Rating: 
Summary: Opinionated it us, and it is useful for the most part
Review: If you are planning to do much hiking in the area, this book is a valuable resource. Based on the several hikes we took (all but one in the "premier" categogy), we agreed with its evaluations of the scenic worth. Without this book, we would not have made reservations for the bus the Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park where we found the best scenery and hiking of our trip. However, the authors seem to rate difficulty of the hikes based more on the distance rather than the steepness or elevation change. On several hikes we did not agree with these ratings. We (a couple in our 50s in reasonably good condition and experienced day hikers) found shorter hikes called easy in the book to be moderate to somewhat strenuous and a longer hike rated moderate to be fairly easy. The authors' second date was a 20 mile day hike, so they are almost certainly stronger hikers than most of the readers. Make your own evaluations based on the hikes' lengths, elevation changes, and descriptions.
Rating:
Summary: Good but more opinions wanted
Review: My fiance and I love the great outdoors and we took a trip to the Canadian Rockies for the first time June/July 2002. We found that we would not have enjoyed the trip as much if we had not made a little investment on this book. The detail descriptions such as "two boulders accross from it" really help with unsigned trails. We were there ten days and we hiked 9 of the "Premier" hikes. Some of the trails do not belong to the National Park (Alpine Club?) and these trails have no signs. For example, we would not have known the way to Bow Hut if it's not for "limestone boulder bridging the gorge" and "For Bow Hut, Cross the limestone bridge." (Samuel Smith's review about Bow Hut is wrong) We met a couple and we were mentioning to them about the lack signs and they joked, "The Canadians are really stingy with signs." Also, details like visitors cannot drive their private vehicles into the Lake O'hara region but have to purchase a bus ticket and ride the bus or hike in helped us save time. There are two main reasons I give the book a four star instead of five. First, trail maps would have helped us a little bit more. Second, it would have helped us with decision making if the book had included some warnings about long and uninspiring hikes (except until you've arrived at the destination). For example, our first hike was Verdant Pass (22.5km, 14mi). The trail through the forest was very wet and narrow and of course the only view is trees. Two things we had to avoid were running water and mosquitoes. We hiked more than 9km (5.5mi) but had to turn back because of the advancing dark clouds (the day was raining on and off). I'm sure that Verdant Pass is as beautiful as any other "Premier" hikes but it's a long and uninspiring hike. To have a worthwhile hiking experience, I would strongly advise those who don't know much about the Canadians Rockies to spend a little money on guide books, if not this one, then some other one. I bought two books and in the end, we wasted this book (beaten, wrinkled and water soaked) and I can't even remember the name of the other one; this is simply to tell you that we use this book a lot. Though 7 of our ten days included rain, we had a great time hiking. So, go and take a hike.
Rating:
Summary: We Didn't Waste Our Time
Review: My fiance and I love the great outdoors and we took a trip to the Canadian Rockies for the first time June/July 2002. We found that we would not have enjoyed the trip as much if we had not made a little investment on this book. The detail descriptions such as "two boulders accross from it" really help with unsigned trails. We were there ten days and we hiked 9 of the "Premier" hikes. Some of the trails do not belong to the National Park (Alpine Club?) and these trails have no signs. For example, we would not have known the way to Bow Hut if it's not for "limestone boulder bridging the gorge" and "For Bow Hut, Cross the limestone bridge." (Samuel Smith's review about Bow Hut is wrong) We met a couple and we were mentioning to them about the lack signs and they joked, "The Canadians are really stingy with signs." Also, details like visitors cannot drive their private vehicles into the Lake O'hara region but have to purchase a bus ticket and ride the bus or hike in helped us save time. There are two main reasons I give the book a four star instead of five. First, trail maps would have helped us a little bit more. Second, it would have helped us with decision making if the book had included some warnings about long and uninspiring hikes (except until you've arrived at the destination). For example, our first hike was Verdant Pass (22.5km, 14mi). The trail through the forest was very wet and narrow and of course the only view is trees. Two things we had to avoid were running water and mosquitoes. We hiked more than 9km (5.5mi) but had to turn back because of the advancing dark clouds (the day was raining on and off). I'm sure that Verdant Pass is as beautiful as any other "Premier" hikes but it's a long and uninspiring hike. To have a worthwhile hiking experience, I would strongly advise those who don't know much about the Canadians Rockies to spend a little money on guide books, if not this one, then some other one. I bought two books and in the end, we wasted this book (beaten, wrinkled and water soaked) and I can't even remember the name of the other one; this is simply to tell you that we use this book a lot. Though 7 of our ten days included rain, we had a great time hiking. So, go and take a hike.
