55 Best National Park Books to Fuel Your Adventurous Spirit

Looking for the actual best national park books—ones that help you plan a trip, teach you something new, or keep your kiddo busy for more than six minutes? Stay right here. I’m a Type-A national park lover, and I dove deep into over 50 books about national parks.

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Sure, you can find literally anything online these days, immediately and with no real limitations, but there’s a reason physical books still hold a special place in our hearts (that’s not just me…right?)

There’s just something magical about cracking open a book. That’s especially true when it’s a book on national parks, one that instantly transports you to some of the wildest, most pristine areas in the United States.

The national parks protect some of the world’s most precious landscapes and rare resources. Whether you’re actively planning your next adventure or simply daydreaming from the couch, books about them serve as an instant, exclusive passport to The Great Outdoors.

From ultra-thorough guidebooks and glossy coffee table books to fictional stories set in familiar settings and even themed cookbooks, we rounded up more than 50 of the best national park books to inspire you to get out there and explore.

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Over 50 of the Best National Park Books

Books about national parks are a wonderful addition to any collection. Whether you’re an avid parks traveler, more of an armchair explorer, looking for a fantastic gift, or you want to read more to glow up mentally, this mega list has you covered.

Best National Park Books Overall

This first category of the best books on national parks isn’t ultra-specific. Instead, these books are accomplished multi-taskers, helping you learn about the parks or plan your trip and offering insider tips.

Any of the books in this top 15 list would make an excellent outdoorsy gift!

1. 100 Parks, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do

As soon as you start flipping through 100 Parks, 5000 Ideas, you’ll see why it’s one of the very best national park books. 

Not only does the book give in-depth tips and advice on visiting national parks, but it also covers worthwhile city and state parks, plus suggests nearby day trips. It’s a great-looking national parks coffee table book, too.

Psst! If you’re interested in 100 Parks, 5000 Ideas, check out these other outdoor adventure books in the series!

2. The National Parks: America’s Best Idea

The National Parks: America’s Best Idea makes you fall in love with the national parks in a whole new way.

We know it sounds dramatic, but this isn’t just a book; it’s a beautifully documented journey through time. Literally. This gem dives deep into the history of America’s parks, combining captivating stories and historical photos.

Discover how these natural wonders came to be protected, with tales of the visionaries who made it all possible. It’s hands-down the best national parks book for history buffs and yes, it’s based on the award-winning documentary series by the same name.

Note: we adore this book for countless reasons, but it’s not the best from a photography standpoint. While it includes some pictures from photographer QT Luong, if you’re after incredible national parks imagery, check out his coffee table book, Treasured Lands.

3. Your Guide to the National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 63 National Parks

This renowned book by Michael Joseph Oswald is probably the most comprehensive guidebook you’ll find for exploring America’s national parks.

As a bit of a disclaimer, Oswald didn’t write it for the ‘typical’ park visitor. He wrote it instead for those who wish to get off the beaten path and experience a park’s true spirit.

In his own words, Oswald explains, “While touring the parks I quickly realized most visitors only explore areas accessible by car. Families zip through, stop at the occasional pull-out or parking lot for a quick photo-op, and then continue on their merry way. While most parks cater to motorists, one cannot experience their essence from the comfort of your driver’s seat.”

The book tells it like it is, even ranking parks by ‘Superlative’ (Glacier National Park in that category, obviously), ‘Amazing but…’ and ‘Good but…’

It gives an incredible amount of detail on each park, but ALSO offers unique lists we’ve never seen in other national park books (best parks for whitewater rafting, waterfalls, even couples), full color maps, road trip itinerary ideas for visiting multiple parks, and even photo tips.

4. Scenic Science of the National Parks: An Explorer’s Guide to Wildlife, Geology, and Botany

When you think about it, our national parks have some pretty incredible geology lying beyond what the human eye can see. 

Scenic Science of the National Parks takes a deep dive into that geology, but in a super approachable way.

The tone is playful, yet informative, and the detailed illustrations visually explain each park’s standout features. Think humpback whales in Kenai Fjords and “lava-loving plants” in Hawaii Volcanoes. 

As a major (and pleasantly surprising! bonus), this is also one of the best national park passport books. It has dedicated spots for each park’s passport stamp!

