7 Outdoor Books Every Adventurer Should Have

By Becky Lomax

National Parks have earned the right to be called America’s best idea for a reason. Each one inspires people to get outdoors and discover the wild beauty of the United States.

Moon USA National Parks is a full-color guidebook that covers 59 national parks with strategic lists and itineraries, the best outdoor adventures with hike descriptions and trail maps, national parks road trips, and comprehensive planning resources. Expert advice from former park guide and award-winning author Becky Lomax shares how to avoid crowds, what time of year to visit, and where to stay inside and outside the parks, from campgrounds to hotels, etc.

by Timothy Malcolm

Make your escape for a day trek or an extended three-week getaway and hit this legendary trail with Moon Drive & Hike Appalachian Trail. Get practical tips and local know-how so you can lace up your hiking boots, pick a trailhead, and embark on your next family adventure.

Find your ideal hike along the Appalachian Trail (Georgia to Maine) with detailed trail descriptions, mileage, difficulty ratings, and tips for picking the right section of the trail for you. Discover adventures off the trail while you immerse yourself in the spirit of colorful trail towns, see the seasons change in the Berkshires, and cruise the sun-dappled Skyline Drive. Kick back after a day hike at a microbrewery in Asheville, dig into southern barbecue (hey, you’ve earned it), or unwind in the coffee shops and art galleries of a hip New England hamlet.

by Carter G. Walker

From stunning waterfalls, glaciers, and geysers to wide open spaces begging to be explored, answer the call of the wild with Moon Yellowstone to Glacier National Park Road Trip. With practical tips, flexible itineraries, and local know-how from Carter G. Walker, you’ll be ready to fill up the tank and hit the road.

This one-of-a-kind road trip guide includes recommendations for the best hikes, views, places for wildlife-watching, and more in each park and gateway town. You can watch Old Faithful from Observation Point, drive the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road, spot everything from bighorn sheep to bears on a wildlife tour of Yellowstone’s Lamar and Hayden valleys, and kick back with a craft beer in Bozeman.

Easy-to-use maps keep you oriented on and off the highway, along with site-to-site mileage, driving times, detailed directions for the entire route, and full-color photos throughout.

by Erin McHugh

Calling all Junior Rangers! This fun-filled guide explores the wonders and weirdness of more than 75 U.S. parks, monuments, and landmarks, from Acadia to Zion.

From Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty, from Gettysburg National Battlefield to Mount Rushmore, National Parks is the only kid-friendly, family-oriented book that covers all of the 60 U.S. national parks, plus other famous monuments and landmarks. With a lively text and hundreds of color illustrations and photographs throughout, this updated edition offers fascinating, memorable information on every aspect of the parks, such as the history, geography, natural wonders, native wildlife and birds, and unique features that make each park special.

Organized alphabetically by state, National Parks takes readers on a whirlwind trip to 75 locations, including Denali National Park, Hot Springs National Park, Everglades National Park, Fort McHenry, White Mountain National Forest, Ellis Island, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Zion National Park, Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, Mt. Hood National Forest, and many more.

by Devon Fredericksen

Immerse yourself in the natural world with How to Camp in the Woods, the book StarTribune says “does all but set up the tent.”

Perfect for everyone from novices to boondockers, How to Camp in the Woods compiles contemporary and classic wisdom, practical tips, and illustrated DIY advice on every aspect of equipping, packing, setting up camp, cooking, and improvising no matter where you are in the great outdoors.

by Bradford Angier

A practical and indispensable guide for anyone venturing into the outdoors and backcountry, this classic resource by wilderness expert Branford Angier is packed with illustrated core survival skills and timeless advice.

Broken down into four essential sections, Sustenance, Warmth, Orientation and Safety, this useful manual reveals time-tested outdoor skills, including how to catch game without a gun, what plants to eat (full-color illustrations of these make identification simple), how to build a warm shelter, make clothing, protect yourself and signal for help.

Pioneering survivalist Bradefore Angier helps you master the great outdoors without modern gear. Detailed illustrations and clear instructions offer crucial information at a glance, making How to Stay Alive in the Woods is truly a lifesaver.

Don’t get left out in the cold! A definitive guide to the essential skill of setting, lighting, and maintaining a blaze both indoors and out.

This go-to-guide for turning wood into heat, including starting a fire with everything from flints to forearms in any type of weather; tinders easily found in nature; identifying and gathering the best kindling and types of wood; efficient splitting and stacking configurations for different needs, such as cooking; and how to safely put out a blaze.

Not just for survival, Building the Perfect Fire will also discuss using wood to create a welcoming fire, such as the crackling from birch wood or the colorful flames from an old apple tree.