Amid the rock spires and red-rock canyons west of Grand Junction near the Utah state line, a young man with a checkered past single-handedly built trails at a salary of $1 a month. John Otto brought the beauty of the canyons to the attention of the local chambers of commerce and eventually the National Park Service. With the stroke of a pen, Pres. William Taft added the Colorado National Monument to the park system in 1911. Ottoas eccentricities toward bureaucrats and businessmen caused him to abandon a quarter-century of trail building in the mid-1930s. His legacy was then picked up by hundreds of young men from the Civilian Conservation Corps prior to World War II. Today their combined efforts bring thousands of hikers, bicyclists, and motorists to the same trails Otto first used to introduce people to the canyon lands a century ago and the odd rock monoliths that seem to rise hundreds of feet out of the canyon floor. Scenic vistas of the Little Bookcliffs mountain range and the great Grand Mesa complete the beautiful panorama.

The real stories behind the scenery of America's national parks For twelve years, Andrea Lankford lived in the biggest, most impressive national parks in the world, working a job she loved. She chaperoned baby sea turtles on their journey to sea. She pursued bad guys on her galloping patrol horse. She jumped into rescue helicopters bound for the heart of the Grand Canyon. She won arguments with bears. She slept with a few too many rattlesnakes. Hell yeah, it was the best job in the world Fortunately, Andrea survived it. In this graphic and yet surprisingly funny account of her and others' extraordinary careers, Lankford unveils a world in which park rangers struggle to maintain their idealism in the face of death, disillusionment, and the loss of a comrade killed while holding that thin green line between protecting the park from the people, the people from the park, and the people from each other. Ranger Confidential is the story behind the scenery of the nation's crown jewels--Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Great Smokies, Denali. In these iconic landscapes, where nature and humanity constantly collide, scenery can be as cruel as it is redemptive.

This fourth edition of Best Easy Day Hikes Olympic National Park features concise descriptions and easy-to-follow maps for thirty-one short, manageable hikes. Veteran author and hiker Erik Molvar describes the best routes for those who have limited time or abilities, without missing out on the area's scenic splendors: majestic spires, Pacific coast beaches, and a rare temperate rain forest ecosystem. Look inside for: Half-hour strolls to full-day adventures Hikes for everyone, including families Hikes ranked from easiest to most challenging Easy-to-use trail maps GPS coordinates

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

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

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