The Ultimate National Parks Book List
In this post we’re covering the 40+ BEST NATIONAL PARKS BOOKS. These national parks books cover a variety of categories from national park guides to national park history, photo books and much, much more.
When you walk into a bookstore or browse online, you want choices. The story of the national parks is about culture, customs, events, history, places, people, traditions and a whole lot more.
You go to the parks to do things and to learn things. Our Ultimate National Parks Book List is going to give you all of that and more. We’ve got the best list with the most interesting books for you to choose from.
We begin with our overview of the parks including things to do and places to see. Then we’ll to take a deeper dive with our national parks books list. Along the way, we plan to take you to some unexpected places and give you some great holiday book ideas.
RELATED: 50 Amazing National Park Gifts: The Ultimate National Parks Gift Guide
Table of Contents: National Park Books
Table Of Contents: National Parks Books
- The Ultimate National Parks Book List
- Overall Best National Parks Book
- Best National Park Coffee Table Books
- Best National Park Book for Road Trip Planning
- Best National Parks Photo Books
- Best National Park Guide Books
- The Best National Parks Book for Kids
- Best National Parks Camping Books
- Best National Parks History Books
- 12. Teddy Roosevelt in California: The Whistle Stop Tour That Changed America
- 13. The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America
- 14. Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America
- 15. Son of the Wilderness: The Life of John Muir
- 16. A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir
- Best National Parks Rescue Books
- Best National Parks Books for History
- Best National Parks Biographies
- Best National Parks Civil War Books
- Best National Park Fiction Books
- Best National Forests Books
- Best National Forest History Books
- Outdoorsy Books
- Now Here’s 5 Bonus Books
- List of Best National Parks Books
The Best National Parks Books
Overall Best National Parks Book
1. The National Parks: America’s Best Idea by Ken Burns & Dayton Duncan
Buy: Amazon
We kick-off our list of national parks books with Ken Burns & Dayton Duncan’s The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. Based on the PBS series of the same, it’s a wonderful overview of the history of our parks.
“You begin to have your memories or the important memories, the major signposts etched into your consciousness by the power of the national parks, and I can’t think of anything else besides tragedy–and this is the opposite of tragedy–that does that so well for us.”
-Ken Burns
This wonderful book begins with the first sighting of the valley that would become Yosemite and the creation of the world’s first national park at Yellowstone in 1872.
And there’s the most recent additions to a system that now encompasses nearly four hundred sites and 84 million acres.
RELATED: All 63 National Parks RANKED By Experts (Best To Worst)
Best National Park Coffee Table Books
2. National Geographic’s: 100 Parks, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do
Buy: Amazon
Looking for a book to help you or someone else plan their next national park vacation?
Our National Parks Books list continues with National Geographic’s: 100 Parks, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do.
It has everything you’ll need to plan a great trip so this is the perfect book for you.
This book is chock full of helpful travel tips and beautiful National Geographic photography.
It’s an expert guide which showcases the best experiences in the top national, state, and city parks throughout North America.
3. National Geographic Atlas of the National Parks
Buy: Amazon
The next book on our National Park Books list book holds a special place in our hearts as the photo for the Voyageurs National Park page was shot by us as part of the filming for our Voyageurs film.
That aside, it is a wonderful compendium of the national parks full of stunning photos that are sure to inspire future trips.
Best National Park Book for Road Trip Planning
4. Fodor’s The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West: with the Best Scenic Road Trips
Buy: Amazon
Next up on our National Parks Book list is Fodor’s: The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West: with the Best Scenic Road Trips. It’s another excellent tool for planning your next trip.
It includes maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need.
It can simplify your trip-planning process and help you to make the most of your time.
“The parks do not belong to one state or to one section….
-Stephen Mather, First Director of the National Park Service
The Yosemite, the Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon are national properties in which every citizen has a vested interest; they belong as much to the man of Massachusetts, of Michigan, of Florida, as they do to the people of California, of Wyoming, and of Arizona.”
Best National Parks Photo Books
5. Treasured Lands by QT Luong
Buy: Amazon
QT is a national parks photographer living legend and his photo books know no equal in terms of capturing the parks shear beauty. In his book, Treasured Lands, Luong focuses on national parks and the results are spectacular.
From his book description:
“QT Luong has updated and expanded his national parks book by adding 28 more pages, 32 new locations, and revising all the maps.
