Frommer's National Parks of the American West (Park Guides) [Paperback]

Don Laine (Author), Barbara Laine (Author), Shane Christensen (Contributor), Jack Olson (Contributor), Eric Peterson (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 3, 2010 | Series: Park Guides (Book 38)

• With full coverage of Western national parks: Arches, Badlands, Big Bend, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, the Black Hills (including Mount Rushmore), Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Carlsbad Caverns, Channel Islands, Crater Lake, Death Valley, Devils Tower, Glacier National/Waterton Lakes, the Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Great Basin, Great Sand Dunes, Guadalupe Mountains, Joshua Tree, Lassen Volcanic Park, Mesa Verde and the Four Corners, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Olympic, Petrified Forest, Point Reyes, Redwood, Rocky Mountain, Saguaro, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Theodore Roosevelt, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.
• According to the National Park Service, as of June 2009, 127.7 million visits were made to national parks in the first six months of the year, an increase of about 4.5 million over the same period in 2008.
• More than 900,000 people visited Yellowstone National Park in July, 2009, an all-time record for monthly visits and a jump of 94,000 visits over 2008. The First Family visited Yellowstone in August, 2009.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A park lover's must-have, the information provided in this behemoth of a book is almost as impressive as the redwoods that grace its cover. With a focus on helping visitors avoid the crowds, National Parks of the American West provides painstakingly researched details on more than 40 national parks, monuments, seashores, and preserves.

Frommer's explains their intent in the introduction: "Our authors have talked to the rangers, hiked the trails, and taken the tours, all the while asking, 'How can our readers avoid the crowds?' In each of following chapters you'll find a section giving you straightforward, practical advice on just how to do this.... We've searched for secluded trails that can be hiked by the average person, scenic drives where you won't get caught in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and points where, with only a minimum of effort, you'll be afforded spectacular views without feeling as if you're packed into Times Square on New Year's Eve."

There is probably not a question you have that this book doesn't answer: each park listing includes tips from park rangers, ideas especially for kids, excellent maps, entrance fee information, the best driving and walking tours, campground overviews, food and other lodging, contacts for activities and recreation, and interesting sidebars. --Kathryn True --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

More than 65 million people visit the national parks annually--and overcrowding has become a serious problem. So We sent our authors out to hit the trails and campsites to figure out how to beat the crowds and enjoy an unspoiled experience of nature.

Our authors take readers to the most spectacular landscapes in the western U.S. and provide advice for every kind of park visitor, from the day-tripper who wants to see the highlights quickly to the back-country camper to families traveling with kids. This incredibly detailed, complete guide covers every kind of activity available in each park, from hiking to bird watching, with a range of sport for visitors of all ages and skill levels. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Frommers; 7 edition (May 3, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470537671
• ISBN-13: 978-0470537671
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Food & Lodging > Parks & Campgrounds
  • #82 in Books > Travel > United States > Regions > West

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We kept this book at our feet in the van!, July 31, 2003

By 

"dms421" (Macungie, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's National Parks of the American West (Paperback)

My husband and three children just spent three weeks driving across the country to California and back. We stopped at Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Badlands, Mount Rushmore, and a few others. I purchased this book one year before the trip to help me plan, but it was equally helpful as a quick reference. The maps are great, the directions fabulous, and the reviews of restaurants and accomodations right on point, except for the prices, which of course are now higher. The descriptions of the hiking trails and points of interest are worth the price of the book alone, but there is much more than that. I would categorize this as a "must-have" for anyone visiting one or more of the western national parks. By the way, everyone needs to see these places!!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The must have book of visiting National Parks!, February 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Frommer's National Parks of the American West (Frommer Guides) (Paperback)

This is the most impressive book dealing with visiting National Parks I've read! The only drawback is that it doesn't include the American East parks.

The value of this book is that it refers to an abundance of resources that the novice and/or experienced traveller can utilize. My favorite feature? Thumbnail synopses of the hiking trails - when to go, how to get the most out of it, which ones to tackle if you have only a short time, etc.

If you intend to EVER go to a Western US National Park, do yourself a favor and get this book!

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Useful, but very outdated!, September 21, 2005

By 

Steve Duneth (Boca Raton, FL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frommer's National Parks of the American West (Paperback)

This book is mostly excellent... The park reviews and information about the hiking trails are very accurate. But the restaurant and lodging info is oudated, some by as much as five years! For instance, the book lists a phone number for a Best Western in Estes Park. The number leads to a hotel which lost it's Best Western affiliation back in 1998. One wonders why... In other places, the book lists restaurants which don't exist and other grossly incorrect information. One would expect much more from a Frommer's 4th edition guide dated 2004. Use this book with another guide, and you'll be all set.