Book Description
This comprehensive guide features detailed descriptions all of the park's developed trails, which number fifteen hikes on the South Rim and thirteen hikes on the North Rim.
Customer Reviews:
The Best Grand Canyon Trail Book That I've Found.......2007-07-29
I'm planning a backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon. I've looked at several guidebooks and I've bought bought this book as well as Hiking Grand Canyon National Park, 2nd (Regional Hiking Series) by John Annerino, and Hiking the Grand Canyon's Geology (Hiking Geology) (HTGCG) by Lon Abbott and Teri Cook.
I liked the straightforward and informative approach that Ron Adkinson takes in this book. The Grand Canyon is a big place with a lot of alternatives for trips. I was able figure out which trails I want to take using this book.
I especially like the capsule summary of each route that have clear ratings for the difficulty, water availability, average hiking times, suggested cache points, and distance.
Compared to this book, I found the HTGCG by Lon Abbott and Teri Cook nearly as good but the focus on the geology in HTGCG makes it harder to pull out the hiking information. Though, once your route is chosen, HTGCG, helps you understand what you see.
very good book.......2007-03-03
I reviewed several other hiking books on the Grand Canyon and read the trail guides for my selected and reserved trail. This book was the best written and most complete. I would generally say that this book might be the best bet for a good hiking volume for the GC.
Excellent Grand Canyon Hiking Guide!.......2006-08-08
I have been hiking Grand Canyon since 1977 with over 9,000 miles below the rim and have hiked all the trails in this guide, in most cases multiple times. This guide has the most detailed descriptions of all canyon hiking guides; maps are more than adequate; nearly all information is up to date. Adkison's writing style is very clear. I especially appreciate his information about plant communities along the routes. This second edition is largely the same as the earlier edition. I am glad to see the addition of a section on cairns. How can this book be improved? Add an index. Looking through the guide I only found a few errors --- Western Union is no longer available inside the park and the Tanner Trail one way distance is not 7 miles but more like 10 miles!
A "Tortoise" Hikes the Grand Canyon.......2006-03-19
While writing my book "The Tortoise Diet - Win The Race To Lose!", an account of my 120 pound weight loss, I bought this book an became interested in hiking in the canyon as a fitness goal. This very informative and well written book helped inspire me to hike in 2005 from the South Rim to Phantom Ranch, and back again the next day. This May (2006) my husband and I are hiking from the South Rim to the North Rim. We will be carrying along our copy of the book to help us appreciate the canyon more as we undertake this huge fitness challenge(my husband is 55 and I am 49.)
Average customer rating:
- Not what I thought
- The finest Grand Canyon book at the lowest price....
- off the charts superb stunning startling good heavens
- Review by Jennifer Owings Dewey, author/illustrator
- A superb choice as a Memorial Fund acquisition for any library system
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Lasting Light: 125 Years of Grand Canyon Photography
Stephen Trimble
Manufacturer: Northland Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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The Grand: The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon a Photo Journey
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The Hidden Canyon: A River Journey
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Grand Canyon Wild: A Photographic Journey
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Beneath the Rim: A Photographic Journey Through the Grand Canyon
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Our National Parks
ASIN: 0873588940 |
Book Description
One of the most photographed subjects on earth, Grand Canyon continues to inspire awe, admiration, and frustration for those who attempt to capture its majesty with a camera. Reaching back 125 years into the photographic record of the Canyon, this book artfully explores the experiences of the earliest photographers and today's most exceptional artists.
Accomplished writer and Ansel Adams Award-winning photographer Stephen Trimble deftly navigates the stories of the Canyon's photographic history and takes us down the river and along the rim with the next generation of photographers and their photographs. Also included are twenty-one essays by the finest contemporary photographers recounting their experiences at Grand Canyon, along with fascinating details of changing equipment and a timeline of important moments in the Canyon's photographic record.
Customer Reviews:
Not what I thought.......2007-09-13
I bought this as a present for my wife. We had just returned from a trip that included a visit to the Grand Canyon, and I wanted to get her a memento of the visit. This book sounded good, but was not the one that included the beautiful vistas that we wanted. There are some photos too dark to really discern why they are included. There are some photos of a boat on the bank of the river. That could be from anywhere.