Treasured Lands: A Photographic Odyssey Through America’s National Parks pays tribute to the millions of acres of protected wilderness and historical heritage in our country’s 62 national parks, including the three designated since the award-winning first edition was published in 2016 and became an instant classic – Gateway Arch, Indiana Dunes, White Sands.”
6. Our National Monuments: America’s Hidden Gems
Buy: Amazon
Our National Parks Books list also includes QTs most recent photo book. It shines a spotlight on America’s National Monuments like never before. In Our National Monuments, spectacular, never before seen images of these lesser-traveled but equally stunning places are put on full display.
CHECK OUT: List Of 128 U.S. National Monuments Ranked
Best National Park Guide Books
7. Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 62 Parks
Buy: Amazon
We couldn’t forget about one of our favorite books so we made sure to include it on our National Parks Book list. It’s Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 62 Parks. This book is a wonderful resource (even though it’s short one park now).
Enough coffee table books and comprehensive guides. There’s much more to share with you!
RELATED: 16+ FASCINATING Grand Canyon Facts
8. 63 National Park Adventure Guide: 2021 Edition (Includes New River Gorge!)
Buy: Amazon
Joel & Nathan Anderson have updated their guide titled 63 National Park Adventure Guide: 2021 Edition (Includes New River Gorge!). I want to make sure that you have a guide which includes all of the latest information and this one is definitely it. We’re glad we were able to include it on our National Park Books list.
Their update guide includes information on recently-added parks, including New River Gorge, White Sands, Indiana Dunes, and Gateway Arch.
The Best National Parks Book for Kids
9. National Geographic Kids National Parks Guide USA Centennial Edition: The Most Amazing Sights, Scenes, and Cool Activities from Coast to Coast
Buy: Amazon
No National Parks Books list would be complete without including children. They are, after all, the future.
And they’re never too young when it comes to getting them excited about a National Park Adventure. Whether it’s Grand Teton National Park (above) or one of the other sixty-two, there are some wonderful children’s books out there.
National Geographic Kids National Parks Guide USA Centennial Edition: The Most Amazing Sights, Scenes, and Cool Activities from Coast to Coast is a great book for a child interested in learning about the national parks.
As a parent of three (now fully grown) boys, I can tell you that activity books are a great way to get kids interested in national parks too.
10. National Geographic’s Junior Ranger Activity Book: Puzzles, Games, Facts, and Tons More Fun Inspired by the U.S. National Parks
Buy: Amazon
Another great children’s book on our National Park Books list is National Geographic’s Junior Ranger Activity Book: Puzzles, Games, Facts, and Tons More Fun Inspired by the U.S. National Parks. Folks, it’s a great book!
This book includes games, trivia, jokes, fun facts, and much more. If you’re planning a long drive then it’s a great activity book for those little folks in the back. It certainly beats hearing that familiar refrain, “Are we there yet?”
And while were on the topic of children, I want to mention the Junior Ranger Program. Activity based programs in parks across the country offer young visitors the chance to join the National Park Service “family” as a Junior Ranger.
If you or a friend have a child who might benefit from this wonderful program then you might want to check it out.
Best National Parks Camping Books
11. Camp: Stories and Itineraries for Sleeping Under the Stars
Buy: Amazon
Camp is a great gift for folks who love the outdoors – that includes us park lovers too. This is just a fun read with all sorts of interesting anecdotes and stories.
From the description:
“With tales from the trail, arresting images, and helpful instruction, this wild guide reveals what calls people to camp: under all the gear, it’s as much about living off the grid as it is about the thrill of staying alive.
Whether you love car camping with kids, rock climbing with friends, or roughing it solo in a lean-to, you’ll find there’s always somewhere new to explore—even if it’s just in your backyard.”
CHECK OUT: 32 Perfect Camping Gifts They’ll Actually Keep This Year
Best National Parks History Books
12. Teddy Roosevelt in California: The Whistle Stop Tour That Changed America
Buy: Amazon
I’m a retired history teacher and a lifelong history book so, as far as I’m concerned, no list of National Parks Books is complete without some incredible historical figures who impacted our national parks.
One of my favorites is Chris Epting’s Teddy Roosevelt in California: The Whistle Stop Tour That Changed America.
