by Ann Marie Brown, Foghorn Outdoors, 2003, 340 pages, $17.95 (www.foghorn.com).
Visually engaging and rich in information, this second addition of 101 Great Hikes presents trail descriptions written with the ardor of a naturalist. Divided into sections on Napa and Sonoma, Marin, East Bay, and Peninsula and South Bay, this guide features vivid write-ups on the fauna, flora, and history that characterize each of the selected hiking trails. Information provided to help you select and plan your outings includes directions, round-trip mileage, estimated hiking time, elevation change, difficulty level, and a map. Can’t decide where to go? Brown suggests hikes that include her favorite peak vistas, waterfalls, wildlife viewing, wildflower displays, and redwood forests.