Backpacker Hidden Gems, by Maren Horjus

Have you ever gone backpacking and your "get away from it all" trip became a "getting away from it all in a small crowd" trip?  The United States has some terrific state parks, national parks, and other natural areas, but sometimes they're too popular.  Maren Horjus of Backpacker magazine has the answers for backpackers and hikers who want a bit more alone time on the trail.  Backpacker Hidden Gems: 100 Greatest Undiscovered Hikes Across America features routes that might be a bit less travelled than the popular ones (at least until this book gets wide circulation).

These have been featured in her Backpacker magazine articles, so they're not completely undiscovered, but they may take a little more effort and knowledge to get to, and are safe bet to be not as well known.  The 100 hikes vary in length and cover every region of the country.  No matter where you live, one of these is bound to be within a day's drive.

For each hike she covers basic route information and campsite descriptions, as well as the features you might enjoy in terms of flora, fauna, views, and water features.  The descriptions range from a few sentences to a few pages and include a map and other basic information.  You will probably want to dig into more detailed sources if you are planning a trip and the area is unfamiliar to you (like a 78 mile point-to-point hike in Utah), but you have enough here to whet your appetite.

Her description of a route at Yosemite is typical: "a secret trail, an unknown, heart-of-the-valley path that was dropped from the maps almost twenty years ago. . . complete with starry skies, staggering views, and crowd-free stream side campsites."  Crowd-free campsites at Yosemite?  I'm in.  If nothing else, you will be convinced that Horjus has the best job in the world.

I do a lot more trail running than backpacking.  I think trail runners will pick this up and say, "Oh, a 4.8 mile out-and-back, or a 13.8 mile loop, or a 18.8 mile lollipop-loop--sounds like a fun day of trail running to me!"  No question, trail runners will enjoy this book and these routes as much as a backpacker.

Now clear your calendar, check the map, and get out there!


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!