It’s the story of President Theodore Roosevelt’s 1903 California Whistle Stop Tour.
He embarked on three days of epic adventures in the wilderness of Yosemite with the famous and influential naturalist John Muir.
It’s a wonderfully entertaining book and a real page turner too!
13. The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America
Buy: Amazon
When it comes to historians who write about conservation and the people who have led it, one of my favorites is Douglas Brinkley. No list of National Parks Books is complete with at least one (if not more) of his amazing works.
In this book, author and historian Douglas Brinkley does a masterful job of examining the life and achievements of our “naturalist president.”
14. Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America
Buy: Amazon
This book, also by Douglas Brinkley, examines how Theodore’s fifth cousin, Franklin, continued his crusade to protect America’s public lands.
“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. ”
-franklin Roosevelt
15. Son of the Wilderness: The Life of John Muir
Buy: Amazon
No self-respecting list of National Parks Books is complete without the story of John Muir–the man who is called the “Father of the National Parks.”
“Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life.”
-john muir
CHECK OUT: 10+ AMAZING John Muir Facts | America’s Greatest Conservationist
16. A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir
Buy: Amazon
Muir played an instrumental role in building public support for the idea of a system of national parks so we’ve included another great book recommendation focusing on his life and achievements.
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity”
― John Muir, Our National Parks
Best National Parks Rescue Books
17. Death, Daring, and Disaster (Revised Edition): Search and Rescue in the National Parks
Buy: Amazon
Imagine a plane landing on the summit of Mount Rainier. Or how about a person being rescued after spending 37 days lost in Yellowstone National Park.
Charles “Butch” Farabee, Jr. recounts more than 400 exciting tales of heroism from the 150,000 search-and-rescue missions carried out by the National Park Service.
RELATED: 10 (AMAZING) Mount Rainier National Park Facts For Your Next Trip
Best National Parks Books for History
18. Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West
Buy: Amazon
When visiting the national parks, can you ever get enough history? Or for that matter, enough history books?
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is approximately 4,900 miles long, extending from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River, near present day Astoria, Oregon.
Their trip would turn into an epic 8,000-mile-long trek—and the first big step in the United States’ westward expansion.
It’s a story of incredible courage and colorful characters who opened up the west told by a master storyteller – Stephen Ambrose.
RELATED: 6 Missouri National Parks Worth A Stop On Your Next Midwest Road Trip
19. West Like Lightning: The Brief, Legendary Ride of the Pony Express
Buy: Amazon
The Pony Express delivered messages, newspapers and mail using relays of horse mounted riders. Only in operation for eighteen months, it reduced the time for messages to travel between the east and west coasts to about ten days.
An exciting tale of daring young men pushing their limits to the extremes across the vast, rugged, and unsettled American West.
The challenges they faced were enormous, yet the Pony Express succeeded, delivering tens of thousands of letters at record speed.
I simply had to include this one on our list of National Parks Books.
RELATED: 7 AMAZING Kansas National Parks-Everything You Need To Know
20. Terror on the Santa Fe Trail: Kit Carson and the Jicarilla Apache
Buy: Amazon
Westward Ho! Between 1821 and 1880, the Santa Fe Trail was a highway connecting Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Originally pioneered by Missouri trader William Becknell, this trail has some fascinating stories to tell.
In this riveting account, you’ll learn about the worst defeat of the U.S. Army in the West up to that time and what they did to avenge that defeat.
Looking for more travel books? Check out our article : TRAVEL THE WORLD With Help From These 25 (Amazing) BOOKS.
Best National Parks Biographies
21. Benton MacKaye: Conservationist, Planner, and Creator of the Appalachian Trail
Buy: Amazon
If you truly want to appreciated the story of America’s longest hiking trail then you need to know the story of the colorful characters who helped to bring that trail about. One of these colorful characters is Benton MacKaye. He’s aptly called the “Father of the Appalachian Trail.”
MacKaye was an American forester, planner and conservationist. This co-founder of the Wilderness Society has a story to tell and its well told in by Larry Anderson.
This book is a wonderful additional to our National Parks Books list.
22. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
Buy: Amazon
While we’re on the subject of the Appalachian Trail, I had to include this entertaining guide. It’s Bill Bryson’s personal account of his travels on this historic trail.
He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way – not to mention a couple of bears.
This is a fun read and one which definitely belongs on any good list of National Parks Books.
