Since 1986, Jerry Schad's Afoot and Afield: San Diego County has been the premier trail guide for hikers, backpackers, and mountain bikers. It describes routes ranging from brief, family-friendly hikes to multiple-day overnight trips in remote regions of the backcountry, providing equal weight to the scenic and recreational value of each trip. Each route features at least one or more significant botanical, cultural, or geological highlight with detailed information about what makes each one significant. The book's lengthy history as the preferred hiking guide for the region creates trust and recognition in its readers, while the variety within the book caters to a wide population of recreational enthusiasts.

Current co-author Scott Turner has fully updated the book by re-hiking each of the routes contained within the book and adding (up to) 30 new routes to ensure that information for each trip is fully current.