Although I suppose others may find it interesting, we didn't want a book of prose, we just wanted amazing photos. This was not that book.
The finest Grand Canyon book at the lowest price...........2007-02-15
This book is so awesome, and of such high quality, that its Amazon price seems surreal...I have two copies and am ordering a third, for posterity or whatever.
Intensely beautiful photographic prints, at the very leading edge of Canyon photos....almost beyond description!
If you buy one copy of this book, you'll then want another for a gift, and another for your own collection.....etc.
off the charts superb stunning startling good heavens.......2006-11-03
Yes, you would expect truly astounding photography here, and you get exactly that, in lots of different flavors too, but the stories are deft and revealing -- far more than in a book of photos alone of a place that you couldn't take a bad photo if you tried. Trimble himself is a master craftsman with the camera, but his service here is to gather some really remarkable work and voices into a tome that anyone who has gaped and prayed there will want to paw through before you get major brownie points for giving it to someone else. Terrific work.
Review by Jennifer Owings Dewey, author/illustrator.......2006-09-28
Lasting Light is a treasure, a compilation of photographs taken of the Crand Ganyon over a broad stretch of time. The viewer/reader may gain a sense of history, passing from the old to the new. The book is an experience in images of the vast wonder of the Canyon and the smallest, most discreet detail. Because the text is direct and not-technical, anyone interested in what is grand and lit by extraordinary light, the Grand Canyon itself, will find this work a delight.
A superb choice as a Memorial Fund acquisition for any library system.......2006-07-10
Lasting Light: 125 Years Of Grand Canyon Photography by award-winning author and photographer Stephen Trimble is a visual celebration and documentation of the beauty and grandeur of one of the most photographed subjects on earth -- the Grand Canyon. Comprised of the best of 125 years of great photographs beginning with the pioneering glass plate negatives of the 19th century to the digital images of the 21st century, Lasting Light produces spectacular visuals enhanced with an accompanying text of fascinating details regarding the advances of photography, stories of various individual photographers, and the relationship between the photographers and the unique American icon that is the Grand Canyon. As a coffetable art book, Lasting Light is a simply wonderful contribution to any personal, academic, or community library photography reference collection and would make a superb choice as a Memorial Fund acquisition for any library system.
Average customer rating:
- A Cross Between a Trail Guide and a ???
- Hiking the Grand Canyon is an indispensible trail guide
- stay away
- ONE of the guides that works for the Grand Canyon
- Very Infomative
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Hiking the Grand Canyon (Sierra Club Totebook)
John Annerino
Manufacturer: Sierra Club Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Grand Canyon Trail Map
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Hiking Grand Canyon National Park, 2nd (Regional Hiking Series)
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Hiking the Grand Canyon - The Corridor Trails
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Hiking the Grand Canyon's Geology (Hiking Geology)
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A Field Guide to the Grand Canyon 2nd Edition
ASIN: 1578051509 |
Book Description
Fully revised and updated, the third edition of this celebrated Sierra Club Totebook is an information-packed guide to America's best-known national park--destination of more than four and a half million visitors annually.
Hiking the Grand Canyon provides detailed, authoritative descriptions of more than one hundred of the best trails--from easy, level day hikes along the Canyon's North and South Rims, to rigorous but rewarding rim-to-river and trans-canyon expeditions. Author and seasoned Grand Canyon adventurer John Annerino offers invaluable information to help visitors plan their trips, ensure their safety and comfort, and enhance their enjoyment of the Grand Canyon's natural wonders--including sage advice on hiking equipment and technique, clothing and food requirements, and map selection; vital information on water sources and on climate and weather; and tips on lodging and camping, as well as on how to book guided hiking, rafting, muleback and horseback trips, and climbing and caving expeditions. Also included are chapters on the park's natural history and geology and on its Native American history.