5. Our National Parks by John Muir

Filled with personal essays and observations from none other than John Muir himself, this may be one of the first national park books ever written. Muir wrote Our National Parks in 1901, when there were just four parks—Yellowstone, Sequoia, Yosemite, and Mount Rainier.   

Thanks to Muir’s beautifully descriptive writing style, it’s hands-down one of the best outdoor books for inspiring and motivating you to go spend time in nature.

It is worth noting, though, that there are no pictures; this is truly a book of essays. If you’re a Muir fan (who isn’t?!), a history buff, or an avid naturalist, you’ll love it, but this isn’t the best book about national parks for kiddos. 

6. Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America’s National Parks

Fair warning: Lassoing the Sun hits you right in the feels.

Totally different from many other books about national parks, this one effortlessly combines deeply personal storytelling with great detail about the parks.

After spending his childhood summers exploring the parks, 50-year-old Mark Woods spends a year traveling through them again, this time while also navigating some heavy life stuff.

His journey is somehow universally relatable, but even more incredible, he intertwines others’ stories with his own. For example, you’ll hear from some of Yosemite’s first-ever rock climbers.

This national park book will be a welcome addition to almost anyone’s collection, but especially those who love heartfelt stories with a dose of nature.

7. Subpar Parks

Subpar Parks offers a serious dose of humor, setting itself apart from other national park books. Just look at its subtitle: “America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors.” 

The book is based on real-life, absolutely ridiculous one-star reviews of national parks. For example, one review about North Cascades National Park says, “Too many mountains, trees, snow, etc.” Too many mountains?! What?!

It takes those reviews, pairs them with a gorgeous illustration, and compiles sections on each park that are both hilarious and educational. If you’re looking for the best book about national parks to give as a gift, Subpar Parks makes an excellent choice. 

Bonus: there’s also a postcard version now, Subpar Parks Postcards. The book of 22 tear-out postcards makes a wonderful gift, or order it for yourself and send postcards to friends with great senses of humor. 

8. National Geographic Secrets of the National Parks

Introducing readers to “the best experiences beyond the tourist trail,” this is THE book about national parks for those who like to get off the beaten path. 

Secrets of the National Parks offers over 500 insider tips, ranging from how to ditch the crowds to the best but little-hiked trails. Even longtime park rangers contributed, so this is one of the best outdoor books overall for folks seeking more memorable experiences. 

9. 100 Things to See in the National Parks: Guide to the Most Popular Features of the US National Parks

This fantastic option comes to us from the author of another one of the best national park books, A Year in the National Parks: The Greatest American Road Trip.

100 Things to See highlights the best things to see in each of the 63 national parks. However, where it really shines—and stands out—is the places it tells you NOT to go.  

For example, this national park book offers information on seeing General Sherman in Sequoia (the world’s largest living tree) and North America’s tallest peak, Denali. But it also gives alternate routes to the parks’ most popular hikes and tips on lesser-known but worthwhile side trips. 

10. The Art of the National Parks

Looking for a unique book about national parks, one with that extra something? Here it is. Fifty-Nine Parks’ The Art of the National Parks includes gorgeous, exceptionally detailed vintage poster-style images, but that’s only the beginning.

Alongside the images, each park includes a quote, fascinating little nuggets of info, and a more detailed overview. We’ve even learned some new things about parks we know VERY well!

11. Walks of a Lifetime in America’s National Parks: Extraordinary Hikes in Exceptional Places

Hikers (and trail runners, and backpackers…), you’ll likely find this to be your favorite book on national parks.

Walks of a Lifetime authors Bob and Martha Manning, a husband-and-wife pair who have logged thousands of miles in the parks, very literally walk the walk.

The book, of course, highlights each park’s standout easy to moderate hikes and walks. But beyond that (as a nice bonus!), it also covers park history and geology, as well as a ‘logistics’ section that details when to visit, where to stay, and more.

12. Ansel Adams in the National Parks: Photographs from America’s Wild Places

This national parks coffee table book is truly one that EVERYONE will love.

Renowned photographer Ansel Adams was a tremendous advocate for conservation and the National Park System, and he is largely responsible for introducing the world to some of the most iconic parks. Most notably, Yosemite National Park.

In the National Parks includes over 200 of Adams’ national park photos—the most comprehensive collection in existence, and many of them never before published.

