No comments about Insight Guides Utah (Insight Guides).

2 comments about Desolation and Gray Canyons River Guide: Green River, Utah, 2003 Edition.

1. If you have purchased a river guide book or two in the past chances are you were disappointed. Mr. Ramptons book gives you just what you want; USGS maps with camps and rapids marked, hikes, history, geology all sprinkled in the right amounts.

   Great color photos in this new version of the book as well. I have to say that Desolation Canyon is a terrible place, dont go there. I have been over a dozen times so I know what I am talking about :-)




2. After our 2nd day on the river, we had to seriously wonder if Mr. Rampton had ever actually been down this stretch of river. The camps he had marked didn't exist, and we discovered some great areas never mentioned in the guide. I realize rivers change, but after using various guides for the Grand Canyon, Gates of Lodore, San Juan, Rogue and Snake Rivers, this 2003 edition was one of the most inacurate guides I'd ever had to use. Thank goodness others on our group had the older Belknap's guide and had actually been on the river before.
   
   The color topo maps were nice, but printed on too large of a scale to be easy to follow. You also have to flip back and forth between the mile-by-mile description and the maps in the back, so the book binding takes a beating. Both front and back covers had fallen off before the end of the trip. The most entertaining part of the guide was by far the description of the author's solo trip entitled "Solitude". The narrative provided hours of laughter as we read and reread the passages and even expanded the story, using his crazy, descriptive style.... "Raindrops seemed like intelligent missles that would guide themselves through any opening...."
   
   There's some good, basic info in this guide, but don't let it be the only resource you have.

No comments about Following the Legends - A GPS Guide to Utah's Lost Mines and Hidden Treasures.

5 comments about Hiking And Exploring The Paria River: Including, The Story Of John D. Lee And Mountain Meadows Massacre.

1. This book is outstanding. I'm an avid canyoneer and these books got me started. Many think they're too good. I follow the canyoneering boards and people consistently complain that Kelsey gives away too much information and allows, "just anyone who buys the book" to get in the deepest, darkets canyons. The land managers down right hate these books because people get into trouble. I think a good guidebook tells you about an area and it's up to the individual to be responsible and not exceed their abilities.

   Aside from the extermely thorough and detailed area information, Kelsey takes pains to explain the history of the area and to prepare you for what you need to do spend time in these strange lands. I have hundreds of guidebooks from around the world and none of them comes close to Kelsey's in these areas. They are a treat to read.

   There are a few quirky things about Kelsey's work. He lists everthing in metric. I agree this makes perfect sense from a technical (the rest of the world is metric and it makes much more sense) point of view but still have to do a poor job of converting everything back to miles in my head. It would be better to list miles in brackets after the kilometers. Kelsey is also (apparently) very fit because his hiking times are impressively rapid. I usually add 50% to his times to get a realistic estimate of how long it will take me.

   All in all, I couldn't recommend Kelsey's books more. He is an extremely hard working, dedicated author. His works are jewels for this area and will long be recognized as not only the geographical authority but also the historical authority in this wonderful part of the world. Buy everything he writes.




2. Found this guide book very helpful in a canyoneering trip down this nice canyon. I read the book before an April 2003 Paria Canyon trip starting at White House Trailhead and going all the way to Lee's Ferry. One thing was missing from my pack though....the book!

   My trip I carried the BLM map/travel guide you can purchase at the Paria Ranger Station. It was $8.00 and I had a detailed map with camp sites and all known streams for water. The Kelsey Book has little dots or symbols for the sites which were pretty useless when the maps are so small in print. I was glad on the trip I had the BLM Guide for the trip.

   Check the weather forecast before you leave and again at the ranger station. The summer of 2003 in September there were flash floods in the canyon from storms over 40 miles away!

   The Paria Ranger Station reports temperatures to the weather service and rain/snow amounts. You will have to go to noaa.gov site for the info. Enter Kanab or Salt Lake City in the today's forecast box and then at the bottom of the forecast page will be additional forecast info - press the forecast discussion. On the new page enter state summary and look on the page for Paria Ranger Station!! There the high and low's will be listed with any precipitation amounts. The ranger station calls in the info every day.

   Remember to pack the book for your trip to help you with your travels down this great canyon.