For adventurers familiar with the Canyon's many attractions and first-time visitors alike, this is the most "user friendly" and comprehensive guide available to one of our nation's premier natural wonders.
Customer Reviews:
A Cross Between a Trail Guide and a ???.......2007-07-29
I was disappointed by this book. Mr. Annerino seems to be trying to impress us with his knowledge far too often and is long-winded most of the time. I much prefer authors who try to inform instead of impress, especially in a book that is basically a how-to-hike-in-the-Grand-Canyon book.
For example:
"... the Tonto Trail is the major east-west camino through the Grand Canyon." Now many, maybe even most, people who live in the parts of the US with a Spanish influence know that camino is Spanish for road. But how about other English speakers around the world?
Or another example:
"Assuming that the Colorado River isn't rumbling along at 30,000 cfs or more, you can follow the left-hand (south) side of the river ...". How much is 30,000 cfs? Is that unusual? I think the author meant that to say something like "if the river doesn't cover the trail, you can ...", but I don't know for sure.
I much prefer Hiking Grand Canyon National Park, 2nd (Regional Hiking Series) for planning a trip and Hiking the Grand Canyon's Geology (Hiking Geology) for understanding the geology.
Hiking the Grand Canyon is an indispensible trail guide.......2007-05-10
"John Annerino's Hiking The Grand Canyon is an indispensable trail guide."
- Jay Merritt, Conde Naste Traveler
"Wherever you go in the canyon, you're likely to be treading in the footsteps of John Annerino... Hiking The Grand Canyon is an exhaustive guide.
- Mark Kirby, National Geographic Adventure
"Canyon Pioneers. Like Harvey Butchart, John Annerino has spent a fair bit of time exploring and writing about the Grand Canyon. Hiking The Grand Canyon is the AAA Triptik, a canyoneering primer."
- Nancy Schute, Outside Magazine
"Hiking the Grand Canyon is easily the most comprehensive guide to trails and routes in the Grand Canyon."
- Bill Weir, Grand Canyon, Moon Handbooks
"An excellent reference for Canyon trails is Hiking The Grand Canyon by John Annerino."
- Linda Vachata, The Arizona Republic
"Best information sources, " "Hiking The Grand Canyon, Revised and Expanded," by John Annerino, Sierra Club Books.
- Brad Bollinger, The Press Democrat
"Annerino's Hiking The Grand Canyon is a must have book for the Grand Canyon hiker. This is the Grand Canyon trail guide I turn to most often. Anytime someone asks me a Grand Canyon question I can't answer off the top of my head, this is the book I pull from the shelf."
- GrandCanyonHiker.com
"Hiking the Grand Canyon is a great resource with mileage logs, trail descriptions, ratings, history, water caches, and just about everything else you need to know to overnight or spend a couple of weeks in the Canyon."
- GrandCanyonTreks.org
"A pocket-sized Sierra Club Totebook, Hiking the Grand Canyon describes the rigors, attractions and landmarks of more than 100 trails. It's an excellent hiking primer and companion for the trail with mileage logs, trail descriptions, ratings, history, water caches and other essential information."
- SideCanyon.com
"Hiking the Grand Canyon is an invaluable resource!"
- HitTheTrail.com
"Hiking the Grand Canyon, Sierra Club's best selling Totebook, has been featured in Backpacker, Frommer's Grand Canyon, The 50 Ultimate Hiking Adventures, U.S. News & World Report, and National Geographic Adventure."
- Wesley Darden, Lost Horizons
stay away.......2007-02-05
I bought this book expecting a well thought out and detailed description of the trails with smaller maps and recommendations on what best to see inside the canyon. I was wrong. It is a bunch of pretentious writing with details that will do no one any good. If you want to know who climbed what peak inside the park and when this is your book. If you want to know about the trails look somewhere else.
ONE of the guides that works for the Grand Canyon.......2005-11-17
This guide seems to have excited a lot of controversy. And I can understand why. John Annerino's guide to the Grand Canyon is just as individualistic as all his other books.
