Books and More
Need some information on an awesome trail or want to know a little bit about Arizona history? You've come to the right place. Below are some other wonderful resources. If you're wanting to curl up with a novel set in Arizona, click here.
Arizona Backcountry Adventures
Arizona Backcountry Adventures is probably the best, all-around 4WD book for Arizona around. It details over 200 trails from easy to difficult, providing in-depth directions and GPS coordinates for each. This is a must buy for all four wheelers.
Click here for my review.
The product description from Amazon.com says:
Backcountry Adventures Arizona guides readers along 2,670 miles of the state's most remote and scenic backroads, from the lowlands of the Yuma Desert to the high plains of the Kaibab Plateau. Trail history comes to life through accounts of Indian warriors like Cochise and Geronimo, trailblazers, and the famous lawman Wyatt Earp. Like the other guides in the Backcountry Adventures series, Backcountry Adventures Arizona provides a helpful, concise chart with each trail description, listing starting and finishing point, mileage, driving time, and elevation. Hundreds of photographs and fascinating histories bring the trail to life. The new 2008 edition of Backcountry Adventures Arizona is in hardcover and includes updated contact information. Backcountry Adventures Arizona is the most comprehensive book of its kind and is indispensable for planning any kind of outdoor adventure in the Grand Canyon State. It will appeal to anyone who enjoys the backcountry: campers, anglers, four-wheelers, hikers, mountain bikers, snowmobilers, amateur prospectors, sightseers, and more...
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Arizona Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails
Commonly known as the "Well's Book", this book has more difficult trails the the Backcountry Adventures book (though a much smaller overall sampling). Directions and GPS coordinates are not as detailed either, but overall it's a good book.
The product description from Amazon.com says:
A clear, concise guide to Arizona's remote backcountry, including Grand Canyon National Park and Sedona. Book includes detailed directions with GPS waypoints, 86 custom maps and over 300 quality photos. All routes were driven by the author. Sport utility owners will enjoy 50 easy and moderate routes to incredible scenic backcountry locations. Serious 4-wheelers will love our difficult Jeep trails. We promote low impact driving and environmental responsibility. For complete trail listing and a look inside the book visit the FunTreks website.
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The Mines, Camps, Ranches, and Characters of the Dragoon Mountains
This was a book I found while researching China Camp in the Dragoon Mountains.
This book is a great reference for anyone interesting in the Dragoon Mountain and their history. Lots of details and facts. I will be using it frequently as I plan on returning to the Dragoon's more and more. For those who want a "historical" read that will draw you in with personal accounts, this may not be the book for you. See my complete review for more information.
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Cactus Cymry
Cactus Cymry takes an in-depth look at the Welsh who immigrated to Arizona to escape the economic and social crisis in Wales. The Arizona Territory was a wild and ruthless place in the late 1800s. It took a special kind of person to live and thrive in this harsh environment. Some of them were ranchers, farmers, miners, businessmen, thieves and sometimes murderers.
Although not a comprehensive history of southern Arizona, it does offer a unique perspective on our history. See my complete review for more information. Click here to read an interview with the author.
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