Hiking Southern California: A Guide to Southern California's Greatest Hiking Adventures

Ron Adkinson has written numerous hiking guides for Falcon Press. One suspects his massive list of publications is really meant to subsidize his true passion: hiking. Not a bad way to live. This particular guide covers much of Southern California and hidden within its pages are some true gems. Adkin's book is divided into four parts: Death Valley, the Mojave National Preserve, Southern California Mountains, and Joshua Tree National Park. In each area he includes a number of hikes that are classics: beautiful hikes mentioned in many guides and on which you are certain to encounter many people. But the book also contains numerous out of the way gems that you won't find elsewhere. In the mountains section, for example, he includes Pacific Crest Trail rambles along Sierra Pelona ridge and the Scodie Mountains, scenic areas you won't find described elsewhere. Indeed, people hoping to "get away from it all" will find ample opportunity to do so among the pages of this book.Adkinson has a strong bias towards climbing peaks. You won't find a lot of nature walks in this guide, although he does include a sprinkling of short family hikes (the Cholla Cactus Gardens in Joshua Tree is my favorite). But if you like good views, this is the guide to get. The only reason this book receives 4 stars instead of 5 is for what it does not cover. It is simply unthinkable that a guide to Southern California hiking should exclude the whole of San Diego and Orange Counties. These areas have some beautiful country that deserves coverage in a volume of this scope. Unfortunately the recent (2003) fires destroyed many fine hiking areas (including most of Rancho Cuyamaca State Park) so it is all the more important that modern guides update what is available in this area. Despite the lack of comprehensive coverage implied by the title this is an excellent book. Get it and enjoy.