Top Trails

Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks and the surrounding region are home to superlative natural wonders: the world's largest trees, one of the deepest gorges in North America, and the highest peak in the lower 48. Veteran author Mike White has selected the best 50 trips in these parks, ranging in length from a half-mile stroll among the Potwisha Pictographs to a 21-mile trek to visit Charlotte Lake in the heart of the Kings Canyon backcountry. At-a-glance information shows which trips have the best camping, hiking, horseback riding, backpacking, fishing, swimming, and other activities. Part of the award-winning Top Trails series, which feature elevation profiles, detailed maps, driving directions, and innovative "don't get lost" trail milestones.

Top Trails Lake Tahoe explores the best trails for hiking and biking in the Tahoe area. The guide features the best hikes including the north side's splendid backcountry, the lake's sedate western side, the picturesque and popular areas south of the lake, including Desolation Wilderness, and D. L. Bliss and Emerald Bay state parks and the relatively undeveloped eastern side. Several hikes follow sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. Veteran author Mike White has selected the 50 best trips in the area, ranging in length from a mile-long stroll through a lush, lodgepole-lined meadow to a 20-mile trek on the Tahoe Rim Trail with excellent lake views. Among other significant updates, the third edition includes the new Rim to Reno Trail, newly constructed by volunteers in the Tahoe Rim Trail Association.

The southern High Sierra, including Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and the surrounding John Muir, Jennie Lakes, and Monarch Wildernesses, is one of the most magnificent natural areas in the world. Blessed with the largest trees on Earth (giant sequoias), one of the deepest canyons in North America (Kings Canyon), and the highest mountain in the continental U. S. (Mt. Whitney), the greater Sequoia-Kings Canyon region offers unparalleled mountain majesty. Along with such superlatives, hundreds of miles of trails provides access to a boundless number of high mountain lakes, wildflower-covered meadows, cascading streams, deep forests, and craggy peaks. Mike White's Top Trails: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks guide presents the best curated selection of trips suitable for varied skill-level to this portion of John Muir's Range of Light.

Near Sacramento, numerous trails access the Central Valley's wildlife-filled wetlands and traverse riverside forests and grasslands. In the Coast Range and Sierra foothills, trails lead to scenic waterfalls, wildflower-studded meadows, and high mountain lakes. Longtime Sacramento resident and intrepid hiker Steve Evans has selected the 43 'must-do' hikes, the majority of which are within two hours of the city. Whether you're looking for a scenic stroll, a full-day adventure, or even a spectacular alpine peak-bagging trip, you'll find it here. Trails range from 1 to 10 miles and sea level to 9000 feet, and each trip includes elevation profiles, detailed maps, driving directions, and 'don't get lost' trail milestones.

Johnny Molloy, who has spent more than 800 nights backpacking in the Smokies, has updated his classic guide Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This revised edition has been completely updated, including the new backcountry reservation system implemented in the park. He has also added some excellent hikes, some of them well off the beaten path. For example, the hike to Baskins Creek Falls takes you past a pioneer homesite and to a scenic cascade overshadowed by more popular waterfalls nearby, making it an ideal destination for those who want to escape the crowds. A longer trek traverses the regal pine-oak forests of the western part of the park, making a stop at Abrams Falls, mixing solitude with a must-visit waterfall on every Smokies bucket list. Johnny also explores early park history on a hike up Kephart Prong. Here, you can see the remains of a fish hatchery constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, as well as a trail shelter erected by the CCC when the park was just coming to be. Backpackers will enjoy the new loop incorporating Walnut Bottoms along cascading Big Creek, coupled with a stop by historic Mount Cammerer tower, replete with stellar views, before overnighting at Davenport Shelter on the Appalachian Trail. Additionally, Johnny--who considers the Smokies his home stomping ground--makes sure that all the necessary information to help you execute a hike from directions to maps are correct. New photos add flair to the book.

Maui is indeed a hiker's paradise. An impressive network of trails crisscross the second-largest Hawaiian island, from meditative beach walks to heady treks high atop a volcano. Hidden in cloud forest, more trails lead to tumbling waterfalls, hidden springs and groves of bamboo. Back down on the coast, treks lead to natural lava-rock blowholes and sea arches, past ocean pools, and deserted beaches. Wander across lava flows that feel primeval, examine ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs up close, or follow the King's Highway that Hawaiian royalty once trod. All this and more awaits on Maui's hiking trails, most of which are easily accessible day trips. From any point on the island, any of the dozens of trailheads pinpointed in this book is at most a couple of hours' drive away, and often far closer than that. Top Trails Maui presents 37 premier day hiking and overnight camping and backpacking trips suited to all levels of ability and interests. The book is divided into four major geographical areas: West Maui, Central/South Maui, East Maui/Upcountry, and Haleakala National Park. All of the trails offer scenic beauty and ease of access for hikers. Together, these trails represent the island's incredible diversity of ecological systems and environments, from lava flows and multi-colored cinder cones to cloud forests filled with native bird song and hidden waterfalls. Some of the hiking trails described here are popular with both locals and visitors, while others are virtually a local secret. With the Top Trails winning formula of easy-to-follow maps for every hike, trail-feature charts, feature icons, "don't get lost" trail milestones, and GPS waypoints, readers can easily identify the right trail for their interests, abilities, and available time.

Top Trails Lake Tahoe explores the best trails for hiking and biking in the Tahoe area, including the north side's splendid backcountry, the lake's sedate western side, the picturesque and popular areas south of the lake, including Desolation Wilderness and D. L. Bliss and Emerald Bay state parks and the relatively undeveloped eastern side. Several hikes follow sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. Veteran author Mike White has selected the 50 best trips in the area, ranging in length from a mile-long stroll through a lush, lodgepole-lined meadow to a 19-mile trek on the Tahoe Rim Trail with excellent lake views. The second edition includes six new trails.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks offer the ultimate in natural and geothermal wonders: backcountry lakes, panoramic summits, glacier-carved canyons, steaming geyser basins, and vast meadows teeming with wildlife. Top Trails: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks by experienced outdoors authors Andrew Nystrom and Bradley Mayhew contains 46 "must-do" trips, from Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful, from the Absarokas to the Gallatin Range, and from Jackson Hole to the Teton Crest Trail. In keeping with the tradition of the Top Trails series, this updated guide will maximize readers' time and enjoyment of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

Discover classic destinations and lesser-known jewels of Glacier National Park through 42 incomparable hikes. With its crystalline lakes, towering mountains, impressive waterfalls, diverse plant and animal life, and, of course, dynamic glaciers, Glacier National Park offers countless opportunities for outdoor adventure. To find the best of them, follow expert author Jean Arthur, who has spent decades hiking hundreds of miles of trails throughout the park! Leave the roads to explore the hearts of both Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks, whether you're looking for an easy family stroll through a grove of majestic red cedars, a 6-mile trek with spectacular views of snowfields that melt into wildflower meadows, or a 20-mile overnighter through some of the finest mountain scenery in the country. You'll experience the best of the treasured national park that lies in the wilderness area of Montana's Rocky Mountains. Inside you'll find: • 42 favorite routes for hikers, backpackers, and cyclists • Detailed maps and elevation profiles • Trailhead directions and "don't get lost" milestones • Key at-a-glance information, including trail length, difficulty, features, and facilities • Expert trail commentary If you want to take a scenic walk to stretch your legs, a full-day hike, or a rewarding backpacking trip, you'll find it in “Top Trails: Glacier National Park”.

Discover classic destinations and lesser-known jewels of Great Smoky Mountains National Park through 50 incomparable hikes. With its secluded mountain waterways, awe-inspiring views from grassy balds, diverse plant and animal life, and impressive stands of old-growth forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers countless opportunities for outdoor adventure. To find the best of them, follow expert author Johnny Molloy-who has spent more than 900 overnights in the Smokies, hiking and camping! Leave the roads to explore the heart of the park-whether you're looking for an easy family stroll to a soothing stream, a seven-mile trek through a spruce forest atop a peaceful ridge, or a panoramic 22-mile overnighter. You'll experience the best of the treasured national park that lies along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee in Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Inside you'll find: • 50 favorite routes for hikers, backpackers, and cyclists • Detailed maps and elevation profiles • Trailhead directions and "don't get lost" milestones • Key at-a-glance information, including trail length, difficulty, features, and facilities • Expert trail commentary Johnny considers the Smokies his home stomping ground, so he makes sure you have the necessary information to enjoy Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Whether you're looking for a scenic walk to stretch your legs, a full-day hike, or a rewarding backpacking trip, you'll find it here.

Discover classic destinations and lesser-known jewels of the Lake Tahoe area through 59 incomparable hikes. Lake Tahoe, the jewel of the Sierra Nevada, holds magic for anyone wishing to explore its surroundings: the splendid backcountry on the north side; the sedate western side; the picturesque and popular areas on the south side, including Desolation Wilderness and D. L. Bliss and Emerald Bay state parks; and the relatively undeveloped eastern side. Follow award-winning author Mike White across some of the most awe-inspiring terrain on Earth. Top Trails: Lake Tahoe describes 59 can't-miss routes for hikers, backpackers, and cyclists. From an easy 2-mile amble along lakeshore cliffs to an overnight trek on the crest of the Carson Range, you'll experience the best of this beautiful region in eastern California and western Nevada. Explore the famed Rubicon Trail, Donner Pass, highlights of the Tahoe Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, and more. Inside you'll find: • 59 favorite routes for hikers, backpackers, and cyclists • Detailed maps and elevation profiles • Trailhead directions and "don't get lost" milestones • Key at-a-glance information, including trail length, difficulty, features, and facilities • Expert trail commentary Whether you're looking for a scenic stroll to entertain the kids or a challenging full-day adventure, there's a path for you near Lake Tahoe. For readers ready to hit the trail, this is the guide to have, and for armchair travelers, it's 59 journeys into wonder.

45 "Must-Do" Yosemite Hikes… It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the amazing number of choice destinations in Yosemite National Park-Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows, Hetch Hetchy, and many other famed locales. Now in full color, Top Trails Yosemite by Elizabeth Wenk and Jeffrey P. Schaffer helps you sort through the options. It doesn't describe every possible hike in the Park, only the best. Whether you're looking for a scenic stroll, a full-day adventure, or even a spectacular backpacking trip, you'll find it here. And with at-a-glance information for each hike, visitors can determine which hikes are most suitable to their skills, schedules, and preferences. Books in the easy-to-use Top Trails series feature elevation profiles, detailed maps, driving directions, and "don't get lost" trail milestones. Innovative trail-feature charts give information on which trails are child-friendly; which allow horses; where to see giant sequoias, waterfalls, lakes, wildflowers, and autumn colors; which trips have the best photo opportunities; and which have camping, running, or biking opportunities.

Hike, backpack, bring the kids there's a trail for you in Shenandoah. With its roaring waterfalls, secluded canyons, diverse plant and animal life, and rich cultural history, Virginia's Shenandoah National Park offers boundless outdoor adventures. Now in its second edition, Top Trails: Shenandoah National Park describes the classic destinations and lesser-known jewels in 50 must-do hikes. This updated guide by acclaimed outdoors writer Johnny Molloy offers new hikes, such as the Bearfence Mountain Rock Scramble and the remote Trayfoot Mountain Loop, that explore the heart of the park. Each trail entry includes expert commentary, easy-to-follow maps, and GPS waypoints, as well as trailhead directions, trail-feature charts, and "don't get lost" milestones. So you will always know where you're going and what to expect. Hundreds of miles of trails run like veins through Shenandoah National Park. Save the time and frustration of finding the perfect hikes to suit you. Whether you're looking for a scenic stroll to stretch your legs, a full-day adventure, or a rewarding backpacking trip into the back of beyond, Top Trails: Shenandoah National Park puts the backcountry majesty of Shenandoah at your fingertips.

At last there is a definitive guidebook for the magnificent and beautifully mysterious hikers' paradise known as the Redwood Coast of Northern California. In this new title in the Top Trails series, veteran outdoors author Mike White leads day-trippers and backpackers into some of the most awe-inspiring terrain on earth. Step-by-step in his trail-worn boots, the author created a menu of 57 diverse routes, from a gentle half-mile morning loop to a 29-mile backpacking adventure. Winding through Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties, he guides readers into this landscape of lush, old-growth redwoods; picture-postcard vistas to Pacific Ocean sea stacks; winding descents to undisturbed beaches and mesmerizing tide-pool life; pathways to inland canyons; and untamed wilderness shy on humans but boisterous with herds of Roosevelt elk. For readers ready to hit the trail, this is the can't-do-without guide. For armchair travelers, it's 57 journeys into wonderland.

Discover classic destinations and lesser-known jewels of the Northern California coast through 59 incomparable hikes. The Redwood Coast of Northern California is a magnificent and beautifully mysterious hiker's paradise. Follow award-winning author Mike White into some of the most awe-inspiring terrain on earth. From a gentle half-mile morning loop to a 29-mile backpacking adventure, you'll experience the best of Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties. Explore a landscape of lush, old-growth redwoods. Find picturesque vistas to Pacific Ocean Sea stacks. Traverse winding descents to undisturbed beaches and mesmerizing tide-pool life. Hike along pathways to inland canyons. See untamed wilderness teeming with herds of Roosevelt elk. “Top Trails: Northern California's Redwood Coast” presents 59 routes for hikers, backpackers, and cyclists. Each entry features key at-a-glance information, such as trail length, difficulty, and facilities. Trail descriptions tell you what to expect along the route. Plus, GPS-based trail maps, elevation profiles, and lists of "don't get lost" milestones help to ensure that you know where you are and where you're going. A trail-usage chart and a top-rated trails section allow you to quickly choose the perfect routes for your particular interests and needs. Whatever you're looking for, there's a path for you along Northern California's Redwood Coast. For readers ready to hit the trail, this is the guide to have, and for armchair travelers, it's 59 journeys into wonderland.