Lonely Planet California & Southwest USA's National Parks

Lonely Planet's California and Southwest USA's National Parks is your passport to the most up-to-date advice on what to see and skip. Hike down the Grand Canyon, marvel at Sequoia and chase waterfalls in Yosemite—all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of California and Southwest USA's national parks and begin your journey now!

Inside you'll find user-friendly highlights and itineraries to help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests, plus insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots. Essential information is at your fingertips—hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices, emergency information, park seasonality, hiking trail junctions, viewpoints, landscapes, elevations, distances, difficulty levels, and durations. The guide focuses on the best hikes, drives, and cycling tours, with honest reviews for all budgets covering eating, sleeping, camping, sightseeing, and hidden gems that most guidebooks miss.

Enriched with contextual insights on history, geology, wildlife, and conservation, this comprehensive guide features over 52 full-color trail and park maps and stunning images throughout. Useful sections include Travel with Children, Clothing and Equipment, and Day and Overnight Hikes. Covering Joshua Tree, Redwood, Sequoia, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Zion and more, this is the perfect choice for both exploring top sights and taking roads less traveled in the region's magnificent national parks.