50 Best Short Hikes San Diego

Book excerpt: 50 Best Short Hikes: San Diego is the first book in a new version of a series Wilderness Press initially launched in the 1990s. This 50 Best title sports a fresh, modern design while maintaining the original concept: It's a guidebook for busy outdoor lovers who want beautiful hikes to experience in limited spurts of time. With all of its trail distances tallying only 1 to 8 miles, 50 Best Short Hikes: San Diego showcases routes that can be completed in just an hour, a morning, or an afternoon. But these capsule distances are anything but dull or monotonous. Instead, myriad terrains beckon within these pages. Some trails wind along the coast, others weave through the canyons, and still others ascend mountains or meander into forests. Because of the attainable distances and the diverse land- and seascapes presented here, 50 Best Short Hikes: San Diego also appeals to hikers with physical limitations and to families with small children. All readers will appreciate the wealth of information about each trail area's varied history, geology, and amenities. As a longtime resident of San Diego and an avid outdoorsman, the author shares his favorite panoramas and pocket nirvanas in this Southern California region. He knows the nooks and crannies of his destinations, and he corrals them into this easy-to-follow, practical-to-use book. He divides San Diego into 5 micro-regions, with an overview map of the entire area. Then each individual entry includes a detailed map, directions to the trailhead, an at-a-glance info box, and personably written descriptive text. Design, information, and the author's writing style make this a compelling resource for local residents, and a keepsake for visitors.