23. A River Running West: The Life of John Wesley Powell
Buy: Amazon
John Wesley Powell was an American geologist, U.S. Army soldier, explorer of the American West, professor at Illinois Wesleyan University, and director of major scientific and cultural institutions.
He also went on to lead a dangerous expedition to explore the Grand Canyon and Colorado River.
He was also a conservationist who warned about the need to conserve water if the West was to be properly developed. To understand the history of the development of the West it’s important to know who Powell was and what he did.
This is one of my favorites on our National Parks Books list.
The book is written by Daniel Worster. He tells the story of Powell’s great adventures and describes his historical significance with compelling clarity and skill.
“We have an unknown distance yet to run, an unknown river to explore.
-John Wesley Powell
What falls there are, we know not; what rocks beset the channel, we know not; what walls ride over the river, we know not.
Ah, well! we may conjecture many things.”
24. Untamed: The Wildest Woman in America and the Fight for Cumberland Island
Buy: Amazon
Cumberland Island lies off the coast of Georgia. It’s a place where nature and history come together to tell a most unusual story.
One of the most fascinating residents of this island is Carol Ruckdeschel. She’s the road kill eating, bareback riding, wild woman of Cumberland Island.
This book is a must on any list of National Parks Books which attempts to bring history and nature together.
RELATED: Whose Island Is It Anyway: A History & Guide To Cumberland Island
Best National Parks Civil War Books
25. Shelby Foote: The Civil War
Buy: Amazon
The Civil War was the defining event in American history. You may not see it on other national parks books lists, but we’re proudly putting it on ours.
When it comes to the American Civil War, the big three authors are Bruce Catton, Shelby Foote and James M. McPherson.
My personal favorite is Shelby Foote. I have read his fabulous three volume history of the Civil War–twice!
RELATED: 10 BEST Civil War Sites In America
26. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era
Buy: Amazon
James McPherson’s narrative fully integrates the political, social, and military events that crowded the two decades from the outbreak of one war in Mexico to the ending of another at Appomattox.
The book vividly recounts the momentous episodes that preceded the Civil War–the Dred Scott decision, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry and much more.
27. Bruce Catton’s Civil War: Boxed 3 Volume Set
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Charles Bruce Catton was an American historian and journalist, known best for his books concerning the American Civil War.
Known as a narrative historian, Catton specialized in popular history, featuring interesting characters and historical vignettes, in addition to the basic facts, dates, and analyses.
Best National Park Fiction Books
Prefer fiction to fact? There are some wonderful stories set inside of the national parks waiting to be read.
While I’m a non-fiction guy, I do occasionally journey to the dark side so I’ll give you three of my fiction favorites.
28. Death Canyon
Buy: Amazon
Death Canyon, by David Riley Bertsch, is the story of a former prosecutor.
He left the law for a more tranquil existence as a fishing guide in Jackson. Three seemingly unrelated deaths shatter that tranquility.
29. Boar Island
Buy: Amazon
Next up, there’s Boar Island by Nevada Barr.
Anna Pigeon is a National Park Ranger traveling between parks to solve mysteries in the deep wilderness.
This book takes place in Acadia National Park.
RELATED: 11 AMAZING Facts About Acadia National Park
30. Down By The River
Buy: Amazon
And there’s a Great Smoky Mountains National Park mystery.
Titled Down By The River by Lin Stepp, it’s the story of middle-aged widow Grace Conley who decides that it’s time to start over.
Starting over may not be as easy as Grace thinks.
RELATED: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Best National Forests Books
If you love the great outdoors, but don’t want to join the hordes of people descending on some of our nation’s parks then why not consider one of America’s amazing national forests instead?
As Bloomberg reports, “A post-pandemic boom in national park tourism has left lawmakers wondering how to preserve nature and the visitor experience amid increased traffic, crowds, and waiting times.”
Well, we’ve got some good news for you. There’s a less crowded alternative. It’s called our national forests.
While our national forests may not offer as many amenities, they do offer the same magnificent scenery, wildlife, activities, and everything else that you love about that great outdoor experience.
CHECK OUT: Escape The Crowds At One Of These National Parks (& Forests)
31. This Land: A Guide To The Western National Forests
Buy: Amazon
If you’re interested in planning a trip to a national forest than one excellent resource to help you plan that trip is This Land: A Guide to Western National Forests by Robert H. Mohlenbrock.
