Sculpted into graceful contours by countless centuries of wind and water, the Great Sand Dunes sprawl along the eastern fringes of the vast San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado. Covering an area of nearly thirty square miles, they are the tallest aeolian, or wind-produced, dunes in North America, towering 750 feet above the valley floor. With the addition of the enormous Baca Ranch and other adjacent lands, the dunes - originally designated as a National Monument in 1932 - attained official National Park status in 2004. In Sea of Sand, Michael M. Geary guides readers on a historical journey through this unique ecosystem, which includes an array of natural and cultural wonders, from the main dunefield and verdant wetlands to the summits of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Described by explorer Zebulon Pike as ""a sea in a storm"" and by frontier photographer William Henry Jackson as ""a curious and very singular phase of nature's freak,"" the Great Sand Dunes are a nexus of more than 10,000 years of human history, from Paleolithic big-game hunters to nomadic Native Americans, from Spanish conquistadores and transcontinental explorers to hard-rock miners and modern-day tourists in motor homes. Like these successive waves of visitors, Sea of Sand follows the water, analyzing its critical role in the settlement and development of the region. Geary also describes the profound impact that waves of human use and settlement have had on the land - which ultimately inspired the early grassroots efforts by San Luis Valley citizens to protect the dunes from further exploitation. He examines as well the more recent legislative effort led by an unprecedented coalition of local, state, and federal agencies and organizations, including The Nature Conservancy and the National Park Service, to secure the Great Sand Dunes' national park designation. Amply illustrated, Sea of Sand is the definitive history of the natural, cultural, and political forces that helped shape this incomparable landscape.

Fully revised and updated, this comprehensive guidebook gives detailed descriptions of more than 300 public campgrounds throughout Wyoming and the Black Hills of South Dakota. The listings include campsites managed by national, state, city, and country park services, the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Easy-to-use maps and charts simplify your search for the perfect campground. Look inside to find vital information on: Campground locations Fees and reservations Facilities and hookups Recreational activities Weather and geography Local attractions

Perfect Camping for You in Washington The Evergreen State provides a spectacular backdrop for some of the most scenic campgrounds in the country. But do you know which campgrounds offer the most privacy? Which are the best for first-time campers? Ellie Kozlowski has traversed the entire region-from wide, sandy beaches to snowcapped mountains to narrow river gorges-and compiled the most up-to-date research to steer you to the perfect spot! Best Tent Camping: Washington presents 50 private, state and national park, and state and national forest campgrounds, organized into eight distinct regions. Selections are based on location, topography, size, and overall appeal, and every site is rated for beauty, privacy, spaciousness, safety and security, and cleanliness-so you'll always know what to expect. The new full-color edition of this proven guidebook provides everything you need to know, with detailed maps of each campground and key information such as fees, restrictions, dates of operation, and facilities, as well as driving directions and GPS coordinates. Whether you seek a quiet campground near a fish-filled stream or a family campground with all the amenities, grab Best Tent Camping: Washington. It's an escape for all who wish to find those special locales that recharge the mind, body, and spirit. This guide is a keeper.

Perfect Camping for You in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia The Southern Appalachian and Smoky Mountains provide spectacular backdrops for some of the most scenic campgrounds in the country. But do you know which campgrounds offer the most privacy? Which are the best for first-time campers? Johnny Molloy has traversed the entire region-tree-topped mountains, clear streams, and lush woodlands of East Tennessee, western North Carolina, northern Georgia, and western South Carolina-and compiled the most up-to-date research to steer you to the ideal spot! Best Tent Camping: Southern Appalachian and Smoky Mountains presents 50 of the region's best campgrounds, organized by state. Selections are based on location, topography, size, and overall appeal, and every site is rated for beauty, privacy, spaciousness, safety and security, and cleanliness-so you'll always know what to expect. The new full-color edition of this proven guidebook provides everything you need to know, with detailed maps of each campground and key information such as fees, restrictions, dates of operation, and facilities, as well as driving directions and GPS coordinates. Whether you seek a quiet campground near a remote highland stream or a family campground with all the amenities, grab Best Tent Camping: Southern Appalachian and Smoky Mountains. It's an escape for all who wish to find those special locales that recharge the mind, body, and spirit. This guide is a keeper.

