Afoot & Afield: Orange County

Explore nature in and around Orange County via more than 100 hiking trails.
When you think of Orange County in Southern California, you might imagine large cities like Anaheim, Irvine, and Santa Ana. However, just beyond the urban sprawl, the natural world lies within reach. The ocean rolls against jagged cliffs, raptors soar above foothill country, and mammals roam within the region’s mountains and canyons. All told, parks, preserves, designated open spaces, and public lands cover some 200,000 acres—with more than 500 miles of trails and roads for hiking—in and near Orange County.
Discover the best day hikes along the coast, in foothills, and across mountains. In Afoot & Afield: Orange County, David Harris presents virtually every hike worth taking on wild public lands that are conveniently accessible to the area’s residents and tourists. This updated and expanded edition features 128 trips, from serene summits to sparkling seaside strolls. The guidebook covers the beaches and bays, Crystal Cove State Park, the Chino Hills, Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, county wilderness parks, the Santa Ana Mountains, and more. From short strolls to challenging adventures, every trail is within a short car trip from the Southland’s cities.
Each trip includes the following: - Key information such as distance, hiking time, elevation gain/loss, and difficulty - Complete trip description and hiking directions - Easy-to-read map with GPS waypoints - Notes on which trails are most suitable for mountain biking, backpacking, horse riding, dogs, and families

David Harris is a professor of engineering at Harvey Mudd College. He is the author or coauthor of seven hiking guidebooks and five engineering textbooks. David grew up rambling about the Desolation Wilderness as a toddler in his father’s pack and later roamed the High Sierra as a Boy Scout. As a Sierra Club trip leader, he organized mountaineering trips throughout the Sierra Nevada. Since 1999, he has been exploring the mountains and deserts of Southern California. David is the father of three sons, with whom he loves sharing the outdoors.