It’s part of a three-volume series which introduces people to all of our nation’s forests.
This book is a comprehensive field guide that describes the natural features, wildernesses, scenic drives, campgrounds, and hiking trails of our national forests.
What you’ll learn is that many of these places―while little known and sparsely visited―boast features as spectacular as those found in our national parks and monuments.
32. This Land: A Guide to Central National Forests
Buy: Amazon
Part armchair travelogue, part guide book, this projected three-volume series―divided into the western, central, and eastern United States―will introduce readers to all 155 national forests across the country.
This Land is the only comprehensive field guide that describes the natural features, wildernesses, scenic drives, campgrounds, and hiking trails of our national forests, many of which―while little known and sparsely visited―boast features as spectacular as those found in our national parks and monuments.
33. This Land: A Guide to Eastern National Forests
Buy: Amazon
Best National Forest History Books
34. Gifford Pinchot and the Making of Modern Environmentalism
Buy: Amazon
If you’re interested in traveling to our nation’s forests then why not learn about the man who helped to make them possible. I had to include him on our National Parks Books list.
Gifford Pinchot was the first director of the U.S. Forest Service appointed in 1905. He is considered the “Father of America’s National Forests.”
Author and Conservation Historian Char Miller has written an excellent book about this “conservation pioneer.”
“Unless we practice conservation, those who come after us will have to pay the price of misery, degradation and failure for the progress and prosperity of our day.”
-gifford pinchot
RELATED: Gifford Pinchot: A 2021 Lesson From America’s First Forest
Why Stop With National Parks?
35. National Geographic Guide to State Parks of the United States, 5th Edition
Buy: Amazon
Why stop with national parks when you can keep going? This book provides the very best in state parks which have been selected by park directors and National Geographic editors.
You may not have heard of Red Rock Canyon State Park in California, but did you know that it was the site where episodes of CSI, Lost In Space, and Star Trek were filmed?
Want to learn more?
RELATED: Look Familiar? Ten CLASSIC Television Shows Filmed In The National Parks
Outdoorsy Books
36. An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections
Buy: Amazon
One of my heroes is the man whom I consider to be America’s Greatest Conservation President.
The only President of the United States to come from my home state of Georgia, Jimmy Carter served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981.
He was awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for work to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.
Jimmy Carter loved the great outdoors and this wonderful book shares that love with anyone fortunate enough to read it.
The former President reminisces about his childhood in Plains, Ga.fishing with his daddy and learning to hunt, encounters with rattlesnakes and getting lost in the woods.
He charts his and his wife’s progress in fly-fishing and takes us on piscatorial peregrinations to Camp David, Japan, New Zealand, Europe; every journey had to allow for a few hours or days with the rod.
I want to make it clear,if there is ever a conflict [between environmental quality and economic growth], I will go for beauty, clean air, water, and landscape.
-jimmy carter
CHECK OUT: Jimmy Carter Was The GREATEST Conservation President
37. A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety
Buy: Amazon
While we’re on the subject of America’s 39th President, I’ve included not just one, but two of his wonderful books on our National Parks Books list.
At ninety, Jimmy Carter reflects on his public and private life with a frankness that is disarming. He adds detail and emotion about his youth in rural Georgia that he described in his magnificent An Hour Before Daylight. He writes about racism and the isolation of the Carters.
He describes the brutality of the hazing regimen at Annapolis, and how he nearly lost his life twice serving on submarines and his amazing interview with Admiral Rickover. He describes the profound influence his mother had on him, and how he admired his father even though he didn’t emulate him.
Carter admits that he decided to quit the Navy and later enter politics without consulting his wife, Rosalynn, and how appalled he is in retrospect.
It’s a truly amazing story about a truly amazing man.
We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles.
-jimmy carter
CHECK OUT: 13 Reasons Why Jimmy Carter Is America’s Greenest President
38. Ansel Adams in the National Parks: Photographs from America’s Wild Places
Buy: Amazon
Ansel Adams is one of America’s greatest nature photographers. So if a picture’s truly worth a thousand words than can any National Parks Books list be complete without his pictures? I don’t think so.
The legendary photographer explored more than forty national parks in his lifetime, producing some of the most indelible images of the natural world ever made.
