Hiking Las Vegas: 60 Hikes Within 60 Minutes of the Strip

Rating:
Summary: Good effort, but many shortcomings
Review: "Hiking Las Vegas" is a good attempt to cover an area which is surprisingly devoid of guidebooks. This book covers hikes both on established trails and over unmarked routes. I was initially impressed by the number and variety of hikes that it contains -- far more than any of the older guide books for the area. After using this book for several of the trail hikes and unmarked routes, however, I was disappointed by its many shortcomings. My biggest complaint lies with the book's "maps," or, rather, its lack of maps. Line drawings are provided for most of the trail hikes; however, none of these "maps" are drawn to scale and are, consequently, of little use. Also, distances given to landmarks, trailheads, trail junctions, etc. do not seem to be too accurate. Stop at an area's visitor center for better directions and trail maps before heading out. The author states that "maps" are not provided for the routes because they would be of limited use. Instead the author uses black and white photographs, compass bearings, and landmarks as guides along the routes. Unfortunately, some of the photographs are not distinct (short ridges with scattered trees abound), compass bearings can be of little use if one is not standing in the same place as the author when he took the reading, and some ephemeral landmarks used by the author are indistinct and can change quickly (eg. downed logs). Although helpful, these techniques are no substitute for a well-drawn map (to scale!!!!!) which a hiker can then transfer over to a topographical map (anyone hiking off trail should carry one). Another problem is that the author's rating system for the hikes seems to be skewed for hard core endurance athletes. Taking children on some of the hikes designated for such by the author would result in some very tired, grouchy kids. Take these ratings with a grain of salt. Having used many guidebooks and done many hikes in the American southwest, the pacific northwest, and two other countries, I have to say that the shortcomings of "Hiking Las Vegas" put it near the bottom of my list of quality guidebooks.

Rating:
Summary: No comparison to Appalacian Mountain Club Guides
Review: As a long time hiker in the Northeast, I have used the Appalacian Mountain Club guides for years. In comparison, the trail instructions in this book are poor. I recently hiked up Bridge Mountain. I am glad I hired a guide becuase the instructions in the book were insufficient.

Rating:
Summary: Book Triumphs Over Several Summits
Review: Being a local of Las Vegas I have been to Red Rock Canyon several times. There are limited hiking trails. The author covers the trails, but does much more. There are many scrambles to peaks that without this book would be virtually impossible to get to. Unfortunately, the rangers at Red Rock want to ban this book. I guess they would rather be gambling than doing their jobs. Many rangers don't even know where named peaks are in Red Rock. My advice is to buy this book or visit the author's Web site (same name as the book) and forget stopping at the visitor's center for information.

Rating:
Summary: A great book, if you're looking to get lost off trail
Review: First, on the positive side, this is a handy book if you're simply looking for trail descriptions, but if you're looking to explore some of the "off the beaten path" areas, be sure to have a topo map and a compass (and you won't need this book, if you do), because if you rely on this book it will only get you one place- lost. There are descriptions such as look for "a fallen tree, about four feet off the ground". After an hour's hike and seeing numerous fallen trees, you begin to wonder which he is talking about. Also, can you be sure the tree he is referencing will still be there? The "maps" as he calls them are simply drawings and the photographs are often unclear. He sometimes gives compass points, but you must be standing where he was for them to be accurate. At best this book can be used simply as a description of the area and what sights there are to be seen. At worst, this can be a dangerous book, not to be used by the novice hiker.

Rating:
Summary: good book for both beginners and experienced hikers
Review: Here's a guide book I can use to help me train for endurence events and also use to take my children hiking. I was impressed with the number (40) of hikes in Red Rock Canyon - far more than the one page handout found at the Visitor Center. Some of the routes in the book are very hard, but as the author points out they are not for beginners or people looking for trail hiking. If you want to stand at a peak where few have evey stood, this is the book for you. However, there's enough easy hikes for the beginner to justifiy buying the book. The author also covers 20 hikes in the Mt. Charleston area. I only wished he would of covered hikes in the Lake Mead area.

Rating:
Summary: Important points about the book.
Review: Hiking Las Vegas offers locals and tourists an alternative to the casinos. It is the only guidebook to the area that offers complete and accurate descriptions of 60 hikes all within an one-hour drive of the Las Vegas Strip. The hikes range from easy, which the whole family can enjoy, to extremely difficult. The "quick reference section" includes: distance of the hike, elevation gain, time to complete, difficulty, danger level, and if suitable for children. Photos of key landmarks and a map of each hike are also included.

Rating:
Summary: Great! easy to find and follow trails
Review: I bought this book when it first came out and I have hiked about a dozen trails listed in the book. I especially like the detailed directions that make it easy to find and hike the trails. In my opinion this is the best book there is about hiking. I recommend it to anyone who is planning a trip to Las Vegas and doesn't want to spend all their time in smoky casinos.

Rating:
Summary: The best book for hiking around las vegas!!
Review: I have hiked a lot in the Vegas area, and the first thing I noticed is that this book is not for first-timers! It is more useful for locating general spots to hike. It is very tough to follow the text and tiny B&W pictures to stay precisely on the trails. See if your library has a copy, or buy one used. It is worth a look and can be helpful.

Rating:
Summary: not for beginners
Review: I have hiked a lot in the Vegas area, and the first thing I noticed is that this book is not for first-timers! It is more useful for locating general spots to hike. It is very tough to follow the text and tiny B&W pictures to stay precisely on the trails. See if your library has a copy, or buy one used. It is worth a look and can be helpful.

Rating:
Summary: Hike Las Vegas, but not with this book.
Review: I tried to use this book. However, the route descriptions are poor, and the author seems to have trouble telling north from south. There are too many errors to be typos. The area has some great hiking, and the book points out some good ideas, but be sure to take your topo map and compass! I thought about selling the book on half.com, but I would feel too guilty selling it to someone with less outdoor experience than I have.