13. Campfire Stories: Tales From America’s National Parks

Campfire Stories might just be our favorite book on this list. It includes several short stories, poems, and even song lyrics. Some are from famous names like John Muir and Terry Tempest Williams, but many are by unnamed indigenous peoples or explorers.

They’re indeed perfect for reading aloud around a campfire, but we often find ourselves reaching for this book to read a story or two before bed, too.

The ‘About this story’ section that accompanies each story is one of the things that really makes this one of the best books about the outdoors. In it, you’ll find more details about the story or storyteller, in case you want to learn and read more. Spoiler alert: you will want to.

Quick note: Campfire Stories focuses on Acadia, Rocky Mountain, Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion.

14. The World Almanac Road Tripper’s Guide to National Parks: 5,001 Things to Do, Learn, and See for Yourself

This book about national parks is like having a travel buddy who knows all the best road trip spots and fun facts. The World Almanac Road Tripper’s Guide to National Parks is packed with 5,001 (!) ideas that range from can’t-miss hikes and hidden gems to quirky tidbits about each park.

At first glance, each park’s brief overview (Yosemite’s section is just six pages, for example) doesn’t seem even remotely sufficient. However, we actually love that this book about national parks provides at-a-glance suggested itineraries.

Another great inclusion? The ‘fast facts’ section for each park, highlighting details often overlooked in other national park books, like accessibility info and the closest major airport.

Disclaimer: At the time of this writing, the only version available of the physical book is from 2022. The Kindle version is updated with recently-added parks, though.

15. National Park Mystery Series

Don’t be surprised if you (adults) find yourselves sneaking the National Park Mystery Series books when your kiddo isn’t looking. Although the series is geared toward middle school readers, the entire family will love them! The books’ near-perfect ratings speak to their universal appeal.

The first four books of the 10-part series are set in Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Grand Canyon, and Zion National Parks, respectively. The fifth installment, set in Yosemite, will be complete in fall 2024.

Each book follows Jake as he goes on a scavenger hunt through 10 iconic parks. His late grandfather set the hunt up for him, and the story follows two timelines: the 1880s and present-day. It’s a perfect combination of adventure, thrilling mystery, and riddles.

Best National Parks Coffee Table Books

There’s no question that the national parks are awe-inspiring. These gorgeous coffee table books prove they can have that effect even through photos on paper (which also makes them ideal for lending a special *something* to your home library inspiration!).

16. Treasured Lands by QT Luong

QT Luong’s award-winning Treasured Lands is often called the “most complete” photography book on national parks. Truly, it goes far beyond the typical coffee table book. 

Luong included 600 photographs, many of them from remote, untamed, rarely seen places in our national parks. He visited the parks 300+ times over the course of 25 years building this masterpiece.

Amazingly, he also included detailed location information, maps of each park, and useful anecdotal information for any photographers who want to re-create his photos. Buy this for the photographer in your life, national park or outdoor lovers, or for yourself to admire.

Fun fact: some of QT Luong’s photos were featured in one of our other favorite national park books, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.

17. Mapping America’s National Parks: Preserving Our Natural and Cultural Treasures

Offering a unique perspective, this national parks coffee table book focuses on how and when they were mapped and surveyed. Notably, renowned filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan co-wrote the foreword.

Mapping America’s National Parks includes 240 color maps and photos detailing how the NPS uses them, from managing fires to deciding where to put a new visitor restroom. 

18. USA National Parks: Lands of Wonder

This BEAUTIFUL national parks coffee table book goes heavy on wanderlust-inducing imagery, but also includes just the right amount of critical information. For each park, Lands of Wonder includes a graphic map, plus details on relevant history, geology, or wildlife and some fast facts.

19. National Geographic Atlas of the National Parks

A ‘first of its kind’ book, National Geographic Atlas of the National Parks brings each park to life with detailed maps, beautiful photos, and genuinely interesting descriptions.

It’s a must-have for anyone who loves national parks and wants to explore their beauty even from the comfort of home. By the way, this is truly a coffee table book—it weighs six pounds!

20. 63 Illustrated National Parks Coffee Table Book

What started as, essentially, a collection of poster art has become one of the most beautiful national park coffee table books. Today, 63 Illustrated National Parks still includes a custom illustration for each park, but it also packs in historic photos, maps, fun fact, and travel tips.