One of the twentieth century’s most ardent champions of the park and wilderness systems, Adams also helped preserve additional natural areas and protect existing ones through his photographs, essays, and letter-writing campaigns.
You don’t take a photograph, you make it.
-ansel adams
39. Whispers in the Wilderness (Whispers, 1)
Buy: Amazon
I have selected a book (parts one & two), which the Independent Booksellers have described as profound in its wisdom and beauty. And I would most certainly agree.
In this book, author and photographer Erik Stensland reflects on his own experience of wilderness and how it seems to call all of us towards healing and wholeness. Through short articles paired with stunning imagery, he invites us to explore this common longing that we all have for the wilderness.
You will hear echoes of the voices of naturalist John Muir, essayist Henry David Thoreau, mystic and theologian Thomas Merton and many others. It addresses that core, unchanging depth within and its connection to the wild world.
40. The Journey Beyond (Whispers, 2)
Buy: Amazon
Erik Stensland’s second book in his Whispers In The Wilderness series.
The theme of this book is: Learning to Live Beautifully in a Troubled World.
Is there a better gift for the holidays? I don’t think so.
Now Here’s 5 Bonus Books
41. One Man’s Wilderness
Buy: Amazon
Our final section includes five bonus books which are definitely worth considering.
The first book, One Man’s Wilderness, is the amazing story of a master craftsman dedicated to living simply on the land. Dick Proenneke used local materials, simple tools, and human ingenuity to craft a home and life in keeping with the wilderness.
Proenneke chose to live in this isolated wilderness without electricity, running water, telephone, or other modern ‘necessities.’
From Proenneke’s journals, and with firsthand knowledge of his subject and the setting, this incredible book is a tribute to a man who carved his masterpiece out of the great outdoors.
42. America’s Best Day Hikes
Buy: Amazon
This best-of compendium features the most memorable one-day hikes in every region of the United States from Sierra Buttes Lookout in Tahoe National Forest to Grinnell Glacier Trail in Montana’s Glacier National Park to Giant Mountain in Adirondack Park and beyond.
Organized by region, this guide goes into detail about what makes each hike so remarkable and why it might be worth a detour or even a special journey for someone looking to broaden their horizons.
All of the hikes are doable during daylight hours and none require camping.
43. The Bucket List: Wild
Buy: Amazon
This incredible bucket list offers around-the-world listings of ways to experience animals and birds in their natural habitats. Fun, life-affirming activities are the focus from action-packed adventures (riding with wild horses in France, snorkeling with sharks in Belize) to more relaxing experiences (walking through a wildflower reserve in South Africa or floating among corals in the Maldives).
Each activity is location-specific and geographically unique – kayaking with whales in Canada, watching snow monkeys take a sauna in Japan, going on a desert safari in Dubai. The book also addresses the issues facing vulnerable and endangered species, and suggests ways that travelers can help.
Conservation-themed adventures include working as a Giant Panda keeper in China, volunteering at an endangered orangutan rescue in Indonesia, and guarding baby turtles in Costa Rica as they make their way from beach to ocean.
44. Surviving the Great Outdoors: Everything You Need to Know Before Heading into the Wild (and How to Get Back in One Piece)
Buy: Amazon
This amazing book includes 400 strategies for engaging in the outdoors, and expert tips and tricks, Surviving the Great Outdoors makes Mother Nature easier to understand than ever before. Brendan Leonard, writer, filmmaker, and outdoor adventurer, shows the reader how rewarding it can be to live life away from the computer and get outside.
From mountain climbing, to skiing, sledding, and sailing, Leonard shows that you don’t need to be a risk taker to enjoy the outdoors. And if the reader does find himself at the point of man vs. nature, Leonard shares survival skills from how to bandage a wound and read a topographical map, to how to drive on sand and remove a tick from your skin—all organized thematically and written in short takeaway entries with helpful line drawings.
Bound in a uniquely rugged (and waterproof!) PVC cover material, Surviving the Great Outdoors is a friendly way into the outdoor lifestyle, whether you’re looking to dabble or go all in.
45. The Green Guide to Low-Impact Hiking and Camping
Buy: Amazon
Originally published as Backwoods Ethics in 1979, Laura and Guy Waterman’s definitive guide to low-impact hiking and camping was a prophetic call to reevaluate the impact of outdoor recreation on the wilderness.
