Canyoneering 3: Loop Hikes in Utah's Escalante

Steve Allen describes the Escalante National Monument as "a twisted, complex web of sandstone; a jigsaw puzzle of canyons, draws, gorges and washes." His guide, Canyoneering 3, is the latest installment in a series that helps debunk myths of desert hiking being little more than strolling over flat, sandy landscapes. Allen walks the reader through 23 hikes with necessarily wordy descriptions, proving that Escalante is as complicated as it is picturesque. The author is regarded as a legend among canyoneers; you couldn't find a better tour guide to steer you through. --Ben Tiffany