Recreation Map of the San Diego Backcountry: Waterproof, synthetic paper (Tom Harrison Maps)

First of all, the latest edition as of this review is copyrighted 2018, not 2016. But the two editions have differences.I have been buying Tom Harrison maps since 1990, and I have bought over a hundred covering various areas and editions. They are generally very good maps, but this title now has issues. I have the 2012, 2016 and 2018 editions of this title. Between the 2012 and 2016 editions, the depiction of private inholdings was dropped. Between the 2016 and 2018 editions, both the lat/long and UTM grids were completely dropped. Also, the black text printing on the 2018 edition is so dark that it is difficult to read when it overlays another color feature.I would recommend trying to obtain a 2016 edition; but unfortunately, both the 2016 and 2018 editions have the same ISBN, so you will not know what edition you are getting when you order online, since sellers generally maintain their inventory by ISBN. (DeLorme also has this same issue, retaining the same ISBN between different editions that have major differences.)

I bought this at 50% off the usual $11 and would say that's a fair price. It's oriented to cover the entire PCT from Mexico to Riverside - so it includes the Lagunas, Cuyamacas and most of Anza Borrego. Unfortunately, it cuts off a little to quickly to the west to pick up the Agua Tibia wilderness and other backcountry areas of interest. The main use of the map is to scout out road access to remote regions - particularly dirt and 4WD roads as well as gates that may block them. While it does show a number of hiking trails, the scale is too large to use the map as an in-field resource for overnight backpacking trips. However, it does mark the location of some springs and other water sources. It's a nice resource for what it's intended to be.

The trails weren't accurate. Where there should have been 3 trails it only had one on the map - and it was a mix of the 3, not even an accurate depiction of s single one. Sections faded to completely white during it's first use. Virtually useless, sent me 2 miles out of my way.

Every so often, I wish I lived in San Diego County's extensive backcountry. It is beautiful. Largely chaparral, the area also features true desert and mountain forests, and you can find something to do there year round. In the hot summer months, Mt. Laguna and the Cuyamaca Mountains offer relatively cooler hiking in evergreen forests. In the winter, those same places offer skiing, or you can explore the nearby Anza-Borrego Desert. And in between, the foothill areas from 1500-4000 feet in elevation, the majority of the backcountry, blossom and offer great hiking, biking, off roading...whatever your outdoor pleasure. Indeed, my wife's great love is sketching wildflowers and spring in the San Diego backcountry offers multiple opportunities for that. So you would think a recreational map covering this whole area would be a great idea, and you would not be alone. Tom Harrison agrees and has updated his mid 1990s map with this 2012 color version on water proof tear resistant plastic. It shows a lot, but therein lies the problem.Basically, in order to show all the San Diego backcountry, Harrison has to use a pretty big scale, 1:125,000. This is two to five times the scale one would ordinarily use for a topographical map. It means one inch is roughly two miles and contour intervals are 200 feet. Put another way, this map will help you find general recreational areas, but it will not help you explore the trails you find there. Some are not even on this map; others are so portrayed as so tiny that you will really only use this map to find their trail head.Having said that, there are still a lot of nice things to be said about this map. Part of the joy in exploring the San Diego backcountry lies in finding those special recreation spots in this vast land. A map like Harrison's makes this task far easier; certainly less time consuming. It's nice to know when you stay at Agua Caliente Regional Park (some of the nicest hot springs in southern California) that you are close to the multiple trails in Mountain Palm Springs. Daring (or foolish, your call) cross country hikers can use this map to complete a "Canada to Mexico" ecosystem trek, from the top of Mt. Laguna to Vallecito Regional park. And if you are hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in San Diego county, and I have done so more than once, this is a good map for you. Harrison's trail includes point by point mileage and it is accurate! Still, I would recommend getting more detailed maps at major recreation areas like Mt. Laguna, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and for the Anza-Borrego Desert. There is only so much a map like this can convey and when it comes to exploring the area around hiking trails, less is sometimes more.

I have the prior edition and I am not sure what is different between the two. If you don't already own this map, it is terrific. The map gives you an overall view of the San Diego backcountry. I use it whenever summiting peaks in Anza Borrego because I can identify all of the surrounding peaks.

This is my second purchase of this map, having an earlier version finally wear out from dirt, rain, rough handling, and a coffee spill. If you enjoy exploring the Anza Borrego Desert or the Laguna Mountains, this is the map you want.

Bought for my backpacking trip to Jennie Lakes Wilderness. Good detail and color. A good topo map for backpacking is always a must.

Before you order this map, be aware that it is not a bully-detailed backcountry too map. It is a 'recreational' map, meaning it has a bit less detail than some other Harrison maps. So long as you understand that, you will do fine with this map. I used it recently to navigate from I-8 to the Goat Canyon Trestle, and it was fine.