This is the most detailed guide to hiking and backpacking in Big Sur. Explore the endless hiking and backpacking possibilities in 75 trips (plus numerous side trips) on the rugged coastline and isolated backcountry trails of Big Sur, Ventana Wilderness, and Silver Peak Wilderness. Stretching 90 miles from Carmel to San Simeon, Big Sur consists of coastal cliffs, jagged rocky promontories, ancient redwood forests, and lush riparian woodlands. This invaluable resource gives the latest information on the trails, roads, camps, and beaches in Big Sur, plus all of the area's state parks and wilderness areas.

This is the most detailed guide to hiking and backpacking in Big Sur. Explore the endless hiking and backpacking possibilities in 76 trips (plus numerous side trips) on the rugged coastline and isolated backcoutry trails of Big Sur, Ventana Wilderness, and Silver Peak Wilderness with this brand new guide. Stretching 90 miles from Carmel to San Simeon, Big Sur consists of coastal cliffs, jagged rocky promontories, ancient redwood forests, and lush riparian woodlands. This invaluable resource gives the latest information on the trails, roads, camps and beaches in Big Sur, plus all of the area's state parks and wilderness areas. The book includes: Pfeiffer Big Sur and Julia Pfeiffer Burns state parks, Ventana Wilderness, Point Lobos State Reserve, Carmel River and Garrapata state beaches, and more Trip descriptions with length, trail condition, highlights, and difficulty ratings A handy section listing Big Sur events, and the eateries, lodgings, campgrounds, and art galleries

Big Sur and the Canyon, set on California's Central Coast, is a thrilling, at times humorous tale of perhaps the most magnificent terrain in America's national forests. High adventure mix with poetic and vivid descriptions of life in the backcountry-the interior of the Ventana Wilderness. Forest fires, camping, backpacking, near death experiences, along with the spiritual intensity of what Livingstone calls his 'cathedral of the forest" dot these pages in the midst of the great freedom hikers and horsemen know in the wild and beautiful interior: redwood canyons, streams and waterfalls, to the high open dry country along the Coast Ridge a mile above the vast blue Pacific. Steinbeck referred to these mountains as 'Eden", and as the 'dark and mysterious Santa Lucias", in his great novel, East of Eden. In this book with its many descriptions, the Ventana is the Garden of Eden. An arduous and sometimes dangerous teacher, but truly free. What they say about Best Selling Author Harrison Edward Livingstone's novels and non-fiction: 'A triumph!"-The New York Times about David Johnson Passed Through Here, under the pen name of John Fairfield. About The Wild Rose: 'A foursquare sea novel in the tradition of Herman Melville"-Prof. William Alfred, Harvard University. 'Very good writing"-Publisher's Weekly 'Monumental Investigation!"-The Guardian

Big Sur is an awesome stretch of spectacular coastline in Central California. The Santa Lucia Mountains quickly rise over 5,000 feet from the ocean. This magnificent landscape begins near Carmel at Point Lobos State Reserve and extends 75 miles south to Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County, just south of the Monterey County line. The steep coastal mountain range and rugged shoreline isolate the Big Sur country, which maintains an unspoiled, rustic charm and relaxed, leisurely pace.This completely revised and updated edition of Day Hikes Around Big Sur includes 99 great day hikes along the coast and throughout the interior mountains. Hikes, which take from one hour to all day, range from easy beach strolls to strenuous mountain climbs with panoramic coastal vistas. The diverse terrain is a hiker's paradise with a well-designed trail system of more than 300 miles. The network of trails venture into the beautiful canyons and across the slopes and peaks, offering unparalleled views of the mountains merging with the coastline. Along Highway 1 are endless views of the scalloped coastline and the deep blue Pacific. Awe-inspiring bridges span numerous creeks and deep canyons. Highlights along the miles of trails include isolated beaches, eroded coves with tide pools, rugged marine terraces, redwood and Monterey cypress groves, shady canyons, waterfalls dropping into mossy glens, lighthouses, and vertical cliffs with crested ridges.Statistics, accurate driving and hiking directions, and numerous maps make these hiking adventures stress free. Dog admission information is included. Most trails can be accessed from Carmel Valley Road or Highway 1, including many beach access points.Companion guides include Day Hikes Around Monterey and Carmel and Day Hikes On the California Central Coast.

Author Barry Parr describes the region along spectacular Highway One, from the parks, lore, history, and scenic riches, giving strong emphasis to the many day-hikes both from the coast and interior roads, and lesser emphasis on selected backpacking routes mainly in the Ventana Wilderness.

Opportunities abound for hikers and equestrians in Big Sur Country, its adjacent state parks, coastline, and public beaches. Here is the guide to exploring 260 square miles of wilderness.

101 Hikes in Northern California by Matt Heid benefits readers by narrowing down the multitude of options for hiking in Northern California to the very best of the best adventures. It is distinct from other similar guidebooks in that it covers the northern two-thirds of the state, including nearly the entirety of the Sierra Nevadas south to Kings Canyon National Park, and the entire Big Sur region along the coast south to Silver Peak Wilderness. It also provides significant geographic diversity: hikes are spread out across the entire region. No matter where you are in northern California, you can find a hike in the book within a short drive. The guide is unique in the amount of natural history information it provides, especially the geologic stories of the featured destinations. It provides not just the essential directions for completing a hike, it enhances the experience by telling the story of how the landscape came to be the way it is.