Compiled by Michael Joseph Oswald, THE DAYHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE NATIONAL PARKS is a resource that should be consulted by anyone hoping to make the most of a hiking trip at any of the United States’ many and varied national parks. The book is relatively slim, making it perfect for slipping into a backpack pocket, and contains an impressively-designed wealth of information available within. There’s a short introduction, a regional map before each section that shows all the parks in that region and their relationships to each other, and then each park is addressed in detail—starting from the East and moving West, from Acadia to American Samoa. A trail map shows the trails in overview: their difficulties, distances, and elevations, with locations of parking lots, sights, tourist attractions, visitor centers, and other amenities. Then the book covers each trail in a short but information-rich paragraph, offering advice on what not to miss, when to go, how to avoid dangers and confusions, etc.—along with a smaller map and a picture illustrating the beauties of each.

A page of further information about each park, including such things as parking and shuttle advice, safety concerns, expected crowd levels, and other useful tips, finishes off each section. This carefully-organized detail allows dayhikers to go straight to the parks they’re most interested in and quickly acquire most (if not all) of the information they need to start planning a successful trip. The photography is, of course, stunning, from the green shaded woods of the Cuyahoga Valley to the stark red Fiery Furnace in Utah. Several wildlife shots, including a moose calf, a humpback whale breaching, and alligators lurking in the weeds, range from charming to breathtaking. The author has a pleasant, chatty, accessible style, and is obviously a dayhiker himself, offering advice gained from personal experience and familiarity. For example, referring to taking the Petroglyph Point trail in Mesa Verde clockwise: “there isn’t a sign directing you onto the trail, resulting in a well-worn false path leading hikers astray. No big deal, just know to hug the canyon’s rim, walking around (and above) Spruce Tree House.”

Clear descriptions of each trail and gorgeous photography make it a joy to page through this book, dreaming of or planning future trips, even if you can’t get away. But for those ready to plan a trip, there’s a lot of useful assistance here to help make it a safe and successful one.

Michael Joseph Oswald’s THE DAYHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE NATIONAL PARKS is chock-full of useful guidance for the dayhiker, offering descriptions of trails, available amenities, the need for permits, attractions not to be missed, and cautions specific to each park.

~Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader