Your essential trail guide to San Diego County

Since 1986, Jerry Schad’s Afoot & Afield: San Diego County has been the premier trail guide for hikers, backpackers, and mountain bikers. In fact, the Los Angeles Times called it the “bible of San Diego hiking.” This fifth edition features 282 trips, ranging from short, self-guided nature trails to challenging peak climbs and canyon treks. Coauthor Scott Turner has fully updated this edition, which includes new maps and more than 30 new hikes.

The book encompasses almost all public—and a few private—lands within San Diego County, including Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cleveland National Forest, the Cuyamaca Mountains, and numerous county and city parks. It describes routes ranging from brief, family-friendly hikes to multiple-day overnight trips in remote regions of the backcountry, providing equal weight to the scenic and recreational value of each trip. For every route, you’ll find at-a-glance essential information, including distance, hiking time, and elevation gain/loss; notes on which trails are suitable for children, mountain bikes, dogs, equestrians, and backpacking; and accurate and precise driving and hiking directions. Plus, each trip features at least one significant botanical, cultural, or geological highlight with detailed information about what makes it special.