Hiking Southern California

Trek the diverse terrain of Southern California, from desert to beach to mountaintop, on an easy stroll or overnight adventure, with this ultimate guide to the 101 best hikes in the Southland. Covers the Santa Monica, San Gabriel, San Jacinto, and San Bernardino mountains, and the Mojave and Colorado deserts. This updated and revised edition of one of our best-selling guidebooks includes 10 new hikes, with a greater emphasis on hiking opportunities in the fast-growing Ventura County and Inland Empire regions, and updated information for hikes from the first edition. For each trip you'll find all new maps, photos, the highlights of the trail, and symbols to tell you the basics of the trip at a glance.

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) traces a 2,650-mile route from the California-Mexico border north to the border of Washington and Canada. While many hikers attempt a “thru-hike” every year, beginning in Campo, California and connecting their footsteps all the way to Manning Park, B.C., even more people enjoy “section hiking” – tackling the trail in bits and pieces. This guidebook serves as a road map to section hiking the Southern California portion of the PCT, beginning at its southern terminus in Campo and ending 942.5 miles north at Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. From the magical cactus gardens of the Mojave Desert to the snowy peaks of the High Sierra, this book covers one of the most biologically and geologically diverse portions of the PCT. Author Shawnté Salabert serves as your personal trail guide along the way, offering informative route descriptions, interesting sidebars, and colorful stories that will deepen your experience on this iconic trail, whether you’re headed out for a weekend, a week, or a month. Each volume of this new series focuses on section-by-section pieces of the PCT and includes the following features: • Inspirational full-color guides with over 150 color photographs in each • Trail sections of 4- to 10-night trips • Detailed camp-to-camp route descriptions • Easy-to-understand route maps and elevation profiles • Details on specific campsites and most-reliable water sources • Road access to and from various trail sections • Info on permits, hazards, restrictions, and more • Alternate routes and connecting trails • Clear references to the PCT’s established system of section letters, designating trail segments from Mexico to Canada—so you can easily cross-reference the guides with other PCT resources • Key wilderness sights along the way • Suggested itineraries *Download an errata for Hiking the PCT: Southern California for a profile fix here*

Southern California's highest and most rugged mountains are in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto ranges, in a unique region where desert cactus and pine trees, plus snow-capped peaks and palm oases, are found in close proximity. With the Pacific Crest Trail weaving its way through the mountains and desert, there are endless opportunities to explore Southern California trails. After more than 40 years in print, San Bernardino Mountain Trails remains the bible for Southern California hikers. This updated guide by veteran hiker and author David Money Harris contains new trips as well as old favorites -- 100 hikes that traverse San Bernardino National Forest, the Santa Rosa Mountains, and the San Jacinto Mountains. This edition brings John Robinson's classic guide up to date with the latest trail conditions. Eight old trails, especially in areas that have become overgrown after fire damage, have been replaced with recently built or more heavily used trails. San Bernardino Mountain Trails is noted for its comprehensive coverage of the San Bernardino, San Jacinto, and Santa Rosa Mountains and its meticulously researched history of the ranges.

Explore Southern California's iconic beaches, Pacific shore, and mountain views without traveling deep into the backcountry. This book features easy-to-follow urban trails that allow hikers of all levels to discover the landmarks that shape the Golden state’s cities and towns. Urban Hikes Southern California provides the latest information to plan a customized trip: Common and lesser-known hikes, from city center strolls to forest trails Full-color photos and maps, detailed trail descriptions, and trailhead GPS Insightful hike overviews and details on distance, difficulty, canine compatibility, and more California boasts a plethora of great urban hikes, and this guide highlights both family-friendly footpaths and culinary and gastronomic delights found along the way. Find hikes suited to every ability. Stroll Orange County's Laguna Beach to take in the sights or enjoy a pint of local beer after a walk to Downtown Los Angeles from the Hollywood Hills. Discover arboretum trails, waterfront walks, after-work rambles, and more.

