audiobook Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors by The Canyoneers of the San Diego Natural History Museum in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The Best Trail Guide to the San Diego AreaBy DavidMillsThis is the best trail guide I have ever seen about anywhere; and certainly the best guide to all the trails in San Diego county; including those in canyons and wetlands; and on beaches. As I was hiking along these trails; I was thinking that I should write a book about them; but then I found this guide and all such thoughts went out of my head. It is so well-researched and written; with loads of information on any trail; that I simply won't have enough time in my life to write anything comparable -- I will just have to confine myself to trying to walk along as many of these trails as possible.4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Marvelous Guide!By B.Z.As an associate professor who has been not only gone on Canyoneer treks but has assigned them for students; for a good many years; I am more than delighted to see this wonderful book become available. No; it is not a thin and lightweight pocket guide; nor is it meant to be. But with high grade; heavy weight; glossy paper and color images throughout; I am more than happy to forego something of lighter weight but far lesser quality and usefulness.The amount of information and the organization of the hikes is quite remarkable....and all in color. One may see at a glance; distance; difficulty level [yes; this is subjective; but I would far rather have a level [4 as listed really be level 2 for me; than vice versa!]; elevation change; probable time to complete; how the trails are used [bikes; dogs; horses; etc.] what optional topo map may be used; trail-head geographic coordinates; directions to the trail-head and any special information such as opening and closure times. And all of that is viewed at the beginning of every hike listed. Following that information is a local map and a list of symbols showing the habitats one will encounter. That is followed by background/historical information; how the trail proceeds; and what one will encounter as flora and fauna....including color images illustrative of the habitat/s. Too; 'tips' are included to make the jaunt more enjoyable and/or safer.Is every single; imaginable trail in San Diego County listed and described? Of course not; but with more than 250 hikes described; as per above; no one should complain one iota. This is truly a gem of a book and I am thrilled to have a copy....so much so that I will be giving a copy to a student with the highest grade; for outstanding academic achievement. That should tell you something!....Highly recommended; indeed!11 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Not as useful as I'd hoped.By CustomerAvid Hiker and Native San Diegan here.I was looking forward to this; even pre-ordered it. Unfortunately; it's not all it's cracked up to be. The overview maps are all but useless; there's no table of contents for each section; The sectioning out of the county seems rather random; and for areas with a lot of trails (mission Trails; Daley Ranch as examples) they only have entries for a couple of the trails and don't include a full map of the area- only of the trails they specifically address and the ones immediately adjacent to them. There are no indexes except for alphabetical. It's also physically big and unwieldy.. I think there's a couple of more things but that's just off the top of my head.I do like the detailed descriptions of the flora and fauna near the trails; but that said; if you're looking for a guide to hikes around the county it falls short in many other areas.Overall; I'm not finding it terribly useful or easy to peruse/find stuff. I actually wish I hadn't bought it. Will be sticking to Afoot and Afield (maybe using this as an addendum for the biological stuff) and online stuff.