25 Best Books about the National Parks

Best Books about the National Parks — Enjoy a book about the national parks wherever you happen to be. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

The National Parks offer a vast landscape to explore from densely forested mountains to endless deserts. With 62 National Parks in the U.S. find a new park to explore in the coming year. And if you’re in-between trips, read. For those looking for a gift other than socks and underwear, consider a book. Find a book for the history buff, the weekend adventurer and even the kids. Here’s a list of the best books about the National Parks.

Contents hide

Best National Park Books

Books for the Traveler and Adventurer

Books for the National Parks History Buff

Where to Stay if You Don’t Camp

National Park Books for Kids

Best National Park Books

As an avid reader, books set in the National Parks and about the national parks are always on my bedside table. I read to learn National Park Service history and more information for my next National Park trip. Though I like to read for fun as well. And if you don’t have time to read, then many of the following books are available as audio books as well. It’s a great way to enjoy books while doing mundane tasks.

Dories, Ho! by Matt and Karen Smith

For fans of Matt and Karen Smith, they’re out in the national parks again. This time the duo take a multi-day white water rafting trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. They tell their story like you were sitting next to them on the raft and afterwards at the nightly camp fire.

Dear Bob and Sue by Matt and Karen Smith

A pair of young retirees, Karen and Matt Smith, take off and hit the road to see all the national parks. In a series of emails to Bob and Sue, the friends they left back home, get a park-by-park account.

A must for anyone gearing up to explore the U.S. with their spouse in tow. Get truthful accounts of the popular tours and trails. And find tips for sneaking beer into lodges along with the best pizza joints near the parks in this humorous read.

And the near plane crash in Alaska explains why I’m leery of small planes.

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

Grab a walking stick and set out to walk from Georgia to Maine with your favorite bearded travel writer, Bill Bryson. A pair of middle-aged dad bods are pushed to the limits and packed down with junk food as they try to ford streams in the middle of the wilderness along the AT, or Appalachian Trail. Equal parts funny and informative and possibly Bryson’s best book.

This is a Book for People Who Love the National Parks by Matt Garczyski

I loved the portable size of this handbook. It features a short introduction into the National Park Service. Then read two page summeries of the more popular parks across the U.S. The illustrations are charming as well.

After reading, I really wanted to see the last of my remaining parks, like Voyageurs National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park.

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Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park by Lee Whittlesey

Get a detailed account of how to die in Yellowstone National Park. Should be required reading for volunteers and contract workers spending their first summer in the park. Through the seasons and over the years, learn about how the weather, the animals and the skirmishes can be deadly. Not suitable for sensitive readers or young kids.

National Geographic The National Parks: An Illustrated History

Let the photographers at National Geographic show you the most beautiful spots. Great for the traveler or the photography lover on your list.

Books for the Traveler and Adventurer

Be ready for adventure and pack a map. Since WiFi and data coverage are sketchy in the remote backcountry, maps are a necessity, along with a water bottle.

National Geographic Road Atlas 2021: Adventure Edition with United States, Canada, Mexico

Forget about socks and underwear for the young adventures. They need maps. I’ve used this atlas on the road and when planning trips for years.

Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 62 Parks (Travel Guide)

I’ve used Moon Guides for years and appreciate the common sense tips along with up-to-date information. Here’s an updated guide covering all 62 National Parks. Find it packed with information for your next National Park getaway.

Along with individual write-ups for the parks, find lots of general parks facts and tips in the front. And the photos are inspiring.

Lonely Planet USA’s National Parks

I have a shelf full of Lonely Planet guides. This guides provides an overview of the parks. Buy the individual guides for detailed information for specific parks.

Books for the National Parks History Buff

Need a gift for the history buff. Here’s several books to learn more about the National Park Service.

Prophets and Moguls, Rangers and Rogues, Bison and Bears: 100 Years of the National Park Service

An easy-to-read book packed with interesting facts and stories from the first 100 years of the NPS. Learn the history, the politics and the characters surrounding the legendary U.S. parks.

Camping and Tramping with Roosevelt

Relive the early days of conservation in the U.S. as told by Borroughs. He accompanied President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir during a pivotal camping trip in the Sierra Mountains. A small book that makes a good stocking stuffer.

The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America

For serious student of the national parks, Brinkley offers over 800 pages of history into the complex president who shaped the National Parks. It’s an engaging and thoughtful analysis from a historian.

The Vagabonds: The Story of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison’s Ten-Year Road Trip by Jeff Guinn

Learn about 20th century pioneers that paved the way for the Great American Road Trip. In Ford’s cars see how Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs traveled in the 1920s.

The Wisdom of John Muir: 100+ Selections from the Letters, Journals, and Essays of the Great Naturalist

Get the best of John Muir’s lyrical writings in this collection. Pulled from his books, articles and even personal letters, Rowthorn offers insight into the thoughts of Muir.

Where to Stay if You Don’t Camp

The National Parks are for everyone but camping isn’t. Here’s a few books dedicated to the historic lodges and inns of the National Park Service.

Great Lodges of the National Parks: The Companion Book to the PBS Television Series

This book is the gold standard though more a reference book than a guidebook for your trip. PBS made a series exploring the architecture of the NPS too. It’s a must for architecture fans too.

Great Lodges of the National Parks, Volume Two

So many historic lodges to explore, Great Lodges of the National Parks offers another volume.

Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges

Offering a packable size, this guide covers all the national park lodges in the National Park Service. This book is more of a travel guide provides information for trips.

National Park Books for Kids

Since I have three kids, I’m always picking up books on our adventures. I especially like children’s books with rich and detailed illustrations.

Seek and Find National Parks by Jorrien Peterson

Can’t tell you what I love better–mazes or the national parks. If you are or know a maze kid, here’s the book. Learn about the uniqueness of the U.S. and Canadian national parks, from Branff to Crater Lake to the U.S. Virgin Islands to Yellowstone. Work the maze and get to know the park. This book even includes a glossary.

Stamp Your Way Through the U.S.A. – Pacific Northwest & Alaskan Region National Parks Guidebook

A charming series of five books divided by region, like Western region and the Rocky Mountain Region. Kids learn about individual parks, like the geological features and the animals of the park.

Then kids can fill out a page to document their visit, including space for park cancellation stamps. Makes for an excellent companion for national park road trips.

The National Parks: Discover all 62 National Parks of the United States!

Here’s your book to cover all 62 National Parks for kids. Packed with information in kid-sized bites.

America’s National Parks (Lonely Planet Kids)

In a guide with charming illustrations, kids can explore the big book of national parks. Starts with nifty things to know about visiting National Parks, then learn about the parks in ABC order. So this is a great reference guide for kids. Or get them excited about a national parks road trip.

John Muir: Candlewick Biographies: America’s First Environmentalist

A great read-aloud book to learn more about conservation and the Father of the National Parks.

How We Crossed The West: The Adventures Of Lewis And Clark

Kids engage with the historical characters so learn about the legendary duo that trekked from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. There are several national park sites dedicated to Lewis and Clark sprinkled across the U.S.