Mr. Annerino is a rough-and-ready writer, something of a non-fiction Jack Kerouac of the Southwest and the Borderlands. His literary principle is enthusiasm for his subject. And when his subject is a complex but highly organized entity like the Grand Canyon system, the book winds up structured in a way some of his other books don't. What you can't miss is his knowledge of this canyon.
I found this book an excellent update, if only partial, of the Naturalist's Guide to Hiking the Grand Canyon by Stewart Aitchison. He covers more trails than other, more current guides, such as the Falcon guide by Ron Adkinson, who doesn't write up the platform trails east of Grandview on the South Rim, the Beamer Trail, or Comanche Point. (A new edition is due out of the Falcon guide; maybe the deficiency will be made up.) Not to mention areas further afield, such as the Arizona Strip.
Some have criticised the lack of maps. This is valid, but the tendency of late seems to be for publishers to include only very sketchy maps, rather than copies of topos. And maps are easy to get for the Grand Canyon.
I have been more surprised that some object to Mr. Annerino's admonitions to the user to get in shape and keep in mind the peculiar hazards of the GC, comprising both desert and middle-latitude sky-island. Given the peculiar fame of the Canyon, its allure for travellers from all over the world, including those who aren't really in shape, and the UN-reality of the Canyon upon first contemplation, I believe his warnings are in order.
On top of this, I found Annerino's review of history and other trail lore very entertaining. And you have something to read when you're resting, without carrying MORE weighty books down and around and up.
My advice to Canyon hikers is to consult ALL the guides you can get. John Annerino's guide is, in my view, an indispensable part of the small group you'll read again and again. Another, more recent, is "Hiking the Grand Canyon's Geology", by Lon Abbott. But keep in mind, whatever you use, that access issues can change, so check with the National Park Service and other hikers. I recommend the Internet Yahoo groups for the Grand Canyon, as well.
Very Infomative.......2005-09-29
John Annerino gives his readers an abundance of information about the trails and geology of the Grand Canyon. My husband and I especially like the compact size of the book - great for tossing in a daypack while hiking the canyon.
Book Description
Hikes varying from half-hour strolls to full-day adventures, this guidebook is for everyone, including families.
Customer Reviews:
Good for ideas, but not as a true "guide" book.......2007-02-13
This book is divided into three sections; Cedar Mesa in SW Utah, The Escalante Canyon and Grand Staircase-Paria Canyon. The Escalante-Grand Staircase hikes range in length and difficultly. Included are the following hikes:
Upper calf Creek Falls -2m
Lower Calf Creek Falls-6.2m
Devils Garden-.07m
Fortymile Ridge to Sunset Arch-3m
Willow Gulch to Broken Bow Arrow-4m
Kodachrome Basin's Panorama Trail-2.9-5.4m
Cottonwood Canyon Narrows-3m
Willis Creek Narrows-4.8m
Lick Wash-8m
Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch-3.4m
and 9 hikes in the SW area of Utah
This book might be good for getting ideas on where to hike, but some of the information contained in it is not accurate, or lacks sufficient detail. For example, the author fails to mention that a permit to hike Wire pass to Buckskin Gulch must usually be obtained 3 months ahead of time. Also, the directions to Sunset Arch are different than any other guide book. (?) He also fails in giving accurate campground information. There are many more camping opportunities than what he mentions. I would advise consulting other guide books before setting off on any of the hikes and would not use this book for trip planning.
Excellent for What it Covers.......2005-01-20
This is a streamlined version of Adkison's lengthier book about the national monument, but is perfect for the short hikes in this beautiful region. It has everything a pocket guidebook should have: clear descriptions, mileage, elevations, maps, and ratings. This is my favorite guidebook for the Grand Staircase whenever I do short hikes.
The Grand Escalante.......2000-07-13
Look interesting and informative for people who are planning to go to Escalante soon. Good resource. I saw Bryce and Zion Parks on my first trip to Utah- can't wait to go back The escalante looked so beautiful even though I only saw part of it on the way to Capitol Reef National Park
Customer Reviews:
A Fair Trail Map.......2007-07-29
There's nothing particularly wrong with this map, it's just hard to make sense of. I much prefer the Grand Canyon Trail Map. Se my review of the other map
OK if you don't ask much.......2005-05-25
I bought this map on the strength of multiple recommendations but was disappointed in it.
