60 hikes within 60 miles: Seattle

60 hikes within 60 miles: Seattle
Andrew Weber and Bryce Stevens, 2006

This is a very different sort of review for me, but I've probably read this one book more over the past few months than any other.

The premise is just what it says on the front: 60 hikes within a hour or two drive from the city. I wanted a book for suggestions for day hikes to do on the weekend, and this fit the bill beautifully.

The front of the book has an easily referenced map of all the hikes and a series of great lists to narrow down your search. For example, if you're looking for a short hike with a waterfall, or maybe a less well-known hike with good bird-watching, or a long hike to an overlook, you can quickly cross-reference the lists to get some options.

The actual hike descriptions are clear and thorough. They include information about facilities, parking, height gain, distance, the primary features and difficulty are restated here, and there is both a map and a description of the notable sights and any important turns on the trail.

Many entries even have a suggestion or two for a restaurant or another activity nearby, should you want it later in the day.

This book is part of a series, and while I can't promise that your city's edition is as wonderful as mine, it's a great resource. Just having a list of nearby parks and hikes has really increased the new places we've explored and time we've spent outdoors.

What are you waiting for? Hit the trail!

5 Stars - An Awesome Book