Book Description
Features 114 hikes of all levels in four California Desert Parks; Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Joshua Tree and Death Valley national parks, and Mojave National Preserve.
Customer Reviews:
Hiking Opportunities in Southern California's Desert Wilderness.......2006-09-11
I have a real fondness for books by Bill and Polly Cunningham. Their 'Best Easy Dayhikes: Anza Borrego' introduced me to desert hiking and has left me with an abiding love of California's desert regions. The off season recreational opportunities in these areas: Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks, the Mojave National Preserve, and Anza Borrego State Parks are seemingly endless and this book provides a good introduction to these places. The 114 hikes described in this book range in length from short leg stretchers of 1/4 mile (or less) to all day rambles over difficult terrain from 10 to 16 miles. Each hike description includes a list of key points, mileage between these points, a hypsometric map (GPS compatible) and decent black and white photographs of the area.
Although I like the book, I have a few concerns. I'm not sure the authors rechecked every trail from the first edition. Had they done so, they might have noticed that Squaw Peak and Pond (in Agua Caliente County Parks) have had name changes to accomodate the politically correct crowd. Also, I have twice hiked Mountain Palm Springs Canyon in the last year and failed to note the cutoff trail sign for Indian Gorge. But aside from those minor errors, my major concern is that this book really doesn't provide a comprehensive view of all the desert has to offer. The author's narrow view of "parks" precludes them from discussing the many recreational opportunities in county and state parks in the Imperial Valley and around Palm Springs. Hikers seeking coverage of these areas as well should look at John McKinney's books or to regional hiking guides. Nonetheless, if you are planning a visit to Joshua Tree, Death Valley, the Mojave or Anza Borrego this is an excellent book to get. The authors made a desert rat out of me and they can do the same for you if you give them half a chance.
Book Description
Anza Borrego Desert State Park is the largest desert park in the United States, drawing approximately 650,000 visitors per year. Combining detailed narrative with GPS-based trail maps, Day and Overnight Hikes: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park breaks down the best of the best hikes, both day and overnight. Whether it’s the best view over Culp Valley, a walk through Hellhole Canyon, or a flat walk through hills and dales near the Salton Sea, Day and Overnight Hikes is the definitive go-to guide to enjoy the largest desert park in the United States, just an hour’s drive from San Diego.
Catalog Copy (Final): Combining detailed narrative with GPS-based trail maps, the Day & Overnight Hikes series leads hikers and backpackers to sites of exceptional beauty and solitude. Each Day and Overnight Hike contains four key elements to help you plan and enjoy the perfect day or overnight:
GPS-Based Trail Maps
GPS-Based Elevation Profiles
Directions to the Trailhead
Trail Descriptions
Each trail description offers precise commentary on what to expect along the way and rates each hike for
Scenery
Trail Condition
Difficulty
Accessibility for Children
Solitude
Designed to fit easily in a back pocket or pack, Day & Overnight Hikes points hikers to the best and least crowded trails for each destination.
Customer Reviews:
Don't Judge a book by its Cover: A guide to Rugged Desert Adventure.......2007-02-05
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is one of pre-eminent outdoor recreation sites in Southern California. It is the largest state park in California and offers lots of recreational opportunities including off road vehicle travel, numerous nature walks, wildlife and (in season) spectacular flower blooms. For this reason it is a very popular winter and spring destination and many guidebooks and maps can lead visitors to some of its many charms.
What sets this book by Sheri McGregor apart from the others is that this one focuses on long overland desert trips, many of which require a four-wheel drive or high-clearance vehicle to access. Some classic shorter hikes are also included. The trip up Ghost Mountain where poet Marshall South used to live is included as is the Borrego Canyon Nature Trail. But the bulk of the book is devoted to long loops up desert canyons with little in the way of trail tread and even less in the way of fellow hikers. Readers, and those daring enough to try these hikes, will be treated to a pine forest (hardly typical desert fare) atop Whale Peak and a hidden Palm oasis in Flat Cat Canyon, a mere 5 miles but 5 - 7 hour round trip hike. You will want to be in good shape to attempt these hikes.
The book does have a number of virtues. Each hike includes a decent sketch map and an elevation profile. Directions to trailheads are adequate and are GPS compatible. There is a nice appendix listing local outdoor shops and hiking clubs. On the whole, this is a decent book, but as noted in my review title, don't judge this book by its cover. The picture on the front shows a hiker walking a flat trail through a dense deciduous forest. You will find precious little of that in Anza-Borrego. But if you want to discover remote destinations and solitude, and are willing to work for it, this is the book for you.