Rating:
Summary: Don't believe everything you read.
Review: The Copelands offer a worthwhile guidebook, provided that you base your judgements on the same criteria they do. This isn't all that hard to do: most people will agree that the scenery around Lake Louise is as good as it gets, but that the hiking experience is severely diminished by the mobs of people strolling to the teahouses. My only problem comes in the description of the hike to the Bow Hut, where the instructions they give are flat out wrong. As you climb above Bow Lake, you need to cross a stream. Most hut-bound people clearly use a natural bridge across a gorge to do this. However, the Copelands emphatically instruct you not to use this crossing, and instead to ford the stream higher up. I have no idea as to why they do this. Without their guidebook, though, I'd have no clue that the area even existed, so I really can't complain. With this book, as with all guidebooks, you shouldn't place complete faith in the directions offered-- you still must remain aware of your surroundings.
Rating:
Summary: Don't believe everything you read.
Review: The Copelands offer a worthwhile guidebook, provided that you base your judgements on the same criteria they do. This isn't all that hard to do: most people will agree that the scenery around Lake Louise is as good as it gets, but that the hiking experience is severely diminished by the mobs of people strolling to the teahouses. My only problem comes in the description of the hike to the Bow Hut, where the instructions they give are flat out wrong. As you climb above Bow Lake, you need to cross a stream. Most hut-bound people clearly use a natural bridge across a gorge to do this. However, the Copelands emphatically instruct you not to use this crossing, and instead to ford the stream higher up. I have no idea as to why they do this. Without their guidebook, though, I'd have no clue that the area even existed, so I really can't complain. With this book, as with all guidebooks, you shouldn't place complete faith in the directions offered-- you still must remain aware of your surroundings.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Waste Your Time Hiking in the Canadien Rockies
Review: This book was dead on. We took three of the "Outstanding" hikes and they were magnificent. Even the suggestions ( take the steeper detour up Bald Hills was the right thing to do ) I liked the section were they upgraded hikes for the bumper seasons ( less crowded ) Our only problem was gettinmg a group os six to hike in grizzley terr.
Rating:
Summary: 1998 edition was excellent, esp. for exp., in shape hiker
Review: We got this book in Canada and knew nothing about the different trails in the parks covered by the book. We really liked it - very good descriptions and selection of wonderfully senic trails, and all the hikes we took were really neat - we only took hikes in the premier or outstanding class. We changed our (loosely) planned itinery to do some of the hikes described as premier and were not disappointed. "Opiniated" yes, but most hikers would share the opinions and preferences. We avoided several less desireable hikes because of their lower senic ratings. Only possible criticism is that the difficulty rating and times for hikes was aimed at those who are not in the over 50, over 50lbs overweight category like me and I was slower and worked harder than the rating. Would be accurate for younger hikers in better shape. Overall, however, a very, very good guide.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: We used this book on a recent day-hiking trip to the Canadian Rockies. While the "rad" writing style isn't exactly our cup of tea, the hike descriptions and ratings are right on. Every "premier"-rated hike we took was an absolute winner. Note that the book does not include any maps at all -- not even sketches -- so getting good hiking maps to go along with it is a must. When we traveled from the Rockies to Southwest British Columbia we were devastated not to find the authors' "Don't Waste Your Time" for that region in any local bookstores or hiking shops we passed. We've used many, many hiking books for various regions around the world over the years, and "Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies" truly stands out as the most useful and fun. Congratulations to the authors.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: We used this book on a recent day-hiking trip to the Canadian Rockies. While the "rad" writing style isn't exactly our cup of tea, the hike descriptions and ratings are right on. Every "premier"-rated hike we took was an absolute winner. Note that the book does not include any maps at all -- not even sketches -- so getting good hiking maps to go along with it is a must. When we traveled from the Rockies to Southwest British Columbia we were devastated not to find the authors' "Don't Waste Your Time" for that region in any local bookstores or hiking shops we passed. We've used many, many hiking books for various regions around the world over the years, and "Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies" truly stands out as the most useful and fun. Congratulations to the authors.
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