First, the shading that's been washed over the map only serves to obscure the contours. Quite a problem when you've got three to six thousand feet of elevation change over only a few miles, or just one mile. I don't know what they meant to do with the shading. Impress the user with the idea that this is mountainous country? People, this is a topographic map! We know how, or don't know how, to read the elevation intervals. Using shading appropriate to a desk atlas of countries and continents is NOT appropriate here.
There are no trail mileages printed along the trails. Or elsewhere on the map. NG indicates the mileages on their more recent maps.
There is a real paucity of benchmarks here, and in fact of labelling on the contours. You see the elevations in feet on the Rim points, and on the buttes, etc. in the Canyon. Not much help for hikers who are wondering how much climbing or descent they're in for on a given route.
A lot of the data in the incidental parts on the product is not really that helpful. There are a list of "recommended hikes", depending on the user's fitness, time etc. No one needs that sort of thing on their trail map, they need hard data. Opinions about the nature of a trail should be supplied by authors of trail guidebooks or by rangers and locally experienced hikers who've had time to size YOU up.
The whole thing's a bit surprising. I've used NG's T.I. maps elsewhere, in the Guadalupe Mountains NP, etc, and none of these inadequacies were present. They were pretty good, in fact.
I think this is an old product. NG should get going and revise it. In the meantime I would recommend Ken Schulte's map or the standard USGS topo quadrangles. Under NO circumstances would I suggest using this map for off trail travel or even on the less well maintained trails.
A Great Planning Tool.......2001-01-08
This Trails Illustrated map is a great tool for initial planning of your adventure into the Grand Canyon's spectacular backcountry. The map covers Grand Canyon National Park backcountry in its entirety. Almost. But close enough for most. The 1:73,530 scale and 80' contour interval make this map of limited use for on trail use, but make useful for getting an overview of the canyon and a sense of your options.
This map is also packed with information useful for planning your Grand Canyon trip. Backcountry use areas, necessary for making a permit request, are designated on the map. So are camp sites, campgrounds, and water sources in the GC's backcountry.
Very handy.
Book Description
Hikes varying from half-hour strolls to full-day adventures, this guidebook is for everyone, including families.
Customer Reviews:
Concise, up-to-date and "on the money".......2006-07-18
As mentioned by a reviewer in April, this edition is updated and current. Though I would argue that several of the hikes in this book aren't "easy" (few in the Grand Canyon are) the author does an excellent job of highlighting very worthwhile hikes....a few of which really ARE easy (i.e. the plateau top trails). Not to say that the others are strenuous...but "easy" is stretching it a bit. However, this range of hikes covered makes this book just right for many Grand Canyons' visitors.
No longer Outdated. Review of the 2cd Edition........2006-04-27
One has to be careful with Amazon Reviews sometimes. There is a tendency for Amazon's editors to simply transfer reviews from one edition of a book to another. This is fine on occasion, but wildly inappropriate for hiking guides. A case in point is this second edition of Adkison's 'Best Easy Dayhikes Grand Canyon.' The feature review notes that the parking information is outdated. The first edition certainly was by 2004, but this new edition (2005) includes all the parking rules that are now in effect. Adkison has also modified information on the South Rim trail to reflect its current extension, and updated information on the Shoshone Point trail.
The bottom line is that this is now a very useful book. Most people visiting the Grand Canyon don't have time for extensive treks beneath the rim. (Indeed, permits for backpacking trips are almost impossible to come by.) But if you are interested in seeing the canyon up close and personal as opposed to simply from the tour bus, by all means get this book. It contains a lot of interesting walks which can get you away from some of the heavy congestion in the park. It will certainly repay in recreational value the purchase price.
Great for the casual hiker.......2005-04-18
Just got back from the Grand Canyon and thought this was very helpful. My 65 year old mom made the south kaibaa trail to Cedar Ridge. Mom stopped just below ooh ahh point but it was a relatively easy hike . There is advice at the front of the book and at the trailhead that one should read. I found this very helpful.
