This guide takes you into the little-known wilds of three central coast counties: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. Each trip lists mileage, difficulty, elevation gain, and a "child rating," and has a route map.

50 Best Short Hikes San Diego highlights enough diverse routes in Southern California's showpiece city for a year of weekly hikes. From sidewalk strolls and historic neighborhoods, to wildflowers and waterfalls, pleasant pastimes and panoramic vistas unfold in this handy guidebook. As the title says, these routes are "short." They range from less than 1 mile to nearly 8 miles, with an average of 5 miles, each, over all 50 of the hikes. And all lie within 30 miles of San Diego's central core. Outdoor author and longtime San Diego resident Jerry Schad takes you from the beauty of Del Mar Crest and Beach on the north coast, to the inland Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve. He guides you from walks in San Diego's Torrey Pines Beach and Reserve, to Rice Canyon in the south and the Hollenbeck Preserve in the east. Beaches, urban settings, nature preserves, and mountain peaks beckon locals to explore their own backyards and visitors to enjoy one of America's most stunning metropolitan environments. Detailed maps and enticing photos accompany each descriptive entry. Whether you have one hour or all day to stretch your legs, you'll find yourself turning to this guidebook again and again.

The best way to appreciate the richness of the desert landscape is on foot. The best dayhikes in and around three desert parks, with accurate maps, photos, and tips on desert hiking.

50 Best Short Hikes San Diegohighlights enough diverse routes in Southern California’s showpiece city for a year of weekly hikes. From sidewalk strolls and historic neighborhoods, to wildflowers and waterfalls, pleasant pastimes and panoramic vistas unfold in this handy guidebook. As the title says, these routes are “short.” They range from less than 1 mile to nearly 8 miles, with an average of 5 miles, each, over all 50 of the hikes. And all lie within 30 miles of San Diego’s central core. Outdoor author and longtime San Diego resident Jerry Schad takes you from the beauty of Del Mar Crest and Beach on the north coast, to the inland Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve. He guides you from walks in San Diego’s Torrey Pines Beach and Reserve, to Rice Canyon in the south and the Hollenbeck Preserve in the east. Beaches, urban settings, nature preserves, and mountain peaks beckon locals to explore their own backyards and visitors to enjoy one of America’s most stunning metropolitan environments. Detailed maps and enticing photos accompany each descriptive entry. Whether you have one hour or all day to stretch your legs, you’ll find yourself turning to this guidebook again and again.

* Guidebook to 55 dog-friendly hikes in California's Central Coast, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, and the Sierra Nevada* Tips on trail etiquette, trip preparations, finding appropriate routes for your dog, reducing environmental impacts, and more* Most up-to-date info on leash laws and regulationsCentral California has it all - gorgeous coastal parkland, mountainous wilderness areas, and everything in between. Hiking with your dog in Central California has never been easier for residents and visitors alike. This guide includes dog-friendly trails between Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo, stretching across the Central Valley eastward to Lee Vining and southward to Lone Pine. These trails are not only legal for canine hikers, but also welcoming and safe. Additionally, this guide presents information on hiking responsibly with your dog: what to do when you encounter other hikers, tips on minimizing negative impacts, and skills for preparing your dog for a hike in the varied terrainof Central California.

* The best 66 short hikes in the Southern Sierra* Handy appendices to find the Sierra hikes you desire* Two trip summary tablesAn area that's larger than the entire European Alps, the South Sierra offers unparalleled beauty and extensive hiking options. The drive to the various trailheads alone will take you past the largest trees in the world, provide dramatic views of some of the deepest canyons in the United States, and reveal splendid glimpses of the highest peak in the lower 48states.