100 Best Hiking Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)

1

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Cheryl Strayed

5.0

An alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here.

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand

Recommended by Emma Watson and Nancy Goldstone.

Nancy Goldstone

I found the narrative honest and riveting. The author used the journey through the hiking trail to work out her problems. [source]

2

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

Bill Bryson

4.8

The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America—majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaining guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhar

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3

AWOL on the Appalachian Trail

David Miller

4.5

A 41-year-old engineer quits his job to hike the Appalachian Trail. This is a true account of his hike from Georgia to Maine, bringing to the reader the life of the towns and the people he meets along the way.

4

Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail

Ben Montgomery

4.5

Winner of the 2014 National Outdoor Book Awards for History/Biography

Emma Gatewood told her family she was going on a walk and left her small Ohio hometown with a change of clothes and less than two hundred dollars. The next anybody heard from her, this genteel, farm-reared, 67-year-old great-grandmother had walked 800 miles along the 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail. And in September 1955, having su

5

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster

Jon Krakauer

4.4

When Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Mt. Everest in the early afternoon of May 10, 1996, he hadn't slept in fifty-seven hours and was reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion. As he turned to begin his long, dangerous descent from 29,028 feet, twenty other climbers were still pushing doggedly toward the top. No one had noticed that the sky had begun to fill with clouds. Six h

Recommended by Richard Branson, Cristina Riesen, Fabrice Grinda, and 2 others.

Richard Branson

Founder/Virgin Group

Today is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this #ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. [source]

Cristina Riesen

First, a word on career paths. In time, I realised that career paths are like one-way streets. Magic happens in unexplored territories. Plus life is how you choose to live every moment, every day. So today, rather than building a career, I prefer to make lateral moves in life, working with great people and being part of ambitious projects impacting the world. There are a few books that got me here: … Jon Krakauer "Into Thin Air". [source]

Fabrice Grinda

I have lots of books to recommend, but they are not related to my career path. The only one that is remotely related is Peter Thiel’s Zero to One. That said here are books I would recommend. [source]

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6

Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail

Jennifer Pharr Davis

4.4

After graduating from college, Jennifer isn't sure what she wants to do with her life. She is drawn to the Appalachian Trail, a 2175-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine. Though her friends and family think she's crazy, she sets out alone to hike the trail, hoping it will give her time to think about what she wants to do next. The next four months are the most physically and emotiona

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7

Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart: An Adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail

Carrot Quinn

4.4

Carrot Quinn fears that she's become addicted to the internet. The city makes her feel numb, and she's having trouble connecting with others. In a desperate move she breaks away from everything to walk 2,660 miles from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail. It will be her first long-distance hike.

In the desert of Southern California Carrot faces many challenges, both physical and emotional:

8

The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth

M. Scott Peck

4.4

Preview Summary

The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth
316 pp. "Psychotherapy is all things to all people in this mega-selling pop-psychology watershed, which features a new introduction by the author in this 25th anniversary edition. His agenda in this tome, which was first published in 1978 but didn't become a bestseller until 1983, is to reconcile the psychoana

Recommended by John C. Maxwell, Iulian Stanciu, and 1 others.

Iulian Stanciu

It helps you take a deeper look and understand why certain things happen in your life. It's an introduction to psychology. It helps you divide a person, just like you would do with a mathematical equation. [source]

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9

Hiking Through: One Man's Journey to Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail

Paul Stutzman

4.4

After Paul Stutzman lost his wife to breast cancer, he sensed a tug on his heart--the call to a challenge, the call to pursue a dream. Paul left his stable career, traveled to Georgia, and took his first steps on the Appalachian Trail. What he learned during the next four and a half months changed his life--and will change readers' lives as well.

In Hiking Through, readers will join Paul on his rem

10

Into the Wild

Jon Krakauer

4.4

Librarian's Note: An alternate cover edition can be found here

In April, 1992, a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himse

Recommended by Holger Seim.

Holger Seim

When it comes to adventure stories, Into the Wild. [source]

11

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

Christopher McDougall

4.3

Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we tho

Recommended by Ed Stafford and Turia Pitt.

Ed Stafford

An honour to be asked to do an impromptu little talk tonight after #christophermcdougall. Great to see the big man in the flesh in the UK. #BornToRun was a book that definitely changed the path of my life. #legend @vivobarefoot #barefootrunning https://t.co/3QgVKZ0OQ4 [source]

Turia Pitt

If people are interested in running, I give them this book. [source]

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12

On Trails: An Exploration

Robert Moor

4.3

In 2009, while thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Robert Moor began to wonder about the paths that lie beneath our feet: How do they form? Why do some improve over time while others fade? What makes us follow or strike off on our own?

