The trails less traveled in Big Sur

Big Sur buffs and newbies alike can find plenty of tips in naturalist Analise Elliot's comprehensive guidebook on hiking and camping an area that Southern Californians too often see from the drive-through periphery.

The idea here is to get well off the usual scenic vistas and immerse oneself into this coastal sanctuary. This ambitious effort picks 75 hikes from Carmel south to San Simeon, culled from Big Sur and the Ventana and Silver Peak wildernesses, and details the highlights, facts and figures of each trip. Chapters also address the geology and cultural history of Big Sur.

The book is designed for hitting a lot of hikes in the same area or visiting lesser-traveled trails, where maintenance and navigation may be open questions. Elliot provides more than generic descriptions, showing how the trails take on a different feel depending on the season.

Although a small topographic map is included for each hike, purchasing a separate, color map is recommended for more detail.

--Emmett Berg