Before you set off on your next off-road or overland adventure in California, there is a number of books that you should consider bringing to guide you on your trip.
In a popular State for off-roading like California, just about every path and trail has already been blazed, so why not take information from those who came before you.
READ MORE: California’s Public Off-Road Land Isn’t Going Anywhere
Read on for a full list of guidebooks for California off-roaders.
Guide to Southern California Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails 1st Edition
This book includes 75 trails along with detailed directions, GPS waypoints and over 340 photos so you can follow along as you go. Everything from beginner to difficult trailsare highlighted in this book, which covers a huge swath of California, from LA to the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
To purchase this book for yourself, click here.
California Desert Byways: 68 of California’s Best Backcountry Drives
This book features 68 trips through the desert, ranging from Bishop to the Mexican border, highlighting things worth checking out along the way like ghost towns. This book is more about exploring the State’s back roads, rather than searching for real hardcore off-road spots.
The book also lists spots to do other recreation activities like hiking and mountain biking.
If you’re interested, take a look here.
California Road and Recreation Atlas (Benchmark Atlas)
Not specifically for off-roaders, this California atlas will help you navigate the busy streets of LA to the smallest goat path in the Johnson Valley. When you do leave the road, this atlas does a good job of showing if the terrain is forested, cultivated, marshland, desert or scrubland.
A complete recreation guide is also found in the atlas to better help you find your way to California’s natural secrets.
While it may be a bit bigger than the other books found here, this atlas is a one-stop for all the roads in the States, on road or off.
Anza Borrego Desert Region
Unlike the three above, this book focuses only on the Anza Borrego desert area, including the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area, and the surrounding region, including federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) desert lands.
So if you’re in Southern California, you’ll definitely be interested in this guidebook.
California Trails High Sierra Region
Moving north, this book will help you navigate the High Sierras, including the towns of Fresno (north), Oakhurst, Lone Pine, Bishop, Bridgeport, Coulterville, Mariposa, and Mammoth Lakes. Besides marking all the off-road trails in the area, this guide book will also help you find points of interest like ghost towns and more.
If you want to head into the mountains, pick up this book.
California Trails Central Mountains Region
Another specialized guidebook for a specific region, this book covers the central mountains and the towns of Big Sur, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Mojave, and Maricopa.
If this is in your neck of the woods, you need this book
California Trails Northern Sierra Region
Even further north you’ll get into the towns of Sacramento (east), Red Bluff (east), Truckee, South Lake Tahoe, Sonora, Susanville, Chico, Oroville, Yuba City, Placerville, Stockton (east), Jackson, and Sonora. Around these parts, there are more than 1,310 miles of backcountry trails, so you’ll need a guide book to get through.
Look no further than right here for the right guide.
California Trails North Coast Region
Yet another great area for off-roading in California is the North coast region, incliding the cities of Sacramento, Redding (west), Red Bluff, Clear Lake, McCloud, Mount Shasta, Yreka, Crescent City, and Fort Bidwell.
Pick up this guidebook for access to over 674 miles of trails.
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