Bring a New Perspective to Your Favorite San Diego Hikes!
If you’re an avid San Diego hiker, you should definitely own of these books. From plants and wildlife to notable geographical features, these guidebooks bring a new perspective to your hikes, even ones you’ve already hiked before.
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Afoot & Afield San Diego County
Jerry Schad was a legendary San Diego hiking author and journalist. This book is hands down one of the best hiking resources available. It’s well organized and easy to reference, and the detailed trail descriptions and sheer volume of hikes make it one of our favorite San Diego hiking books. The 5th edition was published in 2017 so one drawback is that it won’t contain newly created trails, and some of the older routes may eventually change. However, it is still a solid choice and highly recommended.
Coast to Cactus
This book is far more than a hiking guide to the best of San Diego County outdoors. It is a trail guide designed to teach appreciation and understanding for San Diego County classified by Conservation International as one of the 35 biodiversity hotspots in the world. It is like having a trail naturalist—a “Virtual Canyoneer”—citizen scientists trained by the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Purchase of this book supports the San Diego Natural History Museum’s mission: “to interpret the natural world through research, education, and exhibits; to promote understanding of the evolution and diversity of southern California and the peninsula of Baja California; and to inspire in all a respect for nature and the environment.”