National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States 6th edition

Offers descriptions, road maps, itineraries, travel tips, costs, and contact information for national parks ranging from Virginia's Shenandoah to Alaska's Glacier Bay.

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.

This guide helps travelers design a trip, depending on the time they have, with detailed background and planning information and shows them how to see the sights once they arrive. National Geographic writers have extensively toured each park; their recommendations are personal, useful, and informative. The book opens with an essay by Yellowstone writer Paul Schullery, a section on how to use this guide, and a national locator map. The parks are presented region by region; each region is introduced by a map and a geographical profile, followed by the parks in alphabetical order. There is an Information and Activities page and suggested excursions - each illustrated - that ends the park chapter.

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