Over the course of the next seven years, Moor traveled the globe, exploring trails of all kinds, from the miniscule to the massive. He learned the tricks of master t

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13

Appalachian Trials: A Psychological and Emotional Guide to Successfully Thru-Hiking The Appalachian Trail

Zach Davis

4.3

Each year, it is estimated that more than 2,000 people set out to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, yet seven in ten ultimately fall short of their goal. Given the countless number of how-to books and websites offering information about logistics, gear, and endurance training, one would think that more people would finish this 2,200 mile trek. Why then, do so many hikers quit prematurely?

After succ

14

Desert Solitaire

Edward Abbey

4.3

First published in 1968, Desert Solitaire is one of Edward Abbey’s most critically acclaimed works and marks his first foray into the world of nonfiction writing. Written while Abbey was working as a ranger at Arches National Park outside of Moab, Utah, Desert Solitaire is a rare view of one man’s quest to experience nature in its purest form.

Through prose that is by turns passionate and poetic, A

Recommended by Hari Kunzru and Robert Macfarlane.

Hari Kunzru

He has a deep love for this place and he’s amusing to read because he’s such a strong personality. His writing is extraordinary. [source]

Robert Macfarlane

Abbey is full of passion, fury and contempt – a fiery fighter to shake up the sometimes over-tranquil atmosphere of nature writing. [source]

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15

Lost on the Appalachian Trail

Kyle Rohrig

4.3

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16

Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home

Heather Anderson

4.3

By age 25, Heather Anderson had hiked what is known as the "Triple Crown" of backpacking: the Appalachian Trail (AT), Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and Continental Divide Trail (CDT)—a combined distance of 7,900 miles with a vertical gain of more than one million feet. A few years later, she left her job, her marriage, and a dissatisfied life and walked back into those mountains.

In her new memoir, Th

17

Where's the Next Shelter?

Gary Sizer

4.3

Where's the Next Shelter? is the true story of three travelers on the Appalachian Trail, a two thousand mile hike that stretches from Georgia to Maine, told from the perspective of Gary Sizer, a seasoned backpacker and former Marine who quickly finds himself humbled by the endeavor. He teams up with Megan, a sassy college grad whose indomitable spirit eclipses her lack of experience, and Lemmy, a

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18

Southbound (The Barefoot Sisters, #1)

Lucy Letcher, Susan Letcher

4.2

"Rarely will you find books that explore the human emotions of a long-distance trek so honestly and clearly." --Roger Williamson, Campmor, Inc. "Highly recommended." --trailsbib.blogspot.com

From the book: "We stood for a moment before the venerable signpost marking the summit. Scored with graffiti and the constant onslaught of weather, it stands perhaps three feet high, a wooden A-frame painted Fo

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19

Balancing on Blue: A Dromomaniac Hiking

Keith Foskett

4.2

Librarian's Note: An alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here and here

Shortlisted for Outdoor Book of the Year by The Great Outdoors Magazine.

Every year several thousand people attempt to hike all 2180 miles of the Appalachian Trail in the eastern United States. Being the first of the big three hikes in America, it is where long-distance hikers go to cut their teeth.

Keith Foskett has anoth

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20

Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship

Tom Ryan

4.2

After a close friend died of cancer, middle-aged, overweight, acrophobic newspaperman Tom Ryan decided to pay tribute to her in a most unorthodox manner. Ryan and his friend, miniature schnauzer Atticus M. Finch, would attempt to climb all forty-eight of New Hampshire’s four-thousand-foot peaks twice in one winter while raising money for charity. It was an adventure of a lifetime, leading them acr

21

Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival

Joe Simpson

4.2

Touching the Void is the heart-stopping account of Joe Simpson's terrifying adventure in the Peruvian Andes. He and his climbing partner, Simon, reached the summit of the remote Siula Grande in June 1985. A few days later, Simon staggered into Base Camp, exhausted and frost-bitten, with news that that Joe was dead.

What happened to Joe, and how the pair dealt with the psychological traumas that res

Recommended by Penny Smith and Simon Cole.

Penny Smith

Why does anyone climb a mountain? Because it’s there, apparently ... the tremendous story of Joe Simpson is told in the play of his brilliant book Touching the Void at the Duke of York’s Theatre. Thrilling and moving. [source]

Simon Cole

Decide to turn a night in London into a chance to see @TheVoidPlay #TouchingTheVoid is a magnificent book, a good film and a fabulous, stage show Brilliant and bold staging, great soundtrack, evocative and moving @dukeofyorksLDN @NikolaiFoster https://t.co/6F455nVVgN [source]

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22

As Far as the Eye Can See: Reflections of an Appalachian Trail Hiker

David Brill

4.2

Many an armchair hiker has dreamed of traversing the Appalachian Trail in its entirety. In 1979, David Brill became one of the first of a new generation to complete the Georgia-to-Maine hike. As Far as the Eye Can See chronicles his six-month, 2,100-mile walk, a quest to grow, to breathe, to change, to discover what really mattered to him. This book is for anyone interested in getting beyond the d

23

Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival

Dave Canterbury

4.2

“With advice on not just getting along, but truly reconnecting with the great outdoors, Dave Canterbury’s treasure trove of world-renowned wisdom and experience comes to life within these pages.” —Bustle

A New York Times Bestseller in Sports and Travel!