3. Got this book in preparation for a trip to the area. It's very comprehensive, but looks like it was laid out with an old fashioned typewrite. Still, if you plan to hike the Paria River, it's definately a good resource..



4. As an American I lived my life of [...] years in feet and miles. I too heard my [...] teacher (nearly 45 years ago) say better get used to metric the US is the last country on the planet not using it and SOON you will have to use it. Never happened! (except for beverage providers who saw an oportunity to give us less product for the same price!) Wilderness hiking can be very dangerous, you need to know where you are, and I can't be pulling a calculator out every page to figure out how far 13.7 meters is!! Otherwise the book is filled with very good information. Pick up a detailed map at the trail head the maps in the book are too small to be of any help.



5. Husband wanted book, I ordered it. He likes it.

5 comments about Backroads of Utah: Your Guide to Utah's Most Scenic Backroad Adventures (Backroads of ...).

1. I am the author of this book and doing the research for it was the funnest job I ever had. It was my "job" to travel around the nooks and crannies of Utah, go hiking and camping (and driving, of course) meet people and learn about the area and take pictures. The hard part was deciding what to put in (I was restricted to 30 trips and Utah is full of interesting backroads.)
   
   Don't ask me which drive is my favorite because I can't possibly pick! Each part of Utah is a little different than the other and each has its own beauty and amazing recreation opportunities. Each also comes with some pretty amazing history.
   
   And, besides the text, the book is full of full-color pictures (125+) as well as several black and white historical photos. The pictures make it kind of like a picture book with lots of text.
   
   A friend who bought the book said, "Looking through and reading this makes me want to get in the car and go for a drive. And the text and sidebars include some great out of the way things that make it obvious the author has been there several times and really knows Utah."



2. very bad pictures, blurry and grainy, full of information you will find online doing a search of Utah scenic byways, a rip off for $21.95, the editor should be drug out into the street and left there.
   
   what they consider 'backroads' ends up being State Highways and Interstate, or National Park Roads...Find the 5 largest cities or towns in each region of Utah and connect the dots, that is the 'backroad' described here.You won't find any tips on where to go, what there is to see, what there is to miss, what to do if you have one day or three, or what not to miss, lines like -- a campground a forest and a lake make this area worth exploring--- are common throughout.
   
   As far as information, anything you can read on a diner placemat you will find in here. overall flat out bad bad bad.
   
   Enthusiasm for a project does not balance out terrible photos and printing and lousy editing.
   
   I can't get my money back but I can hopefully save you wasting yours.
   
   Sorry to be honest, but if you have ever heard of Utah and know how to pronounce it, you will be very let down by this book.
   
   buy instead "Backcountry Adventures:Utah" and "Standing Rocks and Sleeping Rainbows" those books have photos and high quality printing, good maps that mean something, and make you want to go see Utah!



3. This book is excellent! I bought it about 3 weeks ago, and I happened to be meeting some friends in Colorado this past weekend at Dinosaur National Park. So I threw the book into the car almost as a last minute thought. Thank heavens I did because I ended up getting lost and used the maps to get me on the right track. After we were well on our way, and going the right direction I started reading through the book while my husband drove. We decided that because of her great descriptions that we wanted to go see Josie Bassetts cabin. That night around the campfire, I read the section about Vernal, Greenriver and Dinosaur National Monument to my friends from Colorado (one who is blind). It was great because it gave us a sense of history about the place. The part about Josie was very cool and we would have never known all that had I not got the book. For the next couple of nights I ended up reading sections of the book to my friends around the campfire. It made us all want to explore Utah more. In fact we are going to Bear Lake in a couple of weeks and wouldn't leave home with out it.
   
   As for the pictures - they are exquisite! Colorful and clear, the ones of the wildflowers are amazing.
   
   As to the previous person's post - not sure why he thinks any of these roads are not backroads - most of Utah is backroads. I have lived here for over 10 years and I highly recommend this book - it gives you information that you can't find at the monuments, or parks - it gives the history of individuals and so much more.
   
   If you buy one book for your road trips this is the one to buy!



4. I own this book and love it.
   
   The cover photo really drew me into the contents. I had intended to thumb through this book one evening, but instead found myself reading the whole thing.
   
   I'm surprised and sorry that a previous reviewer was so negative; it's a shame to be so critical.
   
   I'm happy with the text as well as the images--the author did a wonderful job.
   
   I've only been to Utah for short visits, so I can hardly wait to use this fine resource for a lengthier exploration of this lovely state.



5. I love this book.
   Bought in the Spring, it is a very popular among the house guests. I went on line to buy a few for gifts.
   
   The obviously active author took the photos and drove the roads, rather like an old fashioned "route 66" take on travel. However, the information is approachable and current spiced with a little history.
   
   Enjoy!

5 comments about Mountain Biking Moab, 2nd Edition: A Guide to Moab, Utah's Greatest Off-Road Bicycle Rides.

1. Any one going to Moab needs this book. Some of the trails are just variations of the same main trail but it gives some great information.



2. I've read the book and biked with the authors company based in Moab and don't recommend either.
   
   There are many other guides to Moab which are cheaper and equally informative (try Biker Mel's.). Only when you meet the author, ride the routes he describes, the routes he doesn't describe and hear what the locals have to say about him (all bad) do you realise how unreliable this book is. It is just too biased by the authors own personal opinion.
   
   This guy is decsribed locally as a biker snob who made enemies after slagging off everybody else in Moab in this book and who refers to routes as 'his trails'.



3. I read several guides about mountain biking Utah prior to my recent trip. I have to say that of the 3 I read, Lee's book was not only thorough, but very accurate. When you get to Utah, you realize how immense the actual area is. There's alot of opportunity to ride, but also for peril. Lee does a nice job of telling stories that are interesting, give a heads up on local cool things, covers ecological and social issues that are relevant, and is a hip and thoughful author. I give the book 5 chili peppers. I will say, it would be nice to have a smaller format I could take in my hydrapack. Instead, I used a human guide!



4. This book has fine details on many of Moab's great rides. Throughout much of this guide, however, I got the feel that this author has a chip on his shoulder. He seems to be getting all his revenge and mean spirits out through this guide book. Some of it is actually comical, but most of it just rude. One example (and I'm paraphrasing): riding the White Rim in 4-5 days is "boring". Note to author: some of us actually use our mtn bikes to take us to beautiful, tranquil areas. It's not always about how much air we get or how many miles logged. Anyone who would call 5 days in Canyonlands with a mtn bike "boring" is lacking some serious taste for life.
   Instead, buy the Falcon pocket guide by Crowell. It's got great info, is small enough for your pack, and without the rude gossip.



5. There are a lot of rides described in this book however, this guy has a chip on his shoulder! He can't say much good about anyone except himself. As others have said - there are other good guide books with good trail information and not all the drivel!

4 comments about Hiking Grand Staircase-Escalante and the Glen Canyon Region.

1. On trying to follow the guide to one of the hikes, the Yellow Rock/Box of Paria River, we were fortunate to meet a BLM ranger as we were about to set out. It became clear that we weren't where we thought we were, and had we continued on, would have entered a confusing and unmarked maze of canyons instead of the entrance to the Box. This is the fault of this book - the maps are poorly labeled and confusing, and the directions (which usually start out by referring you back to some other hike, a poor strategy for a guide book) were, in this instance, just plain wrong, giving incorrect mileage to the point where we should have been. The two locator maps at the front of the book are especially bad, the first oriented perpendicular to the other covering the east part of the region, the second one showing the western part. They should be combined into one map across both pages, show the monument and park boundaries and have some kind of legend, along with better labels.
   What we ended up using as a reference for the rest of the trip, on which we did four hikes, was, in fact, a place mat from a breakfast place in Escalante, which turned out to be much better organized, concise and accurate. On the front is an easy-to-understand map, clearly labeled, and on the back are brief descriptions of the principal backroads and the hikes along each one. This handy little sheet is actually easily found in most businesses in the area, for free.
   Of course, a restaurant placemat doesn't give the level of detail contained in Mr. Adkison's book, which has several useful features, including good categorical summaries for each hike such as elevation gain and loss (including a line graph depicting this), difficulty ratings, hiking time, etc. It was inaccurate in one of those categories for the Yellow Rock hike, stating that no permit was required; the ranger corrected us on this count as well.
   If this book were reorganized in the same manner as the place mat, with the good map of the back roads - there are several key ones: The Burr Trail, Hell's Backbone, and Cottonwood Canyon - and then listed the hikes attainable from each one, then it would be a lot more useful.



2. We used Hiking Grand Staircase-Escalante and the Glen Canyon Region for several hikes this summer and, despite some shortcomings, I would recommend it.
   The trail descriptions are pretty realistic and give a good idea of what to expect on the hike. Based on these descriptions we picked our hikes and were never disappointed. The book describes the general character of the terrain, what you can expect to see, how difficult the hike is likely to be, etc., followed by a decent trail description.
   Where the book needs improvement are the maps. The maps are OK to get a general idea, but NOT A SUBSTITUTE for proper planning of your trip. First they are a bit simplified (which is OK), second they are sometimes wrong (which can get you into trouble). The map for the Boulder Mail Trail, for example, has an incorrect scale bar which makes the hike appear much shorter than it really is (the text gives the correct information).
   However, using this book as the sole information for your hike is not the smartest thing to begin with. In combination with the deLorme (or Benchmark) Utah Atlas and Gazetteer and a series of large scale topographic maps (USGS, Trails Illustrated) we never had any issues finding the trailhead or loosing the trail. So, consider this and similar books as a source of ideas, but do your homework, get the right maps etc. and you'll be fine.



3. The Falcon Guides are the best source of reading material that I have found for hiking into unfamiliar areas. Their discription, maps and milage/elevation gain graphs are wonderful. There books contain a great deal of information.



4. The book contains many good hiking routes, but lacks the kind of detail and descriptive writing about the amazing landscapes (waterfalls, canyons, rivers, prehistoric ruins, cliffs, and other landmarks in general) that you would expect from such an incredible area. I don't know if this is the author's fault or the publisher, but I'm inclined to avoid books from either in the future. Also, like other reviewers have said, the maps are cheesy, and not very useful. DO NOT go on a trip to the area with only this book - you need either a book with much better maps, or even better, a detailed topographical map. If you're looking for a guidebook on this "new" area, I suggest finding another book.

3 comments about Best Easy Day Hikes Grand Staircase/Escalante & the Glen Canyon Region.

1. Look interesting and informative for people who are planning to go to Escalante soon. Good resource. I saw Bryce and Zion Parks on my first trip to Utah- can't wait to go back The escalante looked so beautiful even though I only saw part of it on the way to Capitol Reef National Park



2. This is a streamlined version of Adkison's lengthier book about the national monument, but is perfect for the short hikes in this beautiful region. It has everything a pocket guidebook should have: clear descriptions, mileage, elevations, maps, and ratings. This is my favorite guidebook for the Grand Staircase whenever I do short hikes.



3. This book is divided into three sections; Cedar Mesa in SW Utah, The Escalante Canyon and Grand Staircase-Paria Canyon. The Escalante-Grand Staircase hikes range in length and difficultly. Included are the following hikes:
   Upper calf Creek Falls -2m
   Lower Calf Creek Falls-6.2m
   Devils Garden-.07m
   Fortymile Ridge to Sunset Arch-3m
   Willow Gulch to Broken Bow Arrow-4m
   Kodachrome Basin's Panorama Trail-2.9-5.4m
   Cottonwood Canyon Narrows-3m
   Willis Creek Narrows-4.8m
   Lick Wash-8m
   Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch-3.4m
   and 9 hikes in the SW area of Utah
   
   This book might be good for getting ideas on where to hike, but some of the information contained in it is not accurate, or lacks sufficient detail. For example, the author fails to mention that a permit to hike Wire pass to Buckskin Gulch must usually be obtained 3 months ahead of time. Also, the directions to Sunset Arch are different than any other guide book. (?) He also fails in giving accurate campground information. There are many more camping opportunities than what he mentions. I would advise consulting other guide books before setting off on any of the hikes and would not use this book for trip planning.

5 comments about Utah's National Parks: Hiking, Camping, and Vacationing in Utah's Canyon Country : Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands.

1. Just back from a 9 day backpacking trip in Utah, using both this book and Adkison's book on Escalante. It left me with poor trail descriptions, (scarily) poor or wholly incorrect maps, and an "interesting" (read: madman-style insane) style of giving directions to trailheads. I am by no means new to the outdoors, nor to getting to remote trailheads, routefinding, etc; I can say with a degree of confidence that this is the poorest guidebook I have ever purchased. The second star is given for his "reccomended" hikes, which were, on the whole, generally right on.



