Hiking Southern California: A Guide to Southern California's Greatest Hiking Adventures (Paperback)

by Ron Adkison (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Boasting a mild climate, incredible diversity, and thousands of miles of hiking trails, Southern California offers a gem for every hiker. Hiking Southern California is your ticket to rewarding adventures in the backcountry of the southern third of the Golden State, including Death Valley National Park, Mojave National Preserve, the San Gabriel Mountains, and Joshua Tree National Park. This handy guidebook features detailed descriptions of more than 50 classic hikes, with accurate and up-to-date trail maps and all the information you need for planning enjoyable outings year-round. This book describes short, leisurely strolls and demanding excursions of several days. The hikes follow routes varying from gentle, well-graded trails to rugged, cross-country scrambles, including old favorites known to many and obscure routes known only to a few. Surveying the most awe-inspiring scenery in the region, Hiking Southern California will satisfy both beginning and veteran hikers.


From the Back Cover
Lace up your boots and sample sixty of the best trails southern California has to offer. Experience the area’s most scenic high-mountain landscape from 11,499-foot San Gorgonio Mountain, explore the world’s largest Joshua tree woodland in Mojave National Preserve, and discover the fascinating geology of Natural Bridge Canyon in Death Valley National Park.
Southern California offers hikers diverse coastal, inland, and desert mountains; serpentine canyons, colorful badlands, and vast sand dunes; and cool conifer forests, isolated mesas, and dense cactus stands. Veteran hiker and outdoor writer Ron Adkison will introduce you to all this and more.
Inside you’ll find: up-to-date trail information; accurate maps and elevation profiles; difficulty ratings for each hike; advice on water availability and the best seasons for each trail; tips on equipment, trip planning, and hiking with dogs and children
Whether you are a day-tripper or long-distance hiker, old hand or novice, you’ll find trails suited to every ability and interest throughout southern California.


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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Falcon; 1st edition (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762711248
• ISBN-13: 978-0762711246
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #494,980 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Peak Lover's Guide to California Hiking, January 28, 2004

By	Fritz R. Ward "dayhiker" (Crestline, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Ron Adkinson has written numerous hiking guides for Falcon Press. One suspects his massive list of publications is really meant to subsidize his true passion: hiking. Not a bad way to live. This particular guide covers much of Southern California and hidden within its pages are some true gems.

Adkin's book is divided into four parts: Death Valley, the Mojave National Preserve, Southern California Mountains, and Joshua Tree National Park. In each area he includes a number of hikes that are classics: beautiful hikes mentioned in many guides and on which you are certain to encounter many people. But the book also contains numerous out of the way gems that you won't find elsewhere. In the mountains section, for example, he includes Pacific Crest Trail rambles along Sierra Pelona ridge and the Scodie Mountains, scenic areas you won't find described elsewhere. Indeed, people hoping to "get away from it all" will find ample opportunity to do so among the pages of this book.

Adkinson has a strong bias towards climbing peaks. You won't find a lot of nature walks in this guide, although he does include a sprinkling of short family hikes (the Cholla Cactus Gardens in Joshua Tree is my favorite). But if you like good views, this is the guide to get. The only reason this book receives 4 stars instead of 5 is for what it does not cover. It is simply unthinkable that a guide to Southern California hiking should exclude the whole of San Diego and Orange Counties. These areas have some beautiful country that deserves coverage in a volume of this scope. Unfortunately the recent (2003) fires destroyed many fine hiking areas (including most of Rancho Cuyamaca State Park) so it is all the more important that modern guides update what is available in this area.

Despite the lack of comprehensive coverage implied by the title this is an excellent book. Get it and enjoy.