The ultimate resource for experiencing the backcountry!

Written by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, Bushcraft 101 gets you ready for your next ba

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24

The Backpacker's Field Manual, Revised and Updated: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Backcountry Skills

Rick Curtis

4.2

When it was first published in 1998, The Backpacker's Field Manual set the standard for comprehensive backpacking books. Now exhaustively updated to offer a more complete view of backpacking today, it covers the latest developments in gear—such as Global Positioning Systems and ultralight hiking equipment—first aid, and Leave No Trace comping, and includes a chapter devoted to outdoor leadership r

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25

The Last Englishman

Keith Foskett

4.2

Alternate cover edition for ISBN 978-1480169111
For previous cover edition see here

Shortlisted for Outdoor Book of the Year by The Great Outdoors Magazine

The second book from award winning writer Keith Foskett
The Pacific Crest Trail stretches some 2,650 miles from the Mexican border to Canada. It meanders through the scorching deserts of California, the dramatic Sierra Nevada, the volcanic landsca

26

North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail

Scott Jurek and Jenny Jurek

4.2

From the author of the bestseller Eat and Run, a thrilling memoir about his grueling, exhilarating, and immensely inspiring 46-day run to break the speed record for the Appalachian Trail.

Scott Jurek is one of the world's best known and most beloved ultrarunners. Renowned for his remarkable endurance and speed, accomplished on a vegan diet, he's finished first in nearly all of ultrarunning's elite

27

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Aron Ralston

4.2

A brilliantly written, funny, honest, inspiring, and downright astonishing report from the line where death meets life which will surely take its place in the annals of classic adventure stories.

One of the most extraordinary survival stories ever told -- Aron Ralston's searing account of his six days trapped in one of the most remote spots in America, and how one inspired act of bravery brought hi

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28

A Walk for Sunshine: A 2,160 Mile Expedition for Charity on the Appalachian Trail

Jeff Alt

4.2

As seen on ESPN and Hallmark Channel: Jeff Alt takes you along every step of his 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail adventure filled with humorous, frightening, and inspirational stories including bears, bugs, blisters, captivating characters, skunk bed mates, and hilarious food cravings. As Alt walked more than 5 million steps through freezing temperatures, driving rain, and sunny skies, he was constan

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29

Skywalker: Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail

Bill Walker, jerry gramckow, audra george

4.2

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30

Just Passin' Thru: A Vintage Store, the Appalachian Trail, and a Cast of Unforgettable Characters

Winton Porter

4.2

Like a well-crafted stage play, Just Passin' Thru delivers one suspenseful scene after another. But in this historic setting — a store on the Appalachian Trail called Mountain Crossings — the characters who show up are no fictional creations. They are the real-life stars of the author’s new life as a backpack-purging, canteen-selling, hostel-running, bandage-taping, lost-child finding, argument-se

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31

The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide: Tools and Techniques to Hit the Trail

Andrew Skurka

4.2

Supreme long-distance hiker Andrew Skurka shares his hard-earned knowledge in this essential guide to backpacking gear and skills. Described by National Geographic as “one of the best traveled and fastest hikers on the planet,” and named “Adventurer of the Year” by Outside and “Person of the Year” by Backpacker, Skurka recounts what he’s learned from more than 30,000 miles of long-distance adventu

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32

The Living Mountain: A Celebration of the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland

Nan Shepherd, Robert Macfarlane

4.2

In this masterpiece of nature writing, Nan Shepherd describes her journeys into the Cairngorm mountains of Scotland. There she encounters a world that can be breathtakingly beautiful at times and shockingly harsh at others. Her intense, poetic prose explores and records the rocks, rivers, creatures and hidden aspects of this remarkable landscape.

Shepherd spent a lifetime in search of the 'essentia

Recommended by Cal Flyn and Robert Macfarlane.

Cal Flyn

This slim work of nature writing, an account of gentle and repeated interaction with those same mountains in all seasons, requires total immersion. [source]

Robert Macfarlane

This book is a geo-philosophical meditation on the Cairngorm landscape in particular, but more generally on how mind and place interpenetrate, as Shepherd puts it. It’s a sensual and, well, erotic text. Shepherd talks about tasting the landscape, and describes walking barefoot, sleeping out. It’s the record of a long-term and full-body immersion in a place. [source]

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33

A Walk Across America

Peter Jenkins

4.2

Twenty-five years ago, a disillusioned young man set out on a walk across America. This is the book he wrote about that journey -- a classic account of the reawakening of his faith in himself and his country.

"I started out searching for myself and my country," Peter Jenkins writes, "and found both." In this timeless classic, Jenkins describes how disillusionment with society in the 1970s drove him

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34

Stumbling Thru: Hike Your Own Hike

A. Digger Stol

4.2

This novel follows Walter, a sad-sack schlump of a protagonist, as he sets out to hike the Appalachian Trail against his will.

