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America's Great Hiking Trails: Appalachian, Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, North Country, Ice Age, Potomac Heritage, Florida, Natchez Trace, Arizona, Pacific Northwest, New England
INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards -- 2014 GOLD Winner for Adventure & Recreation
Society of American Travel Writers Eastern Chapter -- Gold Award
Society of American Travel Writers Foundation -- 2015 Lowell Thomas Travel Award for Best Travel Book
A hiker’s dream bucket list is embodied in this lavishly illustrated celebration of more than 50,000 miles of America’s most iconic trails. Celebrating the forty most important trails in America, this volume takes the reader through forty-nine states and eight national parks. Literally tens of millions of tourists and hikers visit these trails each year, some of which wind through the country’s most scenic natural wonders and virtually every major ecosystem in America. Each featured trail has its own section, complete with a map and photo gallery, and the reader explores what makes it one of the most magnificent hiking experiences anywhere in the world. Trail histories accompany detailed hiker-friendly descriptions that highlight the most scenic spots, with suggestions for shorter weekend and day hikes. The stunning photographs take the reader on a visual adventure conducted by Bart Smith, the first person to hike all eleven National Scenic Trails from end to end. America’s Great Hiking Trails is perfect for anyone interested in outdoor recreation and conservation.
Society of American Travel Writers Eastern Chapter -- Gold Award
Society of American Travel Writers Foundation -- 2015 Lowell Thomas Travel Award for Best Travel Book
A hiker’s dream bucket list is embodied in this lavishly illustrated celebration of more than 50,000 miles of America’s most iconic trails. Celebrating the forty most important trails in America, this volume takes the reader through forty-nine states and eight national parks. Literally tens of millions of tourists and hikers visit these trails each year, some of which wind through the country’s most scenic natural wonders and virtually every major ecosystem in America. Each featured trail has its own section, complete with a map and photo gallery, and the reader explores what makes it one of the most magnificent hiking experiences anywhere in the world. Trail histories accompany detailed hiker-friendly descriptions that highlight the most scenic spots, with suggestions for shorter weekend and day hikes. The stunning photographs take the reader on a visual adventure conducted by Bart Smith, the first person to hike all eleven National Scenic Trails from end to end. America’s Great Hiking Trails is perfect for anyone interested in outdoor recreation and conservation.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2014
3 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Karen Berger
48 books10 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Karen Berger, author of the best-selling Hiking and Backpacking: A Trailside Guide, has hiked over 15,000 miles, including the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail.
Karen Berger is a pianist on the faculty of the Berkshire Music School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She was an editor of The Instrumentalist, Clavier, and Accent on Music magazines and received the Ed Press Distinguished Achievement Award. She s the author of eleven books, including seven how-to books. She wrote three titles in the best-selling Trailside Guide series, including Hiking and Backpacking, which has sold over 150,000 copies.
Karen Berger, author of the best-selling Hiking and Backpacking: A Trailside Guide, has hiked over 15,000 miles, including the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail.
Karen Berger is a pianist on the faculty of the Berkshire Music School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She was an editor of The Instrumentalist, Clavier, and Accent on Music magazines and received the Ed Press Distinguished Achievement Award. She s the author of eleven books, including seven how-to books. She wrote three titles in the best-selling Trailside Guide series, including Hiking and Backpacking, which has sold over 150,000 copies.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 26, 2017
Beautiful, inspiring, intoxicating. Put me on a trail.
March 28, 2022
Not a guide or a map to hike these trails rather an overview of each of the trails with some history and highpoints. As someone who has section hiked small portions of almost all of these trails it makes me want to make a commitment and thru-hike one.
Great landscape pictures.
Great landscape pictures.
October 1, 2024
Strangely does not add more than a paragraph about the long trail. Otherwise good.
May 1, 2017
This book will make you want to get off of the couch and on the trail. The trails are all over the country. Some of them cover several states. The photographs are terrific. Even if you don't/can't hike, the book is a joy to read.