2. We have just returned from hiking & camping in Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches And Canyonlands (Island in the Sky area), and found this book to be one of the best of any guide book we have used (over 30 years of hiking). The hike descriptions were so interesting I read them again after doing the hike! The description of how one gets to the trailhead in in a separate section titled "driving to the trailheads", which may cause problems for individuals who don't read scan through the chapters first before deciding on a hike. We found the descriptions of the trees and plantlife on each trail very useful and I would not hesitate to buy another of Ron Atkinson's guide books, they are obviously very well researched.



3. This book is very usefull for a foreigner travelling throughout USA especially as it's almost impossible to find such a book (in France) that focuses on one US state.
   The book contains detailed informations concerning Utah's National Parks. Hikers should appreciate it.
   I recommand it with pleasure.



4. This was a decent guide book, but it really tried to cover too many parks at once. It seems like it covers more family type day hikes and not a lot of backcountry and backpacking trails. We used it to plan hikes in Zion National park and Canyonlands - Needles District. The book recommended a hike in Canyonlands National park that did turn out to be awesome (Chesler Park/Elephant Canyon to Druid Arch).
   
   We also used it to plan a hike to the Subway in Zion. In this case, I wish it had given more detail, as we ended up a little over our heads on this hike. The water was a LOT higher than we expected based on the pics we had seen and information we had. Apparently, the water levels tend to be higher in April due to snow runoff. If the book had given more information, we probably would have never attempted the hike at that time of year to begin with. Oh well, I guess you live and learn, right?
   
   In conclusion, I would recommend this to anyone who is planning to visit one or more of the parks for a short period and wants to hit the hightlights. If you want a more in depth hiking trip to one of the parks, I would recommend getting a more detailed guide book specific to that park.



5. This book is a fantastic resource. Colorful pictures and accurate maps are included. "Inside" information is given to allow a new park visitor to plan a trip without missing out on the little extras that make the trip so worthwhile. Event times and costs are included along with other travel indformation.

2 comments about Moon Zion and Bryce (Moon Handbooks).

1. Beauty is an interesting, abstract concept that is very tough for young children to grasp. I recall as a young child hiking on a "sky island," a forested mountain above the desert floor, and realizing that beauty was in the trees around me which I contrasted with the desert floor. I don't recall where I was or my age. I do, however, recall where I first found beauty in the desert. I was 8 years old and visiting Zion National Park. I was utterly infatuated with the towering cliffs, the hike to Angel's Landing (not generally recommended for 8 year olds and their 6 year old sister) and absolutely devastated when I discovered that a visitor center relief map of the park was sold out by the time I got my allowance. Drat. But I have remained a fan of the the southern Utah Parks ever since. If you want to explore these parks, be sure to pick up this guide, which covers far more than just Zion and Bryce Canyons.
   
   Like many other Moon guidebooks, this one offers a glimpse into all forms of recreation. You will benefit from the book whether you plan a quick few day auto tour or a week long hiking excursion. Each location includes a list of scenic highlights, trails to take (the emphasis is on short walks to half day treks, though a few longer excursions are included), other recreational opportunities (cliff climbing, off road vehicle use) and where to stay and eat, depending on your budget. Side bars within the text discuss everything from natural history to how one can order beer, wine, and coffee with minimal inconvenience. I was happy to discover a few hostels where one can actually make an extended stay at a reasonable price.
   
   The best part of this book, however, is that it covers a variety of parks you might not otherwise think to visit along the "Grand Tour." Yes, Zion, Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef are all spectacular. But Cedar Breaks National Monument will simply take your breath away (especially if you do any hiking there--it is well above 10,000 feet) and most people drive right by. State Parks like Snow Canyon (a near rival to Zion minus the crowds and annoying tour bus) and other recreational areas (Red Canyon near Bryce) are also covered in this book. Indeed, if you like your visits on the slightly less regulated side, these are fabulous destinations, as is nearby Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument. In all, this is a fine book for planning your southern Utah vacation. And by all means, take the kids. Part of growing up is experiencing beauty firsthand in all its myriad shapes.



2. I already purchased Moon's Utah and thought I'd get this book, believing it would go into much further detail on the national parks. WRONG! This book is basically a short version of the Utah book, leaving out areas north of the park and duplicating most of the info about the parks that you can find in the larger book. I wish I would have known that so I could have saved my money.