locate the trails in the book (in contrast to Falcon Guides, which to my disappointment, don't include topo maps). There is also a very nice table at the beginning that summarizes the different trails (organized by location in the park) - trail length, difficulty rating, whether it is "exceptionally scenic", how likely you would see other people on the trail, whether there is water/swimming/fishing, and number of days to travel route - very useful for planning a backpacking trip!

Second, the details about the landmarks along the trail route proved to be useful for confirming whereabouts and distance travelled, especially when searching for potential campsite locations. I disagree with one of the reviewers about the detail - more is better than less, especially if you've lost the trail (which we did at one point - but thanks to the description of the flora and fauna, we knew that we were in the wrong place!). If you don't want to lug the book around, just photocopy the relevant pages and pack them in a ziploc.

I've used this book successfully and without any major problems for a 5-day backpacking trip in one of the lesser traveled loops of Tuolumne Meadows - which by the way was certainly "exceptionally scenic" and a must-see for anyone going to Yosemite. The only complaint that my husband and I have is that the estimated trail lengths might sometimes be inaccurate by a mile or so, because occasionally the numbers differed from those on the trail signs.