HikeArizona.COM

I have been hiking Tucson for years (live in Phoenix) and have been relying on a 1991 book by Betty Leavengood called "Tucson Hiking Guide" as well as the Green Trials maps and online information. It is suprising to me that even the new REI in Tucson does not have any Tucson related hiking books (as of May 30, 2010). Does anyone know of a good Tucson area hiking book that has more than the standard popular 10 hikes in the area?

If not, what a great opportunity for someone to fill a void!!

nature wrote:Does anyone know of a good Tucson area hiking book that has more than the standard popular 10 hikes in the area?

Look in the TrailDex here. No book is as rich or as useful.

Welcome to HAZ,

Books have many benefits, if your quest is information give TrailDEX a try. I linked up big_loads reply to take you directly to the Tuscon region. You can fine tune the results with the search options at the top and even sort columns. A majority of the hike authors are very active on site and willing to answer questions too.

Here's a comprehensive map of the Catalina mountain range cause I love it so much
http://hikearizona.com/images/flashmaps/catalina.swf

Although not as comprehensive the Santa Rita map is here http://hikearizona.com/images/flashmaps/wrightson.swf

I like to look at the Traildex for the Rated hikes. That indicates the popularity but it is usually a pretty good first filter. I also use the other filters in the Traildex to further refine my search. http://hikearizona.com/interestDEX.php? ... D=10&ID=34&

But I hear what nature is saying. I have the 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Phoenix by Charles Liu (a well deserved plug ) and I enjoy looking at it once or twice a year. And I look at 100 Classic Hikes in AZ http://hikearizona.com/books.php?REV=1&ID=844&STu=3 where I can find the Classic Hikes by Region. It has over 2 dozen Tucson/SE AZ hikes.

Nature - contact Menasha Press and see if they are interested in a 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Tucson. They have books for Birmingham and Pittsburgh so maybe there is hope for Tucson.

Most publishers these days are interested in low budget high yield results. Which completely lack the hidden serenity a more avid hiker desires. Many older books can be bought cheap off abebooks.com that will tweak your interest such as http://hikearizona.com/books.php?REV=1&ID=50 then you can query TrailDEX and members on site for up to date information

Arizona's Wilderness Areas is very comprehensive on trails and access. However it's best for adventure seekers. Aside from trail names and maps it offers little if any information about the trails themselves.

The Falcon guide "Hiking Arizona's Cactus Country" by Erik Molvar is really good and I also like "Hiker's guide to the Santa Rita Mountains" by Betty Leavengood & Mike Liebert.

The Santa Catalina Mountains by Pete Cowgill and Eber Glendening (founders of SAHC) is an old standard, might be out of print but you can probably still find it online. Betty's Santa Ritas book is out of print, as is Bob Martin's Santa Ritas book, which predates Betty's. I saw Bob's book on Amazon recently.

Haven't heard of any new ones coming out.

I probably own every trail guide or hiking book for the Tucson area ever printed. I even get them off eBay and at used book stores. Some describe trails that no longer exist. If another book exists that I don't own, Nick has it. Trust HAZ. You will find WAY better and more current info than you ever will from a book.

If you want another one just for grins, get Erik Molinar's.