Outdated but well written.......2004-02-21
This is an interesting and well written book, but a few cautionary notes are in order. The book is severely outdated, especially regarding parking and locating trailheads. The South Kaibab can no longer be driven to, you must take a shuttle bus. This is integral information for the casual tourist or the serious hiker.
In addition, the title of the book is a little misleading. If you visit in the summer, there really are no easy hikes within the park. This is because of the extreme heat on the south rim and the unusually dry conditions that prevail there. I've hiked in the canyon for 25 years, including many rim to rim hikes, and anyone who underestimates the canyon will probably end up humbled, at the very least.
This is a good book for couch potatoes who want to experience the Grand Canyon but aren't interested in strenuous or long treks. Just be wary of the parking info contained within, it is outdated.
Good Book, Needs Updating.......2004-01-31
This is an excellent guide to the different day hikes available in the park. The book has some organizational problems, and day hikers should beware that no hike below the rim can be categorized as "easy" despite what it says in the front of the book. Some of the information is now dated, including road names, when shuttles run, and the location of the main visitor center. The Rim Trail does indeed exist and the description in the book is accurate, although the trail has now been extended to Pipe Creek Vista and does not end at Yavapai Observation Station as the book states. For ideas about what to do at Grand Canyon in terms of day hiking, this book is hard to beat.
Book Description
The only guide to the Grand Canyon that combines hiking and geology—unlocking the mysteries of the landscape, step by step.
· Newest addition to the popular Hiking Geology series
· Appendices cover additional geologic information for the non-geologist
· Everything needed to plan the trip, including permits, lodging and camping, mule rides, and recommended day trips
Etched on the Grand Canyon's steep walls are stories of how this majestic landscape came to be: volcanic islands, stark deserts, and tranquil seas come and gone, and histories of plants and animals that have made this place their home. You'll read this story up close on the trail with the help of Hiking the Grand Canyon's Geology. In 18 excursions, there's something for everyone: from the most popular rim-to-river trails (Havasu Canyon Trail) to gentle, half-day rim walks (Red Butte Trail) to rugged and remote, multi-day backpack trips (Lava Falls Route).
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic Reference.......2006-04-20
After many years of hiking and studying the Grand Canyon, this text was a true delight and an eye-opener. The explanations of the geology associated with each step down the different trails really brings to life the geological history of the Canyon. The book provided new insight on trails that I have been over many times before and has added to my appreciation and understanding of the Canyon. Many thanks to the authors!
Outstanding Intro to Geology--Plus Hiking Info........2004-02-19
I highly recommend this book even if one has no present intention of hiking in the Grand Canyon (though I have to say that, after reading it, I now find it imperative to go there in the very near future). The Introduction and Appendices of this book together comprise the most informative, concise and accessible introduction to a science subject (Geology in this case) I have ever had the pleasure to read. The authors actually make events of the last 4600 million years (!) jump off the page as if they were part of a live action series!
It is rare to find a book which transcends its specific topic as this one does. Even my nine-year old was fascinated by the vivid descriptions of the forming of the major features of the North American landscape, the formation and break-up of Rodinia, Pangea, etc., and the many, many layers of history present (and not present!) in the fantastic artwork the Colo. River has carved for all to experience first hand.
I have not "road-tested" this book for its specific hiking information. However, I can certainly certainly recommend the book based on its geological and earth history content alone.
Book Description
In DAY HIKES FROM THE RIVER SECOND EDITION, author, hiker and river runner Tom Martin offers river runners through Grand Canyon National Park a new text on exploring Grand Canyon National Park from the Colorado River. There are 100 hikes in the book, up from 75 in the first edition. Besides a description of each hike, the text includes the best camps to stage the hike from. Information on winter and summer sun exposure, along with pertinent pull-in information is also provided where needed. Each hike description includes images from USGS topo maps with the hike clearly marked on the map.