Enthusiastically received by environmentalists and wilderness managers at the time, its warnings and advice are now more relevant than ever. With wisdom and gentle humor, Laura and Guy Waterman present a strong case for the importance of respecting the natural world while you’re enjoying it.
In his foreword to the new edition, world-famous environmentalist Bill McKibben puts the Watermans’ advice into context for today’s world. Day hikers, campers, and backpackers who follow the sensible techniques laid out in this book will help preserve the wilderness experience for generations to come.
List of Best National Parks Books
- The National Parks: America’s Best Idea by Ken Burns & Dayton Duncan
- National Geographic’s: 100 Parks, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do
- Fodor’s The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West: with the Best Scenic Road Trips
- National Geographic Atlas of the National Parks
- Treasured Lands by QT Luong
- Our National Monuments: America’s Hidden Gems
- Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 62 Parks
- 63 National Park Adventure Guide: 2021 Edition (Includes New River Gorge!)
- National Geographic Kids National Parks Guide USA Centennial Edition: The Most Amazing Sights, Scenes, and Cool Activities from Coast to Coast
- National Geographic’s Junior Ranger Activity Book: Puzzles, Games, Facts, and Tons More Fun Inspired by the U.S. National Parks
- Camp: Stories and Itineraries for Sleeping Under the Stars
- Teddy Roosevelt in California: The Whistle Stop Tour That Changed America
- The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America
- Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America
- Son of the Wilderness: The Life of John Muir
- A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir
- Death, Daring, and Disaster (Revised Edition): Search and Rescue in the National Parks
- Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West
- West Like Lightning: The Brief, Legendary Ride of the Pony Express
- Terror on the Santa Fe Trail: Kit Carson and the Jicarilla Apache
- Benton MacKaye: Conservationist, Planner, and Creator of the Appalachian Trail
- A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
- A River Running West: The Life of John Wesley Powell
- Untamed: The Wildest Woman in America and the Fight for Cumberland Island
- Shelby Foote: The Civil War
- Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era
- Bruce Catton’s Civil War: Boxed 3 Volume Set
- Death Canyon
- Boar Island
- Down By The River
- This Land: A Guide To The Western National Forests
- This Land: A Guide to Central National Forests
- This Land: A Guide to Eastern National Forests
- Gifford Pinchot and the Making of Modern Environmentalism
- National Geographic Guide to State Parks of the United States, 5th Edition
- An Outdoor Journal: Adventures & Reflections
- A Full Life: Reflections At 90
- Ansel Adams In The National Parks
- Whispers In The Wilderness (Part 1)
- The Journey Beyond (Part 2)
- One Man’s Wilderness
- America’s Best Day Hikes
- The Bucket List: Wild
- Surviving the Great Outdoors makes Mother Nature
- The Green Guide To Low Impact Hiking & Camping
What About National Parks In The Movies?
The holidays are a great time to get everyone together. If you love the national parks why not get together and watch a film in which one of your favorite parks makes a cameo appearance.
We’ve put together a list of 25+ national parks which have made cameo appearances in some of our favorite films. Check out the article below.
RELATED: Look Familiar? 25+ CLASSIC Movies Filmed In The National Parks
Summary | Leave Us a Comment
I hope you’ve found the More Than Just Parks Books List helpful as a result of this article which is to provide you with more books covering more topics than you might find elsewhere.
If you would like to share any of your own book recommendation with us then we invite you to do so. We’re always looking to learn more about America’s National Parks.
About the Folks Behind More Than Just Parks
You should probably know that we don’t just make this stuff up out of thin air. We’ve spent our entire adult lives exploring and filming America’s national parks and public lands.
We’ve worked with the National Park Service, the Department of Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service for years creating films on important places and issues. Our work has been featured in leading publications all over the world and even some people outside of our immediate family call us experts on the national parks.
Meet The Parks Brothers
We’re Jim Pattiz and Will Pattiz, collectively known as the Pattiz Brothers (and sometimes the Parks Brothers) and we absolutely LOVE the national parks.
Our goal here at More Than Just Parks is to share the beauty of America’s national parks and public lands through stunning short films in an effort to get Americans and the world to see the true value in land conservation.
We hope you’ll follow our journey through the parks and help us to keep them the incredible places that they are. If you’re interested joining the adventure, sign up below!
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