National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, 6th Edition [Paperback]

National Geographic (Author)

Book Description

Series: National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States | Publication Date: March 17, 2009

Featuring 375 color photos and 80 full-color detailed maps—more than any other park guidebook—this is the most comprehensive, up-to-the-minute book of its kind on the market today. A perennial favorite with more than a million copies sold in previous editions, it reflects National Geographic’s century-long association with America’s national parks system and its peerless reputation for travel expertise and cartographic excellence.

The guide opens with an essay by Yellowstone authority Paul Schullery, a section on how to use the guide, and a national locator map. The parks are presented alphabetically region by region, with individual maps and geographical profiles. Colorfully illustrated descriptions offer tours tailored to the time available, whether it’s an hour or a week, and tell visitors the best spots to enjoy hikes, spectacular vistas, wildlife, and more. An Information & Activities page provides practical advice on visiting—park contact information, camping and lodging, accessibility, pet restrictions, things to do, and special advisories. Excursions to nearby wildlife refuges, monuments, forests, and other areas of exceptional interest follow many of the park entries.

From planning a trip to making the most of every minute, here’s all the information anyone could want on the scenic national parks—the crown jewels of the park system—plus invaluable advice from National Geographic writers who know them well.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wide ranging and meticulous...the photographs are excellent, and the plentiful maps...further add to the guide’s worth." — Library Journal, Starred review

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic; 6 edition (March 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426203934
• ISBN-13: 978-1426203930
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Food & Lodging > Parks & Campgrounds
  • #16 in Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Reference

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book about National PARKS!, October 1, 2009

By 

Charlie Z (Louisville, KY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, 6th Edition (Paperback)

This is an excellent guide to the fifty-eight national parks. It doesn't matter whether you are interested in week-long back-country hikes, overnight camping, a long hike in the woods, sight-seeing, or just driving through: this book is an in-depth guide to the parks, their history, their features, and what you need to see, bring, and know. The one-star review entitled "Not A Resource" is completely off-base. This book correctly notes that it is a guide to the national PARKS--not national historic sites or national lakeshores. My son and I visited Harper's Ferry this summer while we were biking the C&O Canal. I enjoyed Harper's Ferry, but it is a national historic site and NOT a national PARK. Isaiah and I also stopped at Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home in southern Indiana on our way from Saint Louis; I would recommend this site, too, but it is NOT a national PARK. Frankly, the author of that review should remove her post AND apologize to the National Geographic staff. This book is now in its sixth edition because it is that good. Buy it and pack it with you.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great travel companion, September 13, 2009

By 

Diane Kovac (Streamwood, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, 6th Edition (Paperback)

This is the best guide to the US national parks. It is decriptive and accurate and thorough. I wish they had a spiral version so one could take out the park pages that you need for travel without having to take the whole book. I actually have 2 copies, one I keep intact and the second one I rip out the park pages that I am traveling to, and take along. These pages are a great guide while touring the parks.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, November 24, 2009

By 

M. Lang - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, 6th Edition (Paperback)

This National Geographic product functions well as a short, concise overview of the National Parks in the United States. (That is not to say that the book is short, just that the individual reviews on each park are short.) Each park gets a map, some beautiful color pictures, and a several pages of description. You find out good times to visit, places to stay, and sights to see. Also included are nearby attractions that you can also visit when you are in the area. The book is well put together, has great photos, and just feels like a high quality product.

Now so you won't be disappointed, let me note what it isn't. It isn't a book covering the entire park system. It doesn't cover monuments, forests, or other national park attractions other than the NATIONAL PARKS themselves. It isn't all inclusive on each park. If you want to know all of the trails, a complete list of attractions for each park, or other specifics to each park, you should buy park specific books. They are on Amazon and you can easily find one for whatever you need.

But this book does get you started if you are trying to decide what parks to visit or if you just want a very nice book to summarize all of the great National Parks.