This book is for the river runner who wants to increase their options for activities and gain a greater appreciation of what rafting in Grand Canyon has to offer, besides running great whitewater. This guide identifies many camps that are not listed in any other guidebook. This book is intended to be used by river runners to expand their knowledge base beyond the most heavily visited attraction sites on the river. While this book includes every heavily visited site on the River, it expands river runners options to include lots more wonderful places to visit in the most Grand of Canyons.
Customer Reviews:
2nd better than 1st.......2002-08-23
The second edition of Day Hikes From The River is great! The maps are the biggest change. Though still packed with the same info (and more), the clarity really helps. Thanks Tom for doing this. We used Day Hikes to hike up Vishnu Creek and Kanab Creek to Whispering Falls. Worked great! The resource tips were helpful and not too overbearing. This book is getting real close to a real river guide. The other "guides" give river miles and that's about it. This book ties it all together. I'd sure recommend it for anyone headed down Big Red. The only drawback is that this book is NOT waterproof! I learned the hard way....
Day Hikes is the best!.......2002-08-21
We just finished the river trip of our dreams. 18 days to Diamond Creek, my buddy Jim waited 12 years to get his permit. Day Hikes from the River was a must book to have on our trip! We stopped at "Shiver Grotto", Nautiloid Canyon, Nankoweep, Clear Creek, got water at Phantom (easy to find), Shinumo, Elves Chasm, Stone Creek, managed the Thunder River-Deer Creek loop, got aced out at Havasu and thanks to Day Hikes, and had a great time at Tuckup. What a resource. The maps are really clear, and the easy to follow directions made it all work out. Thanks for the great guide!
Book Description
This comprehensive guide includes 15 hikes in the South Rim and 13 hikes in the North Rim.
Customer Reviews:
This is the Grand Canyon hikers book.......2002-03-11
To me, this is the Grand Canyon book to get if you are planning on hiking the trails. It has great illustrations of the trails and elevations. You can easily follow the trail illustrations from one trail to another because they tell you the page number of the connecting trail. The textual descriptions are excellent and very easy to follow. The trails are broken up logically and are easy to piece together for extended trips into the canyon. If you are looking for a book with telephone numbers of who to call for reservations and all that, this is not the book. Fine with me because that information is always changing and isn't that what they made the internet for? The size is a bit large to be considered a pocket book but is easily packable. The size actually helps with the illustrated maps as it makes them what I consider to be perfect for trail use. I prefer to make copies (which I did not do if it is a violation of some copyright) of the trails I am going to hike and leave the book behind. The copies are handy for the inevitable rain that always comes. Put them in a zip lock bag with the one you need on top...this book does not stress much about people being physically prepared to hike the canyon. If they don't physically prepare, what makes you think they bother to read before they hit the trail? I have yet to see a sick person on the trail with a book about the canyon in their hand. The book does rate each of the trails with regard to difficulty. I have several books on the Grand Canyon and for planning and hiking the trails, this is the one I would recommend over all the others.
Hiking Grand Canyon.......2001-07-08
The overview and locator maps proved very useful. Posting the elevation gain and loss (as well as a plot showing where these occured) was very helpful in negotiating the trails. Precautions and general hiking information in the front sections of the book were very thorough.
Adequate but incomplete.......2000-11-27
This is considered the definitive guide for hiking in the Grand Canyon and the strong points of this book are worth noting. The maps are excellent, as are the descriptions of how to get to trail head. However, the book is incomplete in certain areas and outdated. The Grand Canyon has implemented a shuttle system to stem the horrific crowds (I don't see much improvement) and hikers now can't drive to the South Kaibab trail or Hermit's Rest trail. The directions in this book are therefore rendered confusing due to the new restrictions.
Most importantly, the authors neglect to stress that in order to successfully complete long hikes at the Grand Canyon, you must be physically prepared. Several times a year I hike to Phantom Ranch at the Colorado river and then back on the Bright Angel Trail. This is nine and a half miles one way with an elevation gain of 5,000 feet. Oftentimes I pass many sick, debilitated and unprepared hikers who quite obviously didn't do any physical preparation for this hike. Physically fit people should be able to do it in 3-4 hours coming up, but many are stuck on the trail for 12 hours and suffering. This could be avoided by exercising and hiking for months in advance in order to enjoy and relish the spectacular experience. Another fabulous challenge is doing a rim to rim hike, but only for those FIT.
