Synopses & Reviews
Majestic buttes, towering Sequoias, sculpted rock arches, and river-carved canyons---a visit to the national parks of the West isnt merely a vacation, its a rite of passage. This completely updated and expanded book is
the guide for families, outdoor enthusiasts, and retirees preparing to visit the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and 34 other parks in the American and Canadian West. Bursting with maps, charts, and orientation spreads, Fodors Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West is both a handy planning resource and a trusted travel companion. Key features include:
·Brand-new planning pages that take the guesswork out of organizing the perfect trip
·Beefed-up hiking coverage and new trail maps
·Detailed profiles of 37 parks
·Driving tours with area maps that give the big picture and help visitors explore both inside and outside the park gates
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Winner of the Lowell Thomas bronze award for best travel guide!
Comments from the judges on Fodors Complete Guide to National Parks of the West include, "Stuff it in the glove box and hit the road: This exhaustively researched guide has everything the traveler needs to tap into the riches of Americas national parks. Q & As from park rangers, nifty little maps and lists of things to do in each park (besides places to eat and places to stay) make this the essential guide for the outdoors enthusiast. The design makes it easy to use and nice to look at." To read more, visit http://www.satwf.com/2008lowellthomastraveljournalismwinners.aspx.
The SATW Foundation sponsors the annual Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition. The competition began in 1985, and today awards nearly $20,000 annually in prize money for outstanding work in print and on the Internet. It is the premier competition in this field, like the Pulitzer Prizes for travel journalism.
Synopsis
COMPLETELY UPDATED AND EXPANDED FAST-TRACK Packed with tips, reviews, and vital information, Fodor's Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West expertly guides readers through every step of the journey, from pre-trip planning strategies to directions to the best scenic overlooks.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Welcome to the Parks
National Park Service Then and Now
The Roosevelt Touch
Wildlife In the Parks
Chapter 2: Choosing a Park
What’s Where
The Best of the National Parks
If You Like
Chapter 3: Planning Your Visit
Park Passes
What to Pack
Family Fun
Rock Climbing QandA
Take a Tour
Capturing the Parks on Film
Staying Healthy, Playing It Safe
More Tips and Tidbits
Field Guide: Common Geology and Terrain Terms
Chapter 4: Driving Tours
Pacific Northwest Driving Tour
Canadian Rockies Driving Tour
Glacier to Grand Teton
Driving Tour
Dakotas’ Black Hills Driving Tour:
Hot Springs to Deadwood
Northern California Driving Tour
Southern California Driving Tour
Canyon Country Driving Tour
Dinosaur National Monument to
Great Sand Dunes Driving Tour
Texas and New Mexico
Driving Tour
Chapter 5: Arches National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 6: Badlands National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 7: Banff National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 8: Big Bend National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 9: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 10: Bryce Canyon National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 11: Canyonlands National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 12: Capitol Reef National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 13: Carlsbad Caverns National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 14: Channel Islands National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 15: Crater Lake National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 16: Death Valley National Park
Park Essentials
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 17: Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks
Glacier National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 18: Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon South Rim
Grand Canyon North Rim
Grand Canyon West Rim
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 19: Grand Teton National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 20: Great Basin National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 21: Great Sand Dunes National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 22: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 23: Jasper National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 24: Joshua Tree National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 25: Lassen Volcanic National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 26: Mesa Verde National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 27: Mount Rainier National Park
Park Essentials
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 28: North Cascades National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
29: Olympic National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 30: Petrified Forest National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 31: Redwood National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 32: Rocky Mountain National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 33: Saguaro National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 34: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Sequoia National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 35: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 36: Wind Cave National Park
Park Essentials
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 37: Yellowstone National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 38: Yosemite National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Chapter 39: Zion National Park
What’s Nearby
Where to Eat and Stay
Campgrounds at a Glance
Index
About our Writers
Maps
Pacific Northwest Driving Tour
Canada Driving Tour
Glacier to Grand Teton
Badlands Driving Tour
Northern California Driving Tour
Southern California Driving Tour
Canyon Country Driving Tour
Colorado Driving Tour
Texas and New Mexico
Banff Trail
Chisos Basin
Central Bryce Canyon
Island in the Sky
Needles
Southeastern Utah
Subterreanean Trail Network,
Carlsbad Caversn NP
Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz,
and Anacapa Islands
Darwin Falls Trail
Central Glacier Trails
Grand Canyon South Rim
Grand Canyon Village
and Rim Trail
Grand Canyon North Rim
Jenny Lake Trail
Western Joshua Tree
National Park
Mount Rainier Looking North
Olympic Coastal Region
Sol Duc Trail
Redwood NP Northern Areas
Redwood NP Southern Areas
Bear Lake Region
Western Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon’s Cedar Grove Area
Wind Cave Trail (Underground)
Western Yellowstone
Old Faithful Area
Eastern Yellowstone
Canyon Village
Yosemite Valley