A guide to the attractions, natural history, and cultural history of the Great Basin—perfect for tourists, naturalists, and historians. Great Basin National Park, Snake Valley, and Spring Valley cover more than 3,000 square miles across portions of Nevada and Utah, but few people know much about this diverse area. In her guidebook to Great Basin National Park, Gretchen Baker covers everything a potential visitor needs to know about one of the country’s best-kept secrets. The park sits in one of America’s driest, least populated, and most isolated deserts. It is a place of significant geological and scenic value, offering unspoiled vistas, abundant wildlife, clean air, and natural attractions. That contrast is one facet of the diversity that characterizes this region. Within and outside the park are phenomenal landscape features, biotic wonders, unique environments, varied historic sites, and the local colors of isolated towns and ranches. Vast Snake and Spring Valleys, bracketing the national park, are also subjects of one of the West’s most divisive environmental contests. At stake is what on the surface seems almost absent but underground is abundant enough for sprawling Las Vegas to covet—water. This guidebook not only describes the peaks, glaciers, subalpine lakes, caves, hiking trails, campgrounds, and historical sites, but also explores the cultural history of the park and surrounding area. Each chapter addresses the physical attributes and navigational issues of a specific area and includes an in-depth historical overview. The text is complemented by useful maps and historical photographs and makes Great Basin National Park: A Guidebook to the Park and Surrounding Area the most comprehensive book on the region available.

On January 1 of 2016, Stefanie Payne, a creative professional working at NASA Headquarters, and Jonathan Irish, a photographer with National Geographic, left their lives in Washington, D.C. and hit the open road on an expedition to explore and document all 59 of America's national parks during the centennial celebration of the U.S. National Park Service - 59 parks in 52 weeks - the Greatest American Road Trip. Captured in more than 300,000 digital photographs, written stories, and videos shared by the national and international media, their project resulted in an incredible view of America's National Park System seen in its 100th year. 'A Year in the National Parks, The Greatest American Road Trip' is a gorgeous visual journey through our cherished public lands, detailing a rich tapestry of what makes each park special, as seen along an epic journey to visit them all within one special celebratory year.

Tour the world's national parks via five hundred walks and hikes through preserved natural beauty.

Fully updated and revised, this comprehensive guide features forty-seven trails in Big Bend National Park.

Reno: A Base Camp for All Seasons Ideally positioned between the spectacular peaks and lakes of California's Sierra Nevadas and the vast and varied Great Basin of Nevada, Reno is an unparalleled hub for exploring the natural beauty and grandeur this region offers. The area's four-season climate combined with year-round sun guarantees that every day can be a great day to go exploring. Discover the dramatic scenery and diverse terrain of ten distinct geographical regions with 101 hikes--all within no more than an hour's drive from downtown Reno. Enjoy a trail through snowbanks or amble along a sandy path. Traverse sage-covered hillsides or walk through meadows of wildflowers. Stroll along peaceful creeks or ascend to craggy cliffs and mountaintops. With Christopher and Elizabeth Barile as your guides and Reno as your base camp, you'll find your perfect adventure, whether you have a few hours to spend or time for an all-day trek. History, geology, flora, and fauna for each hike Best hikes for each season, and where to enjoy spring wildflowers, fall foliage, and more Ratings for trail conditions, difficulty, and suitability for children Detailed driving directions to trailheads and info about parking Regional maps showing all trailheads in each chapter; route and elevation map for each hike Best hikes for kids, teens, and adults with limited ability Elevation gains, mileage, average hiking times, and even calculated caloric burn! Hikes by interest: waterfalls, rock scrambling, bird watching, petroglyphs, wild horses, and many more How to prepare & what to take 101 great hikes to choose from!