The author does detail the debilitating and life-threatening heat conditions that exist in the Canyon. I recommend to anyone planning long hikes *not* to attempt them in the summer! Temperatures frequently exceed 110 degrees and heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke can result. The best months to hike in the Grand Canyon are October, November and April.
The Grand Canyon (even with the terrible crowds) is a sublime experience and Phantom Ranch is the best part of the canyon. Forget the mule and use your own two feet. It's a magical experience, a great hike and one you will want to do again and again!
Get Ready to Hike.......2000-04-24
We used this book exclusively to pick the trails we wanted to attempt. The book was very helpful, explaining details such as elevation change, estimated hike times to various points on the trails, and ratings of the trails' difficulty. The book also included directions to each trailhead, and other information such as weather and hiking conditons. We had our 6 and 9 year olds with us, and the book contained a listing of easy to difficult day hikes for families. I found this book very valuable in preparation for our daily hikes into the Grand Canyon.
Book Description
Whether you're going to the bottom of the canyon or strolling on the rim, you'll want this guide in hand. The Official Hiking Guide of Grand Canyon National Park provides profiles and maps of major trails, beautiful photographs, as well as current park regulations and permit procedures.
Customer Reviews:
Excellence in brevity........2005-06-07
Things should be reviewed based upon what they're meant to be, and not by what they don't pretend to aspire to. This book is NOT intended to provide in-depth coverage of a national park that spans over 2,000 square miles; it's less than 70 pages long for goodness sakes! Rather, it is a convenient and easily followed introduction to what the Canyon has to offer. The Canyon can be overwhelming, and this book is better than any I've seen at presenting potential hikers with a quick overview of each trail. All pertinent trail information is included, including difficulty, areas of interest, and point of access. Yes, you can get this information from the nps.gov website, but this book is much more portable than a computer. If you are the typical Grand Canyon adventurer and are looking for an easy planning tool and a quick glimpse into what is waiting for you, then I highly recommend this book.
If, on the other hand, you are an experienced desert hiker who will be venturing beyond the popular "corridor" and are looking for extensive coverage of the canyon, then follow the crowd to John Annerino's "Hiking the Grand Canyon" (about 300 pages plus a true topo map).
Official Guide - Very Basic Info.......2003-09-24
Pros - all the basic hiking info. Small topo map. Unique vertical depiction. Few color photos. Good pack size (60 page paperback).
Cons - all basic information can be found at NPS Grand Canyon web-site. Detailed, trail by trail info limited to 2 pages. These pages consumed by vertical diagram, topo map and color picture. Little or no trail description, interesting features, sights, etc. Of little planning value. Returned the next day.
Try FODORS Grand Canyon - costs the same.
Official Guide to Hiking the Grand Canyon.......2000-04-14
What a dissapointment this book turned out to be. One would think the "ultimate" guide to hiking would contain detailed trail descriptions and suggested itineraries. The second sentence in the book says it all, "...provides basic information..."
This book provides very little in the way of interesting land marks and "must sees" for a trip to the Grand Canyon.
Informative, well-organized, beautifully photographed guide........1999-07-24
The guide provides a wealth of general information for first-time, and repeat hikers of the Grand Canyon, as well as covering in detail the most popular hiking trails. The text is accompanied by excellent, high-quality trail maps, elevation diagrams, and beautiful color photos.
I bought the book after hiking the canyon for the first time as a souvenier of the trip and to help me plan my next hike. You can use the book to show your friends or family, "This is what I'm going to do", or document what you did.
If you've never hiked the Grand Canyon, this is the book to inform you of what to expect, help you make your hiking plans, and to build your enthusiasm and excitement for the trip!
The book is only 68 pages long, but is packed with useful information. Well worth the price!
jes
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