CLICK HERE to download two free hikes from 100 Classic Hikes in Southern California * Southern California natue in the full-color guidebook it deserves * 100 of Southern California's best hikes * At-a-glance tables help you select the hike that's right for you Southern California isn't just beaches and Hollywood. There are great trails to explore and this guidebook will help you find the hike that's right for your time, fitness, and interests. This region is a paradise for hikers, offering diverse landscapes: mountains, forests, deserts, and coastlines with many trails to explore. This hiking guidebook covers Death Valley, Pinnacles Monument, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, the southern Sierras, Tronna Pinnacles, Mojave National Preserve, the Santa Lucia Mountains, the Central Coast, the San Rafael, Santa Ynez, and the Sierra Madra Mountains, Channel Islands, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Angeles, San Bernardino, and Cleveland National Forests, Anza Borrego State Park, and Joshua Tree. As a bonus, 100 Classic Hikes in Southern California also includes a few trails north of the 37th parallel -- the White Mountains, Yosemite, and the eastern Sierra. Handy features in the guide include topographic maps, elevation profiles, sidebar tips, and a hikes-at-a-glance chart to help readers find the hikes they want quickly and easily.

Discover 101 of the best hikes in Southern California, from family outings to 50-mile treks. The Southland is unparalleled for its beauty and diversity. A coastal trail, a desert hike, and a mountain trek are always just an hour or two away. Experience 101 of the region’s best hiking trips with authors David Harris and Jerry Schad. See a spectacular geological showcase cradled between two faults at the Devil’s Punchbowl. Find the ruins of a once grand Malibu mansion, now Solstice Canyon Park. Enjoy the natural hot springs alongside a mountain stream at Deep Creek. Take the guesswork out of choosing a trail that’s right for you. Each entry in this guidebook provides vital information like total distance, elevation gain or loss, hiking time, highlights, and difficulty—not to mention a full description of the route. You can take the entire family on a 1-mile stroll, or challenge yourself with a 52-mile backpacking trip. Inside you’ll find: 101 spectacular hikes, ranging from 1 to 52 miles Essential details such as distance, elevation change, and difficulty Route descriptions and directions to the trailheads Full-color maps and photographs Leave the urban world behind and discover the natural splendor of Southern California—from the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains to the Laguna Mountains and Anza-Borrego Desert, from the Torrey Pines beaches to the summit of San Jacinto Peak.

Discover Southern California's most inspiring trails! "HIKE Southern California: Best Day Hikes" is a must-have for every Southern California hiker. From Lost Palms Oasis to the HOLLYWOOD Sign to the top of Mt. Baldy, you're guaranteed to find a hike you'll like in this latest edition of one of the most popular trail guides of all time. This "greatest hits" collection of longtime Los Angeles Times hiking columnist John McKinney includes updates of classic trails and 25 new hikes. The guide feature more than 125 hikes, and comes complete with colorful stories, trusted trail accounts and easy-to-follow maps for all the hikes.From waterfalls to wildflowers to wilderness areas, enjoy a diversity of hikes in:Santa Barbara & Ojai, Griffith Park, Palm Springs. San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Monica Mountains, Orange County, Catalina Island, Joshua Tree National Park, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains.Take a water bottle, trail snack and this guide and: Chill-out in Cold Spring Canyon, Icehouse Canyon and Winter Creek. Cool-off at Eaton Falls, Seven Falls and Holy Jim Falls.Climb Mt. San Gorgonio, Mt. San Jacinto and Saddleback Peak. Get grand metropolitan vistas from atop Echo Mountain, Mt. Hollywood and Inspiration Point.Hike to dozens of classic and contemporary film locations including Shangri-La in Ojai, the M*A*S*H site along Malibu Creek, and to the Planet of the Apes at Point Dume."Other regions of the country have high peaks, pine forests, vast deserts and lovely shorelines, but only Southern California has all these environments," explains McKinney, aka The Trailmaster. "And four-season hiking, too!" The guide features a range of hikes for everyone--easy nature hikes, moderate outings and all-day adventures.

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 new edition of the classic 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.