Book Description
Hikes varying from half-hour strolls to full-day adventures, this guidebook is for everyone, including families.
Customer Reviews:
For Budding Desert Rats.......2005-04-21
I am generally somewhat partisan towards hiking in mountains and among forests but every now and again, especially during the Spring after a good rainy season, I like to go to the desert and see the (sometimes) spectacular flower bloom. Anza-Borrego State Park is a great place for this sort of activity and this edition of "Best Easy Dayhikes" is a nice guide to the hiking alternatives in the area.
This book is actually an exerpt from a much larger Falcon Press book, 'Hiking California's Desert Parks' by the same authors. As with other books in the 'Best Easy Dayhikes' series, the focus here is on short walks with relatively minimal elevation gains. In this the authors do an excellent job. Only three of the twenty hikes exceed 3 miles in length. Many are less than a mile. And all of the trails I took from this guide were delightful. It's almost enough to tempt me into spending more time in the desert.
Customer Reviews:
Explore California's Sparse Deserts.......2006-04-11
For someone who considers himself a forest lover, I seem to spend a lot of time, especially during the winter and spring, in California's vast deserts. This new book by John McKinney describes more hiking opportunities in this region than any book I've yet examined. After "field testing" it this weekend, I can safely say that it is a worthwhile investment for all desert lovers and for those who cannot find anywhere else to hike when the mountains are snowed in. Indeed, if you are in the latter category (I used to be there myself) you may be pleasantly surprised.
This book offers 131 hikes in 7 regions of the state, ranging from Death Valley in the north to the Imperial Valley and Anza Borrego State Park in the south. Included are extensive chapters on the Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park. Hikes range in distance from 1/2 mile to strenous all day treks along the desert divide of the San Jacinto Mountain range or cross country climbs of desert peaks in the Mojave. Anyone will be able to find a walk for their interests and ability within this book. I've hiked a little over 1/2 the trails and routes described here and I will be back for more. This is a great guide and worth the purchase price.
Book Description
The best way to appreciate the richness of the desert landscape is on foot. This book covers the best dayhikes in and around three desert parks and comes with original, accurate maps, photos, and tips on desert hiking.
Customer Reviews:
A Kid Friendly Introduction to the California Desert.......2005-04-22
I own three guides written by John Krist and immensely enjoy both his writing style and approach to hiking. Unlike some Wilderness Press authors, Krist focuses on walks virtually anyone can enjoy. Long arduous treks of 10 or more miles simply do not appear in his books. Instead one is treated to a wide variety of short and pleasant outings. He even includes a "Child Rating" for each hike to help parents decide where to take their kids. Although I tend to prefer mountain and coastal hiking to walking in the desert, I have managed over the years to walk most of the trails in this book and generally found them pleasant breaks from my usual hiking routine.
I am therefore somewhat surprised by the complaints of other reviewers. I found his maps easy to understand and use. His trail descriptions include adequate directions to the trailhead. Finally, Krist gives a solid introduction to natural and human history in the parks without being overly technical. I find this sort of background information adds to my enjoyment of a region. The only reason I give this book four stars and not five is for what Krist does not cover. It is simply unthinkable that a book on California Deserts should ignore Anza Borrego Desert State Park. For coverage of that region you simply need to look elsewhere. But the hikes Krist includes here are all winners.
Terrible trail maps.......2003-12-27
Although the trails are well described and a fair amount of geological and historical background is presented, the trail maps make this book almost worthless. For instance, Hike No. 22 is shown on Map No. 18. The trail is described on page 70 and the map is on page 180. Does this sound confusing? It is. Also, the overview maps for each park show campgrounds and ranger stations, but they don't show where the individual trails are located. These desert parks are enormous, and the lack of good overview maps makes it nearly impossible to determine, for instance, what hikes are near the south entrance to Joshua Tree. Pass on this book.
short but sweet.......2000-01-19
This book lives up to its title by concentrating on shorter hiking adventures in and around Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and Mojave National Preserve. Although the hikes are brief, many visitors to desert areas are in search of hikes that are possible even in the hotter parts of the year - a five mile round trip in summer at Death Valley can be quite tiring for even a fit hiker! The maps included in the book would have been more usefully placed next to the trail descriptions but this is a minor grumble. If you hike with children then consider this volume as each hike includes a recommended child age range for each trip.
Average customer rating:
- **
- The Anza-Borrego Desert Region
- The Anza-Borrego Desert Region: A Guide to the State Park
- If you only get one book on Borrego, get this one!
- A must have book...