Perfect Camping for You in Arizona! The Grand Canyon State provides a spectacular backdrop for some of the most scenic campgrounds in the country, from the cool forests of the Mongollon Rim and the White Mountains to the verdant crowns of southern Arizona's sky islands. But do you know which campgrounds offer the most privacy? Which are the best for first-time campers? Kirstin Olmon Phillips and Kelly Phillips have traversed the entire state and compiled the most up-to-date research to steer you to the perfect spot! Best Tent Camping: Arizona presents 50 national park, state park, and recreation site campgrounds, organized into five distinct regions. Selections are based on location, topography, size, and overall appeal, and every site is rated for beauty, privacy, spaciousness, safety and security, and cleanliness-so you'll always know what to expect. The new full-color edition of this proven guidebook provides everything you need to know, with detailed maps of each campground and key information such as fees, restrictions, dates of operation, and facilities, as well as driving directions and GPS coordinates. Whether you seek a quiet campground near a fish-filled stream or a family campground with all the amenities, grab Best Tent Camping: Arizona. It's an escape for all who wish to find those special locales that recharge the mind, body, and spirit. This guide is a keeper.

Wilderness abounds in New York State. From the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, from the Adirondack Mountains to the Catskills, from the St. Lawrence River to the Hudson, millions of acres of public lands are dotted with hundreds of campgrounds but you probably only have a precious amount of limited time. Where should you go? When should you go? That's what Best Tent Camping: New York State is for to help you make the wisest use of your time in the wilds of New York. Divided geographically into seven sections Long Island, Catskills/Hudson Valley, Central/Leatherstocking, Adirondacks, St. Lawrence River, Finger Lakes, and Western the book is a helpful reference for camping enthusiasts throughout the state. Historical tidbits, descriptions of wildlife and the occasional personal anecdote add flavor to the campground descriptions. Star ratings and maps make choosing the best place to pitch a tent a simple task. Making reservations online or blindly over the phone can put a camper miles from the restroom, stranded with no shade, or in the middle of a busy campground trail. Maps will help campers avoid those pitfalls, and wherever possible the author has even recommended specific campsites for maximum privacy, spaciousness, or beauty.

Best Tent Camping: Missouri and the Ozarks by Steve Henry leads readers to 50 quiet and beautiful camping hideaways in Missouri and northwest Arkansas. In addition to scenic beauty and relaxing atmosphere, campground profiles also include tips for outdoor activities and points of interest. Especially helpful is the "Best For " lists that guide readers to the top campgrounds for picturesque environment, families, hiking, swimming, cycling and mountain biking, and more. Whether campers are looking for a places to fish, hike, and canoe or the best sites for photography, Henry provides plenty of information to make choosing the right campsite easy. Not only does each campsite profile include a description and map, Henry includes ratings on the beauty, privacy, spaciousness, and cleanliness of each site. Best Tent Camping: Missouri and the Ozarks makes planning your camping trip easy and enjoyable!

Perfect Camping for You in Minnesota! The Land of 10,000 Lakes provides a spectacular backdrop for some of the most scenic campgrounds in the country. But do you know which campgrounds offer the most privacy? Which are the best for first-time campers? Outdoors writer and Minnesota resident Tom Watson traversed the entire state-from Zippel Bay State Park's birch-jack pine forest, overlooking the incomparable Lake of the Woods, to the Blue Mound prairies of the southwest-and compiled the most up-to-date research to steer you to the perfect spot! Best Tent Camping: Minnesota presents 50 private, state park, and state and national forest campgrounds, organized into three distinct regions. Selections are based on location, topography, size, overall appeal, and reliable management, and every site is rated for beauty, privacy, spaciousness, safety and security, and cleanliness-so you'll always know what to expect. The new full-color edition of this proven guidebook provides everything you need to know, with detailed maps of each campground and key information such as fees, restrictions, dates of operation, and facilities, as well as driving directions and GPS coordinates. Whether you seek a quiet campground near a fish-filled stream or a family campground with all the amenities, grab Best Tent Camping: Minnesota. It's an escape for all who wish to find those special locales that recharge the mind, body, and spirit. This guide is a keeper.

