Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area

The Bay Area is blessed with three very different national parks: Point Reyes National Seashore, Muir Woods National Monument, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. People wanting to explore these parks have the further blessing that Tracy Salcedo-Chourre is the Falcon author who has written the guidebook to this area. Ms. Salcedo-Chourre is far and away the best current Falcon writer. Her books are full of natural history, wonderful similies, thoughtful reflections, and like most other Falcon books, accurate route descriptions so you won't get lost on your hike. This book, however, is far more than just a hiking guide. Of course, it does describe in considerable detail 47 trails, ranging from under a half mile to over 13. The trails in Point Reyes tend to be longer, while those in GGNRA are 1-4 mile strolls. All are winners. But these parks are truly multi-use areas and the author does a fine job detailing other recreational opportunities in these places. People interested in kayaking the bays or oceans, walking their dogs, mountain and backcountry road biking, and beach combing will all find something for themselves in this book. Indeed, although these parks are intended primarily for day use (none have established car campgrounds as such) Salcedo-Chourre also devotes two sections of the book to backpacking and exploring the established trail camps in these regions. Not as rugged as the Sierras or even the Santa Cruz Mountains to the south, these backpacking routes are excellent for beginners and those seeking to stay in shape in the off-season. Hopefully the Park Service can be induced to put in more such camps as these fill on a regular basis. In addition to describing the many recreational opportunities in these parks, the author also offers a number of reflections on the problems of management in urban areas. The National Park Service is committed to an ideology that parks are to be managed as if humans hardly existed. But this is hardly practical in urban areas and Ms. Salcedo-Chourre, rather than simply gloss over the problems, offers a number of thoughtful comments. Should dogs be allowed? The Park Service says no generally, but is their policy really appropriate for a recreation area? When and where should dogs be allowed? Are leashes always necessary, or is voice control sufficient? Regarding Point Reyes, she also discusses the real benefits of leaving the ranches in the Park, despite possible pollution hazards. The ranches are a part of the history of Point Reyes and contribute to its unique scenery. (Hikers wanting to experience this rural-wildlands interface should take Drake's Estero trail.) I would add here that the white fallow deer, while not native to the park, enhance the lives of many tourists and the park's decision to exterminate them (rather than actively manage the herd) goes against the values of most park visitors and virtually all local residents. Finally, the author challenges readers