Backcountry Adventures Southern California: The Ultimate Guide to the Backcountry for Anyone With a Sport Utility Vehicle (Paperback)

by Peter Massey (Author), Jeanne Wilson (Author) "If you plan to do off-highway touring, all of these considerations are important, whether you are evaluating the capabilities of your current 4WD or are..." (more)
Key Phrases: zero trip meter, trail commences, main graded road, Death Valley, South Coast, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"The wealth of information is second to none, and the presentation makes it a pleasure to read." -- 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility Magazine

"To borrow a line from a well-known company: Don't leave home without it." -- Truck Trend

"To say we'd strongly recommend this book is an understatement." -- AutoWeek

Product Description
Backcountry Adventures: Southern California provides 2,970 miles of routes that travel through the beautiful mountain regions of Big Sur, across the arid Mojave Desert, and straight into the heart of the aptly named Death Valley. In addition to the enormously detailed trail information, there are hundreds of photos of frontier towns, historic mining camps, old railroad routes, wildflowers, and native animals. Trail history comes alive through the accounts of Spanish missionaries who first settled the coastal regions; eager prospectors looking to cash in during California's gold rush; and legends of lost mines still hidden in the state's expansive backcountry.

The book appeals to virtually everyone who loves the outdoors: campers, anglers, hikers, mountain bikers, snowmobilers, amateur prospectors, sightseers, GPS owners, wildlife seekers, and more!

CONTAINS 153 TRAILS, 640 PAGES, 645 PHOTOS (85 historic black & white and 560 color), AND 159 FULL-COLOR MAPS!
SIZE: 8 1/2" x 10 7/8"

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Swagman Publishing (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930193041
• ISBN-13: 978-1930193048
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #649,634 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, January 27, 2003

By A Customer

The best book for beginners. Gives ratings and some pictures for all the trails, so you know what to expect. Probably not a whole lot for more advanced off-roaders, but then they probably won't be reading this book anyway. I recommend this book for anybody with an SUV who wants to use it off-highway. The only downside of this book is the detail maps of the trails. For some reason, they couldn't agree on which way to point North(usually north is up in all other maps) so sometimes you have to turn the book sideways to the right or left to get your bearings. Also, not much detail on the maps themselves, so sometimes you really dont' know where you are in relation to the surrounding area. But they give plenty of detail in the driving directions, so you almost don't need the map. Best book I've ever bought, anyone who likes to adventure outdoors should buy this. You don't even need an SUV on the easier trails.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The quintessential So Cal book for dirt road exploring., September 19, 2002

By	"hotrod4x5" (Riverside, Ca USA) - See all my reviews

First thing that hits you is the heft of this book. It is large and heavy, but that just tantalizes you of what lies beyond the cover. It is full of so much information about southern California's backcountry you could spend hours and hours reading. But this book is to be used as a guide for exploring. And guide you it does. The maps, descriptions and details are excellent for each trail. The history section is great and my family and I even used this book to identify plants from its full color photos on our last outing. For anyone wanting to explore dirt trails in So Cal, from mild ones not really needing 4 wheel drive to more difficult ones, this book is for you. Rock crawlers need not apply, but for the other 99% of us with 4x SUV's this book is perfect!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate guide to the backcountry, July 8, 2002

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The latest volume in Swagman Publishing's impressive "Backcountry Adventures" series, Peter Massey and Jeanne Wilson's Southern California truly lives up to its subtitle description as being the ultimate guide to the backcountry for anyone with a sport utility vehicle. Detailed information and directions are provided for over 2,970 miles of SUV trails throughout southern California's backcountry, along with relevant instruction on how to enjoy off road experiences with minimal environmental impact travel. Step-by-step route directions for 153 scenic drives (rated from easy to challenging), range from the mountain regions of Big Sur through the Mojave Desert, and Death Valley. Profusely illustrated with hundreds of photos of frontier towns, historic mining operations, old railroad routes, windflowers, and native animals, Southern California also offers engaging accounts of Spanish missionaries, eager prospectors, and more. An ideal trip planning resource, Southern California is also highly recommended for campers, anglers, hikers, mountain bikers, snowmobilers, wildlife enthusiasts, amateur prospectors, and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.