Hiking Southern California

by Roddy Scheer

Overview

Boasting a mild climate, incredible diversity, and thousands of miles of hiking trails, Southern California offers a gem for every hiker. Hiking Southern California is your ticket to rewarding adventures in the backcountry of the southern third of the Golden State, including Death Valley National Park, Mojave National Preserve, the San Gabriel Mountains, and Joshua Tree National Park. This new edition of the classic guidebook features detailed descriptions of more than 50 classic hikes, with accurate and up-to-date trail maps and all the information you need for planning enjoyable outings year-round. This book describes short, leisurely strolls and demanding excursions of several days. The hikes follow routes varying from gentle, well-graded trails to rugged, cross-country scrambles, including old favorites known to many and obscure routes known only to a few. Surveying the most awe-inspiring scenery in the region, Hiking Southern California will satisfy both beginning and veteran hikers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493043064
Publisher:	Globe Pequot Publishing
Publication date:	10/01/2019
Series:	State Hiking Guides Series
Edition description:	2nd Edition
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Roddy Scheer is a writer and photographer specializing in nature, the outdoors, environmental issues and travel. His writing has appeared regularly in publications including Seattle Magazine, Northwest Travel and E/The Environmental Magazine, and he has co-authored the books Mt. St. Helens: The Continuing Story (KC Publications, 2005) and Earthtalk: Questions & Answers About Our Environment (Plume, 2009). Meanwhile, his stock photography collection of iconic nature and wildlife subjects includes more than 10,000 images. For more information, check out www.roddyscheer.com.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction 1

Using This Book 1

Backcountry Rules and Wilderness Regulations 4

Backcountry Hazards 7

Driving to the Trailheads 10

Before You Head Out 10

The Hikes

Death Valley National Park 12

1 Eureka Dunes 14

2 The Racetrack to Ubehebe Peak 18

3 Fall Canyon 23

4 Hells Gate to Death Valley Buttes 27

5 Mosaic Canyon 31

6 Wildrose Peak 35

7 Nemo Canyon to Mud Spring 40

8 Darwin Falls 43

9 Coffin Peak 46

10 Golden Canyon to Zabriskie Point 50

11 Desolation Canyon 54

12 Natural Bridge Canyon 58

13 Sheephead Pass 62

Mojave National Preserve 65

14 Lanfair Valley to Fort Piute 66

15 Keystone Canyon to New York Peak 71

16 Cima Road to Teutonia Peak 77

17 Kelso Dunes 81

18 Keibaker Road to Peak 2451 85

19 North Mid Hills Trail 88

20 Eagle Rocks 92

21 Table Mountain 95

22 Hole-in-the-Wall 99

23 Wild Horse Mesa 103

24 Quail Spring Basin 107

25 Fir Canyon-Clark Mountain 110

The Mountainous Backbone of Southern California 114

26 Bird Spring Pass to Skinner Peak 115

27 Big Falls Canyon 118

28 Mount Pinos to Grouse Mountain 122

29 Pine Mountain 126

30 Sierra Pelona 129

31 South Fork to Devil's Chair 132

32 Devil's Punchbowl 136

33 Twin Peaks 139

34 Smith Mountain 142

35 Mount Baden-Powell 145

36 Mount San Antonio 148

37 Cucamonga Peak 152

38 Cajon Mountain 156

39 Delamar Mountain 159

40 Champion Lodgepole Pine 162

41 Ponderosa and Whispering Pines Nature Trails 165

42 Anderson Peak 167

43 San Gorgonio Mountain 171

44 Fish Creek Aspen Grove 176

45 Sugarloaf Mountain 179

46 San Jacinto Peak 182

47 Red Tahquitz 185

48 Arroyo Seco Creek to Agua Tibia Mountain 189

49 Borrego Palm Canyon 193

50 Elephant Trees Trails 196

Joshua Tree National Park 200

51 Black Rock Campground to Peak 5195 201

52 Indian Cove Nature Trail 205

53 Indian Cove Picnic Area to Rattlesnake Canyon 208

54 Fortynine Palms Oasis 211

55 Barker Dam and Wall Street Mill 215

56 Ryan Mountain 218

57 Keys View to Inspiration Peak 221

58 Boy Scout Trail to Willow Hole 224

59 Cholla Garden Nature Trail 227

60 Lost Palms Oasis 230

61 Mastodon Peak Loop 234

The Art of Hiking 238

About the Authors 256