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The Anza-Borrego Desert Region: A Guide to the State Park and Adjacent Areas of the Western Colorado Desert With Map
Lowell Lindsay , and
Diana Lindsay
Manufacturer: Wilderness Press
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Anza-borrego Desert Region Map
ASIN: 0899971873 |
Book Description
The authoritative, comprehensive guide to Southern California's most popular desert park, much of it still wilderness. A great guide for hikers, off-road travelers, equestrians, mountain bikers, photographers, and campers. Comes with folded 4-color map.
Customer Reviews:
**.......2004-03-28
I found the way this book is organized terrible. It tells you more HOW to see things than WHAT to see. It's like wanting to know when a movie starts, and you check the paper and find directions on how to get to the theater, advice on the best place to park, you're told what food is really yummy at the snack counter, and you're pulling your hair out because you can't find when the movie starts!!!
The Anza-Borrego Desert Region.......2003-04-21
I liked the details and the historical background information very much.
What I missed are more color pictures on glossy paper like they are on the cover.
The Anza-Borrego Desert Region: A Guide to the State Park.......2002-11-29
I have been exploring the Anza-Borrego Desert region for 15 years. The Lindsay book is an invaluble resource if you truly want to become intimate with the area. The Lindsay's include a lot of the area history in an interesting, easy reading format. I just ordered the latest edition (I have two previous editions, which are completely dog eared and very well used) to make sure I am up to date. The State Park has a way of changing every few years and some back country trails and roads are no longer accessible. If you have only one book of the Anza-Borrego desert, this is it! The map that comes with it is excellent.
If you only get one book on Borrego, get this one!.......2002-06-17
If you only get one book on this area, get this one. I actually have an older copy I bought over ten years ago and it is still well used. It has a very detailed map (of which mine is tattered and well used) and the book is a great accompiament. I often use the book to determine how many miles I had walked or driven in for that day. It also gives you some advice as to camping and rules of the state park and surrounding public lands.
The Lindsays are well known in the area and Diana Lindsay is active in the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association. She and Lowell are known the be two of the foremost authorities of information of that region.
A must have book..........2002-01-19
This is THE book to have if you're going to the Anza Borrego desert, thinking about going, or just wondering what the place is like. The folding map in the back of the book alone is worth the price of the entire book - it shows points of interest, camp sites, 4x4 trails, hiking trails, etc...
Most of the book itself is structured around the map, dividing it into seven regions. For each region it goes into detail about what you can see and do along the main route through the region, and then also goes into detail about many "sub-routes" that get you off the beaten path and into the desert (the mud caves are REALLY cool!).
My copy is already dog-eared and the map has a few tears, and I've only been to the desert twice since I've gotten the book!
Average customer rating:
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Hiking Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: 25 Day and Overnight Hikes (Where to Hike Series)
Bill Cunningham , and
Polly Cunningham
Manufacturer: Falcon
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Walking the East Mojave Desert: A Visitor's Guide to Mojave National Park (Walking the West)
John McKinney , and
Cheri Rae
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
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Mojave Desert Windshield Adventures
ASIN: 0062585126 |
Book Description
Features 111 hikes of all levels in four California Desert Parks.
Customer Reviews:
Good Introduction to some great desert spaces..........2006-03-05
A very good general-purpose trail guide to California's desert parks. Fairly detailed, for all it has to cover. If you were hiking one specific park most of the time you might want something a little more in-depth, but with a good topo map and plenty of water, this book will suffice for a lot of trails.
One word of warning: desert hiking and camping is not the same as hiking more well-traveled forest parks. If you aren't experienced with a map, a compass or GPS, run out of water, or otherwise get into trouble, you can run into survival problems very quickly. I strongly advise hiking with a partner, leaving an itinerary, and getting some additional information on desert navigation, equipment, and trip planning. One excellent resource for that extra information is The Ultimate Desert Handbook by Mark Johnson.
Great book even after 3 visits in each part.......2005-01-28
Living in southern CA, these 4 desert parks are my sandboxes. I go there hiking, camping and photographing frequently. This is the book I carry with me to the next interesting point. Although I still go on other places for more detail and other info (like desertUSA.com). I study the distance, elevation gain/loss, attractions, direction, and key points. I highly recommend to anyone who's interested in going there. This is for serious hikers, not armchair readers.
sand, silt and snow.......2000-01-19
The authors pack a lot into this one volume and the maps accompanying each trail description are detailed enough to hike from; the elevation loss and gain charts are useful when planning your trip, especially to those who like to hike, but not uphill. Covering Death Valley National Park, Mojave National Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park, and Anza Borrego Desert State Park the 111 trips vary from a short stroll to the demanding all-day Telescope Peak trip. The black and white photographs don't really add anything to the book but the trail descriptions are good.
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