Tom Stienstra - Moon California Hiking: The Complete Guide to 1,000 of the Best Hikes in the Golden State

TOM STIENSTRA ANN MARIE BROWN

Each hike in this book is listed in a consistent, easy-to-read format to help you choose the ideal hike. From a general overview of the setting to detailed driving directions, the profile will provide all the information you need. Here is a sample profile:

The icons in this book are designed to provide at-a-glance information on the difficulty and quality of each hike.

	The difficulty rating (rated with being the lowest and the highest) is based on the steepness of the trail and how difficult it is to traverse
	The quality rating (rated with being the lowest and the highest) is based largely on scenic beauty, but also takes into account how crowded the trail is and whether noise of nearby civilization is audible

Trails rated are very easy and suitable for hikers of all abilities, including young children.

Trails rated are easy-to-moderate and suitable for most hikers, including families with active children 6 and older.

Trails rated are moderately challenging and suitable for reasonably fit adults and older children who are very active.

Trails rated are very challenging and suitable for physically fit hikers who are seeking a workout.

Trails rated are extremely challenging and suitable only for experienced hikers who are in top physical condition.

This book is divided into chapters based on major regions in the state; an overview map of these regions precedes the table of contents. Each chapter begins with a map of the region, which is further broken down into detail maps. Trailheads are noted on the detail maps by number.

If the great outdoors is so great, then why dont people enjoy it more? The answer is because of the time trap, and I will tell you exactly how to beat it.

For many, the biggest problem is finding the time to go, whether it is hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, boating, biking, or even just for a good drive in the country. The solution? Believe it or not, the answer is to treat your fun just as you treat your work, and Ill tell you how.

Consider how you treat your job: Always on time? Go there every day you are scheduled? Do whatever it takes to get there and get it done? Right? No foolin thats right. Now imagine if you took the same approach to the outdoors. Suddenly your life would be a heck of a lot better.

The secret is to schedule all of your outdoor activities. For instance, I go fishing every Thursday evening, hiking every Sunday morning, and on an overnight trip every new moon (when stargazing is best). No matter what, Im going. Just like going to work, Ive scheduled it. The same approach works with longer adventures. The only reason I have been able to complete hikes ranging from 200 to 300 miles was that I scheduled the time to do it. The reason I spend 125 to 150 days a year in the field is that I schedule them. In my top year, I had nearly 200 days where at least part of the day was enjoyed taking part in outdoor recreation.

If you get out your calendar and write in the exact dates you are going, then youll go. If you dont, you wont. Suddenly, with only a minor change in your life plan, you can be living the life you were previously dreaming about.

Tom Stienstra

Dipsea Trail

A wise person once said that a culture can be measured by the resources it chooses to preserve. If thats true, then the state of California is an immense credit to our culture. The Golden State is blessed with an abundance of parks and preserves, including more than 25 units of the National Park System, 19 national forests, 137 federally designated wilderness areas, 279 state parks, and thousands of county and regional parks.

This huge mosaic of parklands celebrates Californias diverse landscape, which includes the highest peak in the contiguous United States (Mount Whitney at 14,495 feet or 14,505 feet, depending on which measurement is currently in vogue) and the lowest point in the western hemisphere (Badwater in Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level). Our state contains 20,000 square miles of desert, nearly 700 miles of Pacific coastline, an unaccountable wealth of snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes, a smattering of islands, and even a handful of volcanoes.

California also boasts its share of the worlds tallest living things, the towering coast redwoods. And we are the only state that is home to the worlds largest living trees (by volume), the giant sequoias. Also within Californias borders are groves of the planets oldest living things, the ancient bristlecone pines.

Quite simply, we live in a land of superlatives. Californias public lands are some of my favorite places on earth, and I believe that everyone should have the chance to see them, and be awed and humbled by their wonders. But this wish comes with a caveat attached: We must tread lightly and gently on our parks, with great respect and care for the land. And we must do whatever is required to ensure the protection of these beautiful places for future generations.

I wish you many inspiring days on the trail.

Ann Marie Brown

Cant decide where to hike this weekend? Here are our picks for the best hikes in California in 17 different categories, listed from north to south throughout the state:

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