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35

Ultralight Backpackin' Tips: 153 Amazing & Inexpensive Tips for Extremely Lightweight Camping

Mike Clelland

4.2

Short, to-the-point, and humorously illustrated by famed outdoor illustrator Mike Clelland, this book presents everything hikers and backpackers need to be safe, comfortable, and well fed while carrying a very small and lightweight pack.

36

Tracks: A Woman's Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback

Robyn Davidson

4.2

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

Robyn Davidson's opens the memoir of her perilous journey across 1,700 miles of hostile Australian desert to the sea with only four camels and a dog for company with the following words: “I experienced that sinking feeling you get when you know you have conned yourself into doing something difficult and there's no going back."

Enduring sweltering heat, fending off poisono

Recommended by Alastair Humphreys.

Alastair Humphreys

Tracks is just fantastically well written. [source]

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37

Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills

Brand: Mountaineers Book

4.2

The latest edition of the classic guide to mountaineering describes fundamental climbing skills; discusses rock, snow, and ice climbing techniques; recommends clothing and equipment; gives advice on safety and first aid; and includes a new section on waterfall ice and mixed climbing. Simultaneous.

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38

The Complete Walker IV

Colin Fletcher, Chip Rawlins

4.1

For the first time since 1984, we have a new edition of the classic book that Field & Stream called "the Hiker's Bible." For this version, the celebrated writer and hiker Colin Fletcher has taken on a coauthor, Chip Rawlins, himself an avid outdoorsman and a poet from Wyoming. Together, they have made this fourth edition of The Complete Walker the most informative, entertaining, and thorough versi

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39

How to Hike the Appalachian Trail: A Comprehensive Guide to Plan and Prepare for a Successful Thru-Hike

Chris Cage

4.1

40

The Last Season

Eric Blehm

4.1

To pick up The Last Season is to lose oneself in a mesmerizing story about a place few could survive in and even fewer have visited -- the unforgiving backcountry of the Sierra Nevadas. Blehm narrates this true account of the disappearance and search for Randy Morgenson, a National Park Service ranger who, one morning after 28 seasons on the job, failed to answer his radio call.

The introverted Mo

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41

Hikertrash: Life on the Pacific Crest Trail

Erin Miller, Tracy Fawns, et al

4.1

Teetering awkwardly on the brink of insanity, unable to handle life in snowy, cold, ultra-conservative North Idaho, Carl and Erin sold their house and set out in search of a new place to call home. Suddenly finding themselves completely free of responsibilities, jobless, and with a little spare cash in the bank, it didn't take long before their serious search for a new life took some unexpected tw

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42

The Unlikely Thru-Hiker: An Appalachian Trail Journey

Derick Lugo

4.1

Derick Lugo had never been hiking. He didn't even know if he liked being outside all that much. He certainly couldn't imagine going more than a day without manicuring his goatee. But with a job overseas cut short and no immediate plans, this fixture of the greater New York comedy circuit began to think about what he might do with months of free time and no commitments. He had heard of the Appalach

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43

Walking Home (The Barefoot Sisters, #2)

Lucy Letcher, Susan Letcher

4.1

"Rarely will you find books that explore the human emotions of a long-distance trek so honestly and clearly." --Roger Williamson, Campmor, Inc. "Highly recommended." --trailsbib.blogspot.com

After hiking the AT from Maine to Georgia, Lucy and Susan Letcher decided that the best way to get home would be to turn around and hike it again. So they did--barefoot, of course--but this time, they encounter

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44

Almost Somewhere: Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail

Suzanne Roberts

4.1

Day One, and already she was lying in her journal. It was 1993, Suzanne Roberts had just finished college, and when her friend suggested they hike California’s John Muir Trail, the adventure sounded like the perfect distraction from a difficult home life and thoughts about the future. But she never imagined that the twenty-eight-day hike would change her life. Part memoir, part nature writing, par

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45

The Man Who Walked Through Time: The Story of the First Trip Afoot Through the Grand Canyon

Colin Fletcher

4.1

The Man Who Walked Through Time is a remarkable classic of nature writing, an account of a journey both physical and spiritual. A detour from U.S. 66 to visit the Grand Canyon on a June morning in 1963 inspired Fletcher to walk the length of the Canyon below the rim. It is also a record of the Grand Canyon as it was before the massive influx of tourism. Fletcher's descriptions of the spectacular g

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46

Called Again: Love and Triumph on the Appalachian Trail

Jennifer Pharr Davis

4.1

In 2011, Jennifer Pharr Davis became the overall record holder on the Appalachian Trail. By hiking 2,181 miles in 46 days -- an average of 47 miles per day -- she became the first female to ever set that mark. But this is not a book about records or numbers; this is a book about endurance and faith, and most of all love.
The most amazing part of this story is not found at the finish, but is discov

47

SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere

John 'Lofty' Wiseman

4.1

The ultimate guide to survival, this edition now includes the most essential urban survival tips for today, supplementing the fully updated original, bestselling handbook.

The original and best survival guide for any situation in every climate is back. Now with added techniques for handling Urban dangers, the SAS Survival Handbook is the complete companion for adventurers everywhere. From making ca

48

The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs: Use Outdoor Clues to Find Your Way, Predict the Weather, Locate Water, Track Animals—and Other Forgotten Skills

Tristan Gooley

4.1

Turn Every Walk into a Game of Detection

When writer and navigator Tristan Gooley journeys outside, he sees a natural world filled with clues. The roots of a tree indicate the sun’s direction; the Big Dipper tells the time; a passing butterfly hints at the weather; a sand dune reveals prevailing wind; the scent of cinnamon suggests altitude; a budding flower points south. To help you understand nat

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49

On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage

Robert Alden Rubin

4.1

An eloquent, wise, and witty account of how one man's six-month, end-to-end hike of the Appalachian Trail led him back home.

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50

Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 59 Parks

Becky Lomax

4.1

They've been dubbed America's best idea for a reason: get inspired, get outdoors, and discover the wild beauty of the United States with Moon USA National Parks. Inside you'll find:

Coverage of all 59 national parks, from the misty mountains of the east and the redwoods of the west, to the glaciers of Alaska and volcanoes of Hawaii, organized by region

Strategic lists and itineraries: Choose from li

51

The Salt Path: A Memoir

Raynor Winn

4.1

Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years is terminally ill, their home and livelihood is taken away. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall.

They have almost no money for food or shelter and must carry only the essentials for su

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52

Three Hundred Zeroes: Lessons of the Heart on the Appalachian Trail

Dennis R. Blanchard

4.1

Dennis Blanchard's promise to his brother haunted him for over forty years. Finally, when there were no more excuses, he set out on the Appalachian Trail to fulfill that promise. He learned that walking in the wilderness can reconnect one with a Norman Rockwell America that at times seems long lost and forgotten. The difficulties encountered walking over 2,200 miles are easily underestimated and t

53

Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident (Historical Nonfiction Bestseller, True Story Book of Survival)

Donnie Eichar

4.1

A New York Times and Wall Street Journal Nonfiction Bestseller! — What happened that night on Dead Mountain?The mystery of Dead Mountain: In February 1959, a group of nine experienced hikers in the Russian Ural Mountains died mysteriously on an elevation known as Dead Mountain. Eerie aspects of the mountain climbing incident—unexplained violent injuries, signs that they cut open and fled the tent

54

100 Parks, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do

Joe Yogerst

4.1

Filled with helpful travel tips and beautiful National Geographic photography, this expert guide showcases the best experiences in the top national, state, and city parks throughout North America.

In the sequel to the best-selling 50 States, 5,000 ideas, National Geographic turns to the United States' and Canada's most pristine--and adventure-filled--national, state, and city parks with 5,000 ideas

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55

My First Summer in the Sierra

John Muir

4.1

In the summer of 1869, John Muir, a young Scottish immigrant, joined a crew of shepherds in the foothills of California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. The diary he kept while tending sheep formed the heart of this book and eventually lured thousands of Americans to visit Yosemite country.

First published in 1911, My First Summer in the Sierra incorporates the lyrical accounts and sketches he produced d

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56

Old Lady on the Trail: Triple Crown at 76

Mary E Davison

4.1

Adventure on National Scenic Trails does not need to end when one is old.
Not beginning long-distance hiking until age 60, Mary takes us with her on her trail journeys to experience encounters with the beauty of wilderness from the Eastern ranges of the Appalachian Trail, the challenges of desert, snow, granite and thick forests of the Pacific Crest Trail, and the rugged and the remote grandeur of

57

Wanderlust: A History of Walking

Rebecca Solnit

4.1

This volume provides a history of walking, exploring the relationship between thinking and walking and between walking and culture. The author argues for the preservation of the time and space in which to walk in an ever more car-dependent and accelerated world.

Recommended by Thom and Beth Atkinson.

Thom and Beth Atkinson

She says that ‘to trace even an imaginary route is to trace the spirit or thought of what passed there before’. [source]

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58

The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot

Robert Macfarlane

4.1

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59

Walking with Spring: The Story That Inspired Thousands of Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers

Earl V. Shaffer

4.1

In April 1948, the 11-year-old Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia was pretty much a wreck: Volunteer maintainers who hadn't been called to combat couldn't get rationed gasoline to get out there to keep it clear. In April 1948, so, pretty much, was Earl Shaffer, self-dubbed The Crazy One. He had come home from war in the Pacific where he had lost the dearest friend of his life. He needed to wa

60

Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains

Jon Krakauer

4.1

No one writes about mountaineering and its attendant hardships and victories more brilliantly than critically acclaimed author Jon Krakauer. In this collection of his finest work from such magazines as Outside and Smithsonian, he explores the subject from the unique and memorable perspective of one who has battled peaks like K2, Denali, Everest, and, of course, the Eiger. Always with a keen eye, a

61

No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks

Ed Viesturs, David Roberts

4.1

This gripping and triumphant memoir follows a living legend of extreme mountaineering as he makes his assault on history, one 8,000-meter summit at a time.