Best National Parks Books for Kids

Whether you have an adventure-minded young reader or want to get your kiddos excited for an upcoming family national park trip, this section has you covered. Bonus: outdoor books make excellent gifts for sports kids and teens!

21. National Parks A to Z: Adventure From Acadia to Zion!

Look, we know this is a national parks book for kids…but we absolutely adore it!

From the cover, National Parks A to Z looks like a cute but fairly basic alphabet-based book on national parks. When you dig in, though, it’s soooo much more than that!

Each letter of the alphabet represents a national park, as well as wildlife native to that park and one of its most popular outdoor activities.

As you can see from the photo above, the book ALSO includes some super valuable, educational information relevant to the parks. In addition to how to practice Leave No Trace, you’ll find tidbits on accessibility, Native American traditions, land conservation, and more.

22. National Parks of the USA: Activity Book

Combining several engaging activities with tons of interesting little nuggets, this is one of the best national parks books for kids.

It’s especially ideal as a travel/road trip activity en route to a national park, with word searches, mazes, and match games that are easy to do on the go. We especially love the section that has kids create their very own national park!

Major bonus: National Parks of the U.S.A. Activity Book includes a beautiful poster that’s high-quality enough to hang up in your child’s room.

23. The Campground Kids: National Park Adventures

The Campground Kids: National Park Adventures series is a fantastic set of national park books for kids who love adventure and the great outdoors.

This seven-book series follows a set of siblings and their cousin as they explore iconic parks, solving riddles and mysteries and learning about nature along the way. Each book is filled with adventure, but also educational content that engages young readers.

Perfect for reading aloud or for kids to enjoy on their own, The Campground Kids is an excellent intro to America’s national parks.

24. Lonely Planet Kids America’s National Parks

This is an excellent national parks book for kids who genuinely love to learn. With Lonely Planet behind it, you can rest assured that America’s National Parks has plenty of factual details, but it isn’t at all overwhelming.

Each park gets 3-4 pages, an ideal ‘snapshot’ with a summary, fun facts, and beautiful pictures.

25. National Parks Activities Kit: Facts and Fun for Exploring the Parks

Probably the newest national parks book on our list (it was released in September 2024), this activities kit is an ideal flight or road trip companion.

The guidebook dedicates one page to each national park, with a quick summary, highlights, travel tips, and an excellent “Look for” section on native wildlife and plants. It also includes high-quality stickers and detailed coloring pages that will keep even adults busy!

26. Sticker by Number America’s National Parks

This is another one of those kids’ national park books that also happens to be awesome for adults. There’s just something extremely therapeutic about trying to perfectly place the stickers. And it’s icing on the cake that they create beautiful pictures!

Because kiddos have to match stickers with numbers and line them up just so, this activity really hones cognitive and fine motor skills. Even better, the book also includes some fun facts about each national park.

27. Junior Ranger Activity Book

While the Junior Ranger Activity Book has a lot in common with many other national parks books for kids (tons of fun facts and activities, for example), it has a much stronger focus on learning about and protecting the parks.

It uses actual games, trivia, and other activities from Junior Ranger programs, teaching kids about geology, park history, rarely-seen wildlife, and other topics the average tourist may not know.

This book on national parks is an excellent introduction to the official Junior Ranger program, so it can be a great tool for parents to gauge their kiddos’ interest. It’s also an excellent travel companion, with activities for the whole family.

28. Explore! America’s National Parks

The authors consulted a real-life park ranger for this children’s book about national parks, and it shows. Fun tidbits of history and tips on wildlife, what to pack, what to eat (and NOT eat), and how to be a good steward of the land accompany the gorgeous illustrations.

Explore! certainly isn’t the most comprehensive national park book out there, but it’s perfect for introducing little readers to the many aspects of the parks system.

29. National Parks: A Kid’s Guide to America’s Parks, Monuments, and Landmarks

We included several activities-based national park books for kids in this guide because they’re all a bit different. We love that A Kid’s Guide to America’s Parks includes national monuments and other important landmarks instead of strictly national parks.

The book presents everything in a simple, engaging format, encouraging kids to apply what they learn. It highlights a native bird from each park and in the back, look for the sleeve that lets kiddos collect and display state quarters.

Not all 63 national parks are included—remember, it focuses on national monuments, too. The book is organized by state, and includes highlights versus a full rundown.

