Product Description

This detailed guidebook takes you on the best easy hikes in Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware -- all within a three-hour drive of the nation's capital. Included are an array of natural hikes, plus a couple of urban walks that bring the past to life.

Each hike:

* Is 5 miles or less, ideal for busy professionals, active families, and seniors.
* Guides your every step, indicating what color blazes to follow, which turns to take, and what landmarks to look for.
* Promises both exercise and something more -- a field full of bluebells, a secret waterfall, blizzards of snow geese, a forgotten colonial town.
* Points out perfect picnic spots, hidden historic sites, fauna and flora, the best seasons to visit, and places to sit in solitude and admire beautiful scenery.
* Is rated easy, medium, or difficult, so you know what you're in for.
* Indicates where you can bring your dog, and which trails permit bikes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1051797 in Books
• Published on: 2000-03-01
• Released on: 2000-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

A must for every Washington Hiker
I have been looking for a book just like this for some time now. Having hiked a fair amount in and around Washington I was running short on ideas for new hikes. I had tried the Appalchian Trial Guides and some other books that are out there but felt that while they were great on trail details they didn't provide much of the practical information that you want when heading out to a new destination. Especially enjoyed the author's editorial comments and trail descriptions which combined to make the book a pleasure to read. The author must be a dog lover as well which earns her points in my book. She marks each trail to let dog owners know if their pooches are welcome.

Don't leave home without it.
Having been on many trails in the region (and now many more thanks to this guide), I highly recommend100 Easy Hikes. It's as good as it gets for hitting all the hot spots in the Washington DC area- from nearby jaunts on the trails of Rock Creek Park to the lesser known gems in the Shenandoah. Additionally, the author's insider tips and her clear directions to the trailheads make this guide exceptional.

I was particularly impressed the "best of" recommendations. They were right on target. Neither bluebells nor waterfall classics escaped her attention. The maps, as you'd expect from the National Geographic Society, are clear and easy to follow. Anyone looking for a basic resource on the area should have this guide.

No bad, but there's better
There's several books with basically the same theme and roughly the same hikes - e.g. those by Alan Fisher and those by the Appalachian Trail Club. This one does have more hikes described than any other single volume I've seen, but it doesn't have enough maps or sufficiently good trail descriptions to make it a hiking "bible". Only recommended for those folks who've already exhaused the other available guides and are looking for more.