For eighteen years Ed Viesturs pursued climbing’s holy grail: to stand atop the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter peaks, without the aid of bottled oxygen. But No Shortcuts to the Top is as much about the man who would become the first American to ac

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62

In Beauty May She Walk: Hiking the Appalachian Trail at 60

Leslie Mass

4.1

In 2000, inspired by her father, Leslie Mass decided she would turn a lifelong fantasy into reality. At the age of 59, she began to train for a grueling journey, a thru-hike of the 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail. 'In Beauty May She Walk' chronicles Leslie's struggles and triumphs during her hike. On the trail, Leslie struggles with how to balance the needs of her family and friends while making the

63

Deep Survival: True Stories of Miraculous Endurance and Sudden Death

Laurence Gonzales

4.1

In Deep Survival, Laurence Gonzales combines hard science and powerful storytelling to illustrate the mysteries of survival, whether in the wilderness or in meeting any of life's great challenges. This gripping narrative, the first book to describe the art and science of survival, will change the way you see the world. Everyone has a mountain to climb. Everyone has a wilderness inside.

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64

I Hike

Lawton Grinter

4.1

"I never set out to hike 10,000 miles. It just sort of happened over the course of a decade." And so goes Lawton Grinter's compelling collection of short stories that have been over ten years and 10,000 trail miles in the making. I Hike brings the reader trailside with blissful moments on the highest mountain ridges to the mental lows of mosquito hell and into some peculiar situations that even se

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65

A Blistered Kind of Love: One Couple's Trial by Trail

Dustin (Duffy) Ballard, Angela Ballard

4.1

Winner of the 2003 Barbara Savage Miles from Nowhere Award and Winner of the 2004 National Outdoor Book Award
A blend of romance, humor, and adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail Written in "he said/she said" alternating chapters, this young couple each tell their own story They're not sure which came first -- falling in love with each other or falling in love with the idea of hiking the Pacific Cr

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66

Beyond Backpacking: Ray Jardine's Guide to Lightweight Hiking

Ray Jardine

4.1

Manual on planning and preparing for hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail through California, Oregon, and Washington. Jardine's initial presentation of his lightweight-hiking theories

67

Buried in the Sky: The Extraordinary Story of the Sherpa Climbers on K2's Deadliest Day

Peter Zuckerman, Amanda Padoan

4.1

When Edmund Hillary first conquered Mt. Everest, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay was at his side. Indeed, for as long as Westerners have been climbing the Himalaya, Sherpas have been the unsung heroes in the background. In August 2008, when eleven climbers lost their lives on K2, the world’s most dangerous peak, two Sherpas survived. They had emerged from poverty and political turmoil to become two of the m

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68

The Ultimate Hang: Hammock Camping Illustrated

Derek Hansen

4.1

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69

The Appalachian Trail: Celebrating America's Hiking Trail

Brian King, Bill Bryson

4.0

The only illustrated book officially published with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, The Appalachian Trail explores this legendary footpath in detail: with a foreword by Bill Bryson and filled with more than 300 spectacular contemporary images, as well as unpublished historical photos, documents, and maps from the ATC archives. Once inspired by this wonderful celebration of the A.T., readers can

70

The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon

Kevin Fedarko

4.0

From one of Outside magazine’s “Literary All-Stars” comes the thrilling true tale of the fastest boat ride ever, down the entire length of the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon, during the legendary flood of 1983.

In the tradition of The Perfect Storm and Seabiscuit, the engrossing tale of the fastest boat ride ever down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.

In the winter of 1983, t

Recommended by Carl Bass.

71

Outdoor Kids in an Inside World: Getting Your Family Out of the House and Radically Engaged with Nature

Steven Rinella

4.0

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “An imperative call to action” (Nick Offerman) to get children off their screens and into nature, with tips for bonding activities that teach the importance of outside time and build tough, curious, competent kids—from the host of the Netflix series and podcast MeatEater“A revelation for families struggling to get kids to GO OUTSIDE, or to just stop using the darn smartph

72

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

Michael Finkel

4.0

A National Geographic Best Book of the Year

National Bestseller

Many people dream of escaping modern life. Most will never act on it--but in 1986, twenty-year-old Christopher Knight did just that when he left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the woods. He would not have a conversation with another person for the next twenty-seven years.

Drawing on extensive interviews

73

The Bushcraft Boxed Set: Bushcraft 101; Advanced Bushcraft; The Bushcraft Field Guide to Trapping, Gathering, Cooking in the Wild; Bushcraft First Aid

Dave Canterbury and Ph.D. Jason A. Hunt

4.0

The Bushcraft Boxed Set brings together four titles from wilderness expert and New York Times bestselling author Dave Canterbury.

The collection includes:

Bushcraft 101 : The primer to wilderness survival based on the author’s 5Cs of Survivability (cutting tools, covering, combustion devices, containers, and cordages)

Advanced Bushcraft: Takes it to the next level with self-reliance skills that te

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74

Not Without Peril: 150 Years of Misadventure on the Presidential Range of New Hampshire

Nicholas Howe

4.0

These compelling profiles of 22 adventurous¿yet unlucky¿climbers chronicle more than a century of exploration, recreation, and tragedy in New Hampshire¿s Presidential Range.

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75

The Journey in Between

Keith Foskett and Adam Stubb

4.0

A man at a crossroads. A thousand-mile hike. A life forever changed.

Keith Foskett was the definition of restless. Drifting aimlessly, he knew a piece was missing from his life. But when a stranger in a Greek bar tells him about a world-famous pilgrim’s trail, the chance encounter sets Foskett’s life in a new 1,000-mile direction.

On El Camino de Santiago, the wanderer copes with extreme temperatu

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76

Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon

Michael P. Ghiglieri, Thomas M. Myers

4.0

Gripping accounts of all known fatal mishaps in the most famous of the World's Seven Natural Wonders.

Two veterans of decades of adventuring in Grand Canyon chronicle the first complete and comprehensive history of Canyon misadventures. These episodes span the entire era of visitation from the time of the first river exploration by John Wesley Powell and his crew of 1869 to that of tourists fallin

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77

The Thousand-Mile Summer

Colin Fletcher

4.0

At three o'clock one sleepless night, Colin Fletcher decided that what he must do was walk the length of California. He could only fumble with the supporting reasons, but he knew it was a hike he had to make.

Fletcher followed lonely stretches of the Colorado, crossed the Mojave, walked the trough of Death Valley and wandered through the High Sierras. Along the way he stumbled across an unspoiled

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78

The Things You Find on the Appalachian Trail: A Memoir of Discovery, Endurance and a Lazy Dog

Kevin Runolfson

4.0

This upbeat nitty-gritty memoir, based on the author's 2001 trail journal, chronicles one man's hike the whole length of the Appalachian Trail, beginning just north of Atlanta and finishing six months later in Maine. The journey included adventures with a faithful and eccentric dog, a new romance, and the challenges and triumphs of walking 2167 miles in all kinds of weather.

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79

I Promise Not to Suffer: A Fool for Love Hikes the Pacific Crest Trail

Gail Storey

4.0

With comfortable urban lives in Houston, Texas, and career and life goals mostly accomplished, Gail D. Storey and her husband were in their fifties when they decided it was time to test themselves on a new path—a 2,663-mile path known as the Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches from Mexico to Canada.

I Promise Not to Suffer is Gail's light-hearted yet heart-felt memoir about her and her husband's

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80

Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backpackin' Book: Traveling & camping skills for a wilderness environment

Allen O'Bannon

4.0

Hilarious and practical information about the art of backpacking from two NOLS instructors.

81

USA National Parks: Lands of Wonder

DK Travel

4.0

The USA’s National Parks truly are places of wonder: staggering landscapes of jaw-dropping dimensions and incredible diversity where you can stand on the very edge of civilization.They are the earth’s breathing spaces, precious places to conserve nature and wildlife for future generations. Explore countless places to hike, camp, climb, swim, and paddle, where you and your family can create lifelon

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82

Girl in the Woods: A Memoir

Aspen Matis

4.0

83

Meat Eater: Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter

Steven Rinella

4.0

An exploration of humanity’s oldest pursuit and its relevance today

Steven Rinella grew up in Twin Lake, Michigan, the son of a hunter who taught his three sons to love the natural world the way he did. As a child, Rinella devoured stories of the American wilderness, especially the exploits of his hero, Daniel Boone. He began fishing at the age of three and shot his first squirrel at eight and his

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84

Listening for Coyote: A Walk Across Oregon's Wilderness

William Sullivan, William L. Sullivan

4.0

Sullivan's classic account of his sixty-five day, 1,361-mile solo backpacking trek across Oregon offers an intimate tour of the state's renowned wilderness.

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85

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon: Section Hiking from Donomore Pass to Bridge of the Gods

Eli Boschetto

4.0

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) meanders from the California-Mexico border north to the border of Washington and Canada. It's a rigorous trail, first envisioned in 1926 and now encompassing some 2,650 miles. Each volume of this new series focuses on section-by-section pieces of the PCT.

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86

The Pursuit of Endurance: Harnessing the Record-Breaking Power of Strength and Resilience

Jennifer Pharr Davis

4.0

National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Jennifer Pharr Davis unlocks the secret to maximizing perseverance--on and off the trail

Jennifer Pharr Davis, a record holder of the FKT (fastest known time) on the Appalachian Trail, reveals the secrets and habits behind endurance as she chronicles her incredible accomplishments in the world of endurance hiking, backpacking, and trail running. With a sto

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87

Dances with Marmots: A Pacific Crest Trail Adventure

George Spearing

4.0

The account of a 4300km solo hike from Mexico to Canada through the desert areas and high Sierra Nevada of California and the Cascade ranges of Oregon and Washington.

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88

Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park: The Essential Guide

Erik Stensland and Janna Nyswander

4.0

If you are heading to Rocky Mountain National Park, you'll definitely want to get your hands on this hiking guide. Written by an avid outdoorsman who has spent the last 15 years hiking every trail in the park, this guide covers everything you need to know to have a safe and amazing experience in one of our nation's most beautiful national parks. This guide covers nearly 200 miles of trail from mar

89

A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon

Kevin Fedarko

4.0

* Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award in Outdoor Literature * Winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction * Named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, Air Mail, Smithsonian Magazine, and Financial Times “A triumph. Fedarko doesn’t describe awe; he induces it.” —The New York Times Book Review “Passionate...memorable...life-affirming.” —The Wall Street Journal Th

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90

Wilderness, The Gateway To The Soul: Spiritual Enlightenment Through Wilderness

Scott Stillman

4.0

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91

Braving It: A Father, a Daughter, and an Unforgettable Journey Into the Alaskan Wild

James Campbell

4.0

The powerful and affirming story of a father's journey with his teenage daughter to the far reaches of Alaska

Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home to only a handful of people, is a harsh and lonely place. So when James Campbell's cousin Heimo Korth asked him to spend a summer building a cabin in the rugged Interior, Campbell hesitated about inviting his fifteen-year-old daughter, Aidan, t

92

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

Richard Louv

4.0

"I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are," reports a fourth-grader. Never before in history have children been so plugged in—and so out of touch with the natural world. In this groundbreaking new work, child advocacy expert Richard Louv directly links the lack of nature in the lives of today's wired generation—he calls it nature deficit—to some of the most

Recommended by Genevieve Von Lob.

Genevieve Von Lob

Louv coined the term ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ because he was so concerned about the alienation of young people from nature. [source]

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93

John Muir Trail: The essential guide to hiking America's most famous trail

Elizabeth Wenk, Kathy Morey

4.0

Running from Mount Whitney to Yosemite Valley in the Sierra Nevada, the 212 mile John Muir Trail passes through some of the most dramatic mountain terrain in the United States. Each year, thousands of backpackers traverse some or all of the trail, relying on Wilderness Press's John Muir Trail. The completely updated edition of this Sierra classic includes significant information found nowhere else

94

Survival Medicine

Joseph Alton

4.0

From the bestselling authors Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy Survival Medicine is the ultimate handbook for situations that require creativity when it comes to administering first aid. It assumes that no hospital or doctor is available in the aftermath of a catastrophic event. This book will give you the tools to handle injuries and illness in any circumstance and is an essential part of any reference lib

95

Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks

Andrea Lankford

4.0

The real stories behind the scenery of America’s national parks

For twelve years, Andrea Lankford lived in the biggest, most impressive national parks in the world, working a job she loved. She chaperoned baby sea turtles on their journey to sea. She pursued bad guys on her galloping patrol horse. She jumped into rescue helicopters bound for the heart of the Grand Canyon. She won arguments with be

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96

New England Waterfalls: A Guide to More than 500 Cascades and Waterfalls

Greg Parsons

4.0

Lovers of all nature, Greg Parsons and Kate Watson are particularly fascinated with waterfalls. This new edition contains dozens of new waterfalls and provides extensive trail and road updates to existing ones. Waterfalls in every New England state are described according to type, height, trail length, and difficulty. Also included in this edition for the first time are color photographs, GPS coor

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97

Colorado's Fourteeners: From Hikes to Climbs

Gerry Roach

4.0

A classic guidebook known for its accuracy and comprehensiveness, Colorado’s Fourteeners has been updated to include GPS coordinates, revised topographic maps, expanded route details, and new descriptions reflecting alterations to trail access. Besides the often-climbed standard routes, the guide describes many alternative and technical routes.

98

National Geographic Complete National Parks of the United States, 3rd Edition: 400+ Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, Historic Sites, Scenic Trails, Recreation Areas, and Seashores

National Geographic

4.0

For avid naturalists, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, dedicated parks fans, and travel professionals, this newly revised and updated edition is an essential resource. Covering all the assets within America's national parks system, this richly illustrated book will coincide with the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service. From recreation areas and trails to historic sites, from nature

Cover unavailable

99

Day Hiking: Mount Rainier: National Park, Crystal Mountain, Cayuse and Chinook Passes

Tami Asars

4.0

Cover unavailable

100

Between a Rock and a White Blaze: Searching for Significance on the Appalachian Trail

Julie Urbanski and Matt Urbansk

4.0

Four years removed from her first long-distance hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, Julie, aka Stopwatch, is ready to embark on another thru-hike, this time following the white blazes of the Appalachian Trail, a 2181 mile continuous footpath from Georgia to Maine. She is accompanied by her husband, Matt, aka Optimist, for whom it is his second thru-hike of the AT. They are both burnt out from stressf