Explore! Big Sur Country: A Guide to Exploring the Coastline, Byways, Mountains, Trails, and Lore

I once tried backpacking a trail into the Santa Lucias, the mountains that are behind the precipitous Big Sur Coast, but turned back after encountering ticks, rattlers, and poison oak. I even bought the old Schaffer trail guidebook, which now sits on my bookshelf collecting dust. I have not given up hope for more exploring in this area after reading this excellent guidebook. I went in the wrong season for ticks (go in Fall, not in Spring). Maybe it was the wrong trail for poison oak (there are roads and other paths to hike that have much less bushwhacking and exposure to that common bane of hikers, which the author suggests). And I think I had an undue fear of those rattlers. If you want a guide to all sorts of activities and explorations in this dramatic but harsh wild area, get this guide. It covers every way of staying here-from car-camping to backpacking and even suggests some pricey luxury resorts for those who can afford them. It is not a pretty picture book kind of guide-it has detailed mileage logs, suggested itineraries, good references, and includes a few useful maps including a colored fold-out map that is a good overview map to the area. This is a guidebook that will satisfy most visitors, from casual tourists, moderate hikers, to wilderness explorers who can clamber up 2 or 3,000 feet of hot trail. And this writer condenses a lot of history of the area into a few choice pages that whet the appetite for more.

This book is very informative and interesting. Probably one of the best books on the Big Sur. Loved reading it and so will you.

I have been to Big Sur many times since the 70's and after reading this book I discovered there are places I missed in past visits. This is a very good overview of Big Sur and is an interesting read. I would recommend this book to anyone that has not been to Big Sur. You will get many insights into this beautiful and magical coastal area. I am traveling to Big Sur in a few weeks and I am very grateful that I read this book before my trip. Thank you Mr. Parr for leading me to new places to visit.

By all accounts, California has some stunningly beautiful coastline. Probably the two most spectacular stretches are the Lost Coast, from Humbolt to Mendocino county, and the Big Sur Coastline, streching south from Carmel to Cambria. The former is accessible only by trail, and one narrow winding road from Humbolt Redwoods to the little community of Shelter Cove. The latter is closely followed by the famous Highway 1, and is the subject of this nice guide by veteran Falcon Guide author Barry Parr. For most people, this is the best place to see California's fine coastline. This guide describes the region well. This book is broadly divided into driving, hiking, and local lore and history sections. All three are entertaining and worth reading. Parr provides an overview of Hwy 1 and the major stops along the way. He also describes many fine backcountry routes into the Santa Lucia range (the northernmost section of the sprawling Los Padres National Forest). For this reviewer, the many fine hiking trails and routes Parr describes are the main attractions. Based on the trails I have hiked, notably those in the state park system (Limekiln, Julia Pfeiffer Burns, Big Sur, and Point Lobos) Parr's descriptions are very accurate. Having read the book, I am now looking forward to exploring the Ventana Wilderness and a few nature trails I had previously missed, most notably at Redwood Gulch, the southern most redwood forest in the state. Parr also shares local lore and legend with readers, including such fanciful new age topics as UFOs, the "Dark Watchers" of the Ventana wilderness, and the lost spirits at Point Lobos. In all, this is an excellent guide. If you just want to enhance your enjoyment of driving the Pacific Coast Highway, this is a great place to start. You will be guided to the Henry Miller museum, Hearst Castle, and many wonderful overlooks. Those with more time can explore some of the many terrific trails in this region, while animal and bird viewers will find ample material on when and where to see some of the area's wildlife. Barry Parr is one of the best writers with Falcon Press and this volume lives up to its predecessors. Get it and enjoy the best of California's coast.