Camping and Backpacking the San Francisco Bay Area

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Guide.
Review: Any San Francisco bookshelf will be naked without a copy of this one on it. Great book for the weekend adventurer.

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: Any San Francisco hiker needs a copy of this one on their bookshelf. Great descriptions, from where to park to the hours of the campground pool, this book has it all.

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: Any San Francisco hiker needs a copy of this one on their bookshelf. Great descriptions, from where to park to the hours of the campground pool, this book has it all.

Rating:
Summary: The Best in Bay Area Recreation
Review: I visit the San Francisco Bay Area several times a year and am always astounded by the amount of outdoor recreation that is literally at the doorstep of local residents. Yet most Bay area hiking seems to be of the "day-outing" variety. You can stroll through the redwoods at John Muir Woods National Monument, walk along the Golden Gate Bridge, or visit numerous regional parks for an afternoon picnic. But, as it happens, camping and backpacking opportunities also abound within just an hour or so drive of the metropolitan area. To learn about where you can do these activities, just pick up Heid's book.

This book has a number of virtues to recommend it. It is very well organized. Camping and backpacking are in separate portions of the book, and each section is further subdivided into three geographical regions: North Bay, East Bay, and Santa Cruz Mountains, making it easy to locate a camping or backpacking option. Additionally, the book has excellent topographical maps for the backpacking routes. Heid has carefully checked the mileage (trail signs tend to vary) and also provides detailed information on what to expect at the backcountry sites. Finally, Heid provides information on how to "give back" to the various organizations that protect open space in the Bay Area.

I will personally use this book mostly for camping. I like long day-hikes and most of the backpacking routes described in the book can also be hiked during the day. Heid's information on what to expect at the campground (and how far ahead to make reservations) are invaluable, as well as his discussions of area highlights nearby camps. This book was my most valuable purchase on a Memorial Day visit to Big Basin State Park. Everyone who loves California hiking and camping, particularly in the off season, should get it.

Rating:
Summary: The Best in Bay Area Recreation
Review: I visit the San Francisco Bay Area several times a year and am always astounded by the amount of outdoor recreation that is literally at the doorstep of local residents. Yet most Bay area hiking seems to be of the "day-outing" variety. You can stroll through the redwoods at John Muir Woods National Monument, walk along the Golden Gate Bridge, or visit numerous regional parks for an afternoon picnic. But, as it happens, camping and backpacking opportunities also abound within just an hour or so drive of the metropolitan area. To learn about where you can do these activities, just pick up Heid's book.

This book has a number of virtues to recommend it. It is very well organized. Camping and backpacking are in separate portions of the book, and each section is further subdivided into three geographical regions: North Bay, East Bay, and Santa Cruz Mountains, making it easy to locate a camping or backpacking option. Additionally, the book has excellent topographical maps for the backpacking routes. Heid has carefully checked the mileage (trail signs tend to vary) and also provides detailed information on what to expect at the backcountry sites. Finally, Heid provides information on how to "give back" to the various organizations that protect open space in the Bay Area.

I will personally use this book mostly for camping. I like long day-hikes and most of the backpacking routes described in the book can also be hiked during the day. Heid's information on what to expect at the campground (and how far ahead to make reservations) are invaluable, as well as his discussions of area highlights nearby camps. This book was my most valuable purchase on a Memorial Day visit to Big Basin State Park. Everyone who loves California hiking and camping, particularly in the off season, should get it.