California Desert Byways: Backcountry Drives for the Whole Family

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: California Desert Byways is an invaluable resourse for 4WD. The trail descriptions are extremely accurate, concise and helpful. I liked the photographs because they give a perspective on a tour. The list of resources, parks and places of interest in the back of the book is invaluable. I wish I had time to go on all the drives. Good job.

Rating:
Summary: Sure does help one appreciate the desert!
Review: I bought this book for a spring fling in Death Valley and other desert areas. I never realized before the places I could drive to, all the little dirt roads to really neat places. Glad I bought it.

Rating:
Summary: useful and accurate, just wish it still had spiral binding
Review: I bought this newer edition to replace the old one I lost. This edition has better coverage, photos, etc., and is improved over the old one. But it no longer has the spiral binding that made my old one easier to use. That's disappointing, but I guess its what inside that counts, and that part is still good.

Rating:
Summary: useful and accurate, just wish it still had spiral binding
Review: This spiral-bound book has a great one-page description/one-page map format which makes it easy to use in the car. Huegel has travelled backroads both familiar and less-known and his descriptions are accurate if a little bland. At times I wish he had expanded his prose beyond the rigid one page format but the visitor with a sharp eye can find the sites and sights he omits. He adventures with his family and avoids rough roads like the Lippincott Mine Road in DVNP (a wise decision as drivers need experience here) concentrating on easier routes, although the Inyo Mountain trip definitely needs 4WD (its pretty tough in spots). He also includes many routes outside the familiar park system proving that you don't have to go to a designated scenic area to enjoy driving in the California desert.

Rating:
Summary: one page wonders
Review: This spiral-bound book has a great one-page description/one-page map format which makes it easy to use in the car. Huegel has travelled backroads both familiar and less-known and his descriptions are accurate if a little bland. At times I wish he had expanded his prose beyond the rigid one page format but the visitor with a sharp eye can find the sites and sights he omits. He adventures with his family and avoids rough roads like the Lippincott Mine Road in DVNP (a wise decision as drivers need experience here) concentrating on easier routes, although the Inyo Mountain trip definitely needs 4WD (its pretty tough in spots). He also includes many routes outside the familiar park system proving that you don't have to go to a designated scenic area to enjoy driving in the California desert.