January 30, 2015
Gorgeous coffee table book -- don't try to take it hiking with you.
July 18, 2018
Amazing photography of the trails
July 11, 2022
This book is a masterpiece. The writing is witty, thoughtful, and entertaining. It's a perfect companion to the beautiful photography found throughout.
What struck me most, is how the entire National Scenic Trails system was founded and maintained. Through the vision of individual's passionate about getting outside and preserving these beautiful places. How they continue to be maintained by passionate volunteers who spend countless hours working to make the dreams of their founder's a reality.
This is arguably one of my favorite books I've ever read.
What struck me most, is how the entire National Scenic Trails system was founded and maintained. Through the vision of individual's passionate about getting outside and preserving these beautiful places. How they continue to be maintained by passionate volunteers who spend countless hours working to make the dreams of their founder's a reality.
This is arguably one of my favorite books I've ever read.
March 2, 2021
I originally got the book to check out the pictures and was not going to even read it. However, I did decide to read it and it had some interesting little tidbits about each of the trails. It was actually way more interesting than I thought and with the great pics it made for an easy read.
October 12, 2020
A lot of pretty pictures in this book.
February 13, 2021
Excellent photographs. A nice volume that brings together all of the national scenic trails, some of which I hadn’t been aware of.
June 3, 2021
Gorgeous, if a little overwhelming. So many trails, so little time! Didn't know about the North Country Trail (just the north country girl ;-).
March 7, 2023
Beautiful pictures with a decent overview of each trail and trail section.
January 23, 2016
Just when you think you have a good sense of America's Great Hiking Trails, a resource like this one comes along to remind you that you aren't half way there yet.
I enjoyed this large heavy picture coffee table book but found the more limited text segments the most interesting. The NET & the PHT are a couple of the 'finds' here that previous research had not uncovered. I also really wish to visit Shenandoah Ntl. Pk which according to this book is ideal for dayhikers since trail & roadways cross at frequent intervals. Okay, my bias is that I am a Northern-East coast hiker & nature enthusiast who is more focused on the local opportunities than on the PCT oriented trails - but this book really does cover it all. A wonderful collaboration of photography & trail guide - but not something any enthusiast should ever consider leaving their home with.
I enjoyed this large heavy picture coffee table book but found the more limited text segments the most interesting. The NET & the PHT are a couple of the 'finds' here that previous research had not uncovered. I also really wish to visit Shenandoah Ntl. Pk which according to this book is ideal for dayhikers since trail & roadways cross at frequent intervals. Okay, my bias is that I am a Northern-East coast hiker & nature enthusiast who is more focused on the local opportunities than on the PCT oriented trails - but this book really does cover it all. A wonderful collaboration of photography & trail guide - but not something any enthusiast should ever consider leaving their home with.
November 30, 2014
Gorgeous photography about some of our country's most beautiful long distance trails. Love the photos, the stories behind the trails, and the recommendations of highlight hikes in shorter segments. Enjoyed some armchair traveling with this one -- and added some destinations to my bucket list.
April 23, 2016
I quickly found that the most interesting part of this book was the pictures on the trail. However, it was very irratating to me that the location of the picture was never shown with picture, but on the next page. Which means that I never could figure where any of the pictures were taken.
May 8, 2018
Nonfiction/Hiking. One of my favorite topics accompanied by breath-taking photographs and intelligent and informative writing. Will definitely be looking at other books written by this author. So inspired to get OUT there!!
April 2, 2015
Wicked awesome photos!!!
March 6, 2019
Beautiful coffee table book
Amazing photos
Can’t wait to get feet onto some of the paths
Loved it
Amazing photos
Can’t wait to get feet onto some of the paths
Loved it
May 21, 2019
Amazing pictures. Found a few trails that I can manage. :)
April 28, 2020
A well written overview of America's National hiking trails accompanied by stunning photography.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews