The Hiker's Hip Pocket Guide to the Mendocino Coast

Rating:
Summary: Useful, but sometimes inaccurate
Review: This book contains 54 hikes on the beautiful Mendocino coast. They're organized geographically from north to south, and there is also an extra table of content that orders them by activities (for runners, for backpackers...). Each of the descriptions comes with a side bar with the essential info on the respective hike (how to get there, difficulty, distance/time etc. etc.), some come with a map. All of this is arranged in a way that makes sense and is practical.

However, while the choice of hikes has to be commended for the beauty and the awesomeness of them, the descriptions and the maps certainly could use some more accuracy. E. g., we wanted to do hike 34 (Forest History Trail), but never found the start of it. The book says "... go 6.95 miles down this road, the last mile being gravel, then look for a level area for parking and a trail sign post." No level spot, no sign. Not there. Not a mile farther down. Not a mile farther up. A typo? Or maybe we were just too stupid... ;-)

Anyway: It is the only book about hiking on the Mendocino Coast, it is certainly useful, but take what it says with a grain of salt.