Called "America in Miniature" by National Geographic editor Gilbert Grosvenor, Maryland packs an extraordinary amount of natural diversity into a relatively small area. With the Atlantic Ocean in the east, Allegheny Mountains in the west, and the country's largest estuary the Chesapeake Bay splitting the state down the middle, any outdoors enthusiast finds a happy home in Maryland. Splitting the state into three distinct geographical regions Western Maryland, Central Maryland, and Southern Maryland/Eastern Shore Best Tent Camping: Maryland, by Evan Balkan, will guide campers to 50 of the best campgrounds the state has to offer. Within these 50 profiles are campgrounds with every imaginable facility, as well as primitive campsites far from population centers and everything in between. For camping in Maryland, this is an indispensable guide.

Best Tent Camping: Kentucky by author Johnny Molloy leads you to the best tent camping destinations within the Bluegrass State, describing not only of the campgrounds themselves, but also the fun outdoorsy activities nearby. The book uses a rating system, which includes campground privacy, security, beauty, quiet, and cleanliness, and gives inside tips on how to be enjoy each particular destination from your chosen campground. It also details prices, opening and closing dates, websites, and other information that will help you utilize your precious time to the fullest, enjoying your Kentucky tent camping experience.

Whether it's rafting down the Chattooga River, hiking along the Bartram Trail, or sea kayaking around Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia is stuffed with opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of all abilities. To help these adventurers on their way, Best Tent Camping: Georgia by Johnny Molloy reveals the best places in the Peach State to pitch a tent, from mountainous Amicalola Falls State Park, starting point for Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, to the windswept dunes of Cumberland Island. Written to steer campers away from concrete slabs and convoys of RVs, Best Tent Camping: Georgia points tent campers to only the most scenic and serene campsites in the state. Painstakingly selected from hundreds of campgrounds, each of the 50 campsites is rated for: beauty, noise, privacy, security, spaciousness, and cleanliness. In addition, each campground profile provides essential details on facilities, reservations, fees, and restrictions, as well as an accurate, easy-to-read map, making the campground a snap to locate. Also included are suggestions for nearby outdoor recreation and sightseeing, pinpointing attractions that often go unnoticed.

Best Tent Camping: Alabama is your guide to the 50 best tent-camping sites in the Heart of Dixie. Whether you prefer the pristine white beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. or the mountains and canyons of the Tennessee Valley, or something in-between. Alabama has it all. The guide takes you to the most beautiful, yet lesser known, of the state's campsites, guaranteeing you a peaceful retreat. Each guidebook entry provides the latest maps of the grounds; each entry also alerts you to the best sites within the facility to ensure a rewarding and relaxing visit. The guidebook's campsite ratings on beauty, privacy, spaciousness, quietness, security, and cleanliness let you know whether or not each campground is the one you seek at any particular time. In addition, each site entry has complete contact and registration information, operating hours, and a list of restrictions. Directions to the site come complete with GPS coordinates to put you at the main gate.

This fully updated and revised guide to more than 300 public campgrounds in the state of Washington is perfect for tent and RV campers alike. Within each of the campground listings is vital information on location, road conditions, fees, reservations, available facilities, and recreational activities. The listings are organized by geographic area, and thorough site maps help simplify the search for the perfect campground. In addition, Camping Washington suggests best campgrounds in six categories: families with small children and families with teenagers, campers who seek solitude, anglers, hikers, and wildlife viewers. Look inside to find: * Campground locations * Facilities and hookups * Fees and reservations * GPS coordinates for each campground

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.

Best Easy Day Hikes Blue Ridge Parkway offers concise descriptions and detailed maps for thirty-four easy-to-follow trails from the southern end of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Featuring: Thirty-minute strolls to full-day adventures Hikes for everyone, including families Great hikes featuring waterfalls and wildflowers; great hikes for dogs Mile-by-mile directions and clear trail maps Zero-impact tips