Happy trails: Latest edition of hiking the American River Canyon features 33 trails, new photos

Jim LoBue moved to Auburn 15 years ago, and one of his earliest experiences in town was coming across the book "American River Canyon Hikes: Practical Guides to Trails in the Canyons of the North and Middle Forks American River." That was three editions ago. LoBue is promoting the fourth edition, which was released about a month ago, and is every bit as pleased with the final product as co-author Mike Lynch. The two teamed up for an interview with the Auburn Journal on Monday and described the latest edition with a common word: Practical. "The obvious thing that catches your eye is the (spiral) binding. It makes it much more practical where you can hold it open, even stick it in a backpack or your pocket, open to the page you want it to be on," said the longtime head of Canyon Keepers, a volunteer group for the Auburn State Recreation Area that does a junior ranger program, monthly hikes, runs information centers at the confluence and clean-ups. "That's very handy." Lynch said he and co-authors Jim Ferris and Sheila Toner "did a major overhaul" for the fourth edition, including six new trails and updating information on other trails. Lynch is a former park ranger and national editor for an international police association quarterly magazine that was printed at the Auburn Journal. He said "American River Canyon Hikes" has been "the most continuously successful book project I've been on." "It's new and improved, as it were," he said. "You can get this book, pick out what's right for you. It's very practical. (People) leaf through, and oh, that's an easy hike if you want an easy hike, or a wildflower hike." The American River Canyon is a mecca of trails, used by people to hike, run and ride horses. There are 33 trails in the fourth edition of "American River Canyon Hikes," and they include information on how to get to each trail, trail distance, difficulty of the hike, what to look for and where to park. Lynch said the first edition had "probably half that many trails." Said LoBue, "This area is a treasure trove of places to go. The book itself, it's very practical. It gives you useful info so you don't get lost, so you can make a decision on where you want to go. Are you going up steep hills or on a relatively flat terrain? It has good, clear directions, where you park your car, plus it throws in history, interesting facts." And added pictures, according to Lynch. "We upgraded with pictures we thought were better," he said. "We're thinking we have it where we want it now." The book costs between $15 and $20 and is on sale at REI at 1148 Galleria Blvd. in Roseville, the Auburn visitors' center, Aid Station at 675 High Street, Auburn Running Company at 833 Lincoln Way, Auburn Recreation District, Wild Bird Station at 1153 Grass Valley Highway, Winston Smith Books at 933 Lincoln Way and the American River Conservancy at Marshall Gold State Park.