A very inspirational book and a must for anyone interested in the Grand Canyon. Betty's sense of humor captivated me throughout.

Ms. Leavengood delivers a captivating look at the lives of women who helped to shape the Grand Canyon - not geologically, but culturally. These early explorers helped to open up the Canyon for the millions who would follow, and the author does a great job in capturing the both the appeal of the Canyon and of the women who first made the trip. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the Grand Canyon or the human spirit.

The text for the descriptions of the hikes is fantastic. The directions are generally good, although the directions to a lot of the Sabino Canyon hikes is a little lacking.

What really irritates me about this book is the trail profiles. For example, the Agua Caliente trail profile begins at an elevation of 5420'. It ends at 5420'. It goes up in the middle, but it is nearly impossible to tell how far -- there are no other elevation marks besides the first and last. This pattern is repeated on a number of different profiles, and is the only thing that prevents me from giving 5 stars.

Those familiar with reading topo maps may be able to decipher altitudes, but for the rest of us the profiles are useless on many hikes.

Now in a thoroughly updated second edition, Tucson Hiking Guide by experienced Tucson hiker Betty Leavengood offers thirty-four hikes grouped by mountain range, and ranked from easy to difficult. Most of these journies past superb scenic mountain vistas are only a short drive from downtown Tucson. Maps, photos, elevation/distance profiles, trail access information, historical notes, personal anecdotes, and much, much more fill this solid and thorough guide from cover to cover enabling anyone to see and experience the natural splendor of the Tucson area on foot.

Each trail has a profile, topo map, and other trail data including distance and difficulty. Descriptions are complete and very well done. There is a good balance of trails surrounding Tucson. Honestly though... research is outstanding! Trail history digs deep to find out how the trail names came about. Information on the Pontatoc Trail name set my mind at ease having grown up in Oklahoma. Several trails sparked my interest having seen little information previously in print. Highly recommended for all and a must have for Tucson residents - joe bartels Webmaster - HikeArizona.COM