Carrying only a lunch and water in a lightweight day-pack, visitors can leave the tour buses and gift shops behind and experience the stunning scenery of California's national parks on easily accessible trails. The first in Foghorn's series of day-hiking guides to the country's national parks, this book includes the best 500 trails to be found in the state's parks and national monuments such as Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Redwood, Point Reyes, Devil's Postpile, Muir Woods, Cabrillo, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Mojave, Lassen, Channel Islands, Pinnacles, and Lava Beds. The book's outings range from one- or two-hour saunters for families with small children to 15-mile treks for experienced hikers. It includes tips on avoiding crowds, suggestions for places to stay and camp, information about the best times of year to go, helpful hints on trip planning, and a list of "top- 10, don't-miss" trails in each park.