30. Let’s Go! All the National Parks Adventure Coloring Book

We’ve seen a lot of underwhelming options, but this national parks coloring book is awesome. Every park has a page, and they’re detailed without being ‘busy.’ Each includes a variety of landscape scenes, plants, and animals, and the latter two are labeled, adding a nice educational bonus.

Best National Parks Guide Books

Being armed with as much knowledge about a park as possible before you even get there goes a long way in enhancing your trip—especially as the parks get more popular and busy.

Yes, you can do a ton of research online, but there’s something reassuring and satisfying about having a national park guidebook physically tucked under your arm as you explore. Plus, guide books can help inspire your next destination!

31. Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 63 Parks

There are a LOT of national park guides out there, but Moon is consistently one of the best. The newly updated Moon USA National Parks Guide includes everything you expect, such as full-color maps and super-detailed information about each park, but that’s just the beginning.

What makes this one many people’s favorite guidebook is the expert travel advice given by former park ranger Becky Lomax. We especially love the ‘Top 3’ and ‘One Day in…’ sections for each park.

As a nice surprise, this Moon guide also includes a detachable fold-out map and a keepsake section with space for stamps, stickers, and notes.

32. Fodor’s Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA

Fodor’s Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA comes in a close second for the most comprehensive book about national parks.

This book goes far beyond traditional national parks guides. For example, it has a ’63 Ultimate Experiences’ section highlighting one must-see in each park and detailed itineraries, both for individual parks and for trips that combine multiple parks.

The guide also covers park lodges and wildlife you may encounter, plus different types of National Park Service units, including national historic sites, lakeshores, and monuments like John Lafitte in New Orleans and Wyoming’s Devils Tower.

If you’re planning to visit more than one park in the near future, we can’t recommend this book enough. It’s an excellent place to start your research and get a better sense of the parks in general.

33. National Geographic Complete National Parks of the United States

Like a CliffsNotes version of a national parks guide book, Complete National Parks takes an overview approach. Organized by region and then state, the author gives a brief history and interesting anecdotes for each site.

The book discusses all 400+ National Park Service units (Scenic Trails, Historic Sites, Recreation Areas, Monuments such as Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota, and more), as opposed to just the actual parks.

34. USA National Parks Family Adventure Guide + Journal: 63 Parks For Parents, By Parents

This is easily one of the best national park guides specifically for families. USA National Parks Family Adventure Guide + Journal offers expert travel advice on family-friendly trails, sites, and activities in each park. Some are uber popular, while you’ve likely never heard of others.

What we REALLY love, though, is that in addition to those family-friendly highlights, there’s also a section featuring challenging activities. After all, you might visit without your kids at some point, or be able to break away to hike a harder trail.

The book’s journal portion includes plenty of space to jot down memories or add national park passport stamps or stickers.

National Park Passport Books

National park passport books are a must for any ‘park collectors,’ and they also make fantastic gifts. We once heard about parents starting a passport book with their children, and then gifting it to them when they became adults, to complete with their own kiddos. We LOVE that!

35. Passport To Your National Parks® Classic Edition

The classic Passport To Your National Parks® is not only a literal national park passport, but also a beloved keepsake for national park enthusiasts. This is THE passport book sold in national park gift shops.

This compact booklet (4 x 6″) allows visitors to collect official cancellation stamps from NPS sites. It’s a fun, interactive way to document your adventures, and something you’ll have for years to come.

36. Passport To Your National Parks® Collector’s Edition

Serious park enthusiasts will want the official Collector’s Edition national park passport book. It’s physically bigger (7.5 x 10″) and has dedicated space for more than 400 NPS sites, including national monuments.

37. Passport To Your National Parks® Junior Ranger Edition

Want to get your young explorers started on collecting their own national park stamps? Get them the fun, beautifully done Junior Ranger edition!

The national park passport book includes colorful illustrations, detailed info on the importance of the NPS Junior Ranger Program, and plenty of space for collecting official park cancellations.

There’s also space dedicated to the special Junior Ranger cancellations, which kids earn after completing a park’s Junior Ranger program.

National Parks Journals

Want a way to document your travels that goes beyond collecting passport stamps? There are some gorgeous, comprehensive national park journals, the perfect gift or keepsake! These also work very well for warding off post-vacation depression.

38. The Art of the National Parks: Park-Lovers’ Journal

We love this national parