The Essential Guide to Hiking in the United States [Paperback]

Charles Cook (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Cook, selected as the best leader for hiking and wilderness tours in the East by New York magazine, offers this guidebook. The first section is a sensible, succinct primer for the hiking novice containing all the information a beginning day-hiker needs. More experienced patrons will, however, prefer to use books containing advice on advanced hiking and backpacking. The second part should be a first source when fielding questions about trails and where to hike; it is the most complete and up-to-date directory of American trails available. It lists, state by state, long-distance trails as well as the best hiking resources (i.e., private and public organizations knowledgeable about trails). Cook acknowledges probable omissions; those few this reviewer recognized are either trails in progress or elusive organizations. Recommended.
- Paula M. Strain, MLS, Rockville, Md.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: M. Kesend Pub. (October 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 093557641X
• ISBN-13: 978-0935576412
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,939,782 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for finding all/most of the hiking options in an area!, April 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Essential Guide to Hiking in the United States (Paperback)

This provides a state by state listing of hiking areas, the governing bodies (and their addresses!), a listing of the best hiking areas and trails and a description of the areas and the wildlife/flora to be found. It's a wonderful resource for the beginning planning stages of a trip, and has proven to be very accurate.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a reference book., March 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Essential Guide to Hiking in the United States (Paperback)

If you're looking for great prose, go elsewhere. This is not a criticism, for the similarity in description makes it easy to compare places within and among states.

The descriptions of the parks and forests follow such a similar pattern that the whole thing would have been presented more efficiently as a series of charts.

I found the long-distance trails to be the most useful information, because it's hardest to find elsewhere.

I bought this book when it first appeared, and just came back hoping for an update. Many of the phone numbers are no longer valid, in part because of the proliferation of area codes. It would be nice to have the long-distance trail information updated, as well as an update on trail usage in the parks and newer, longer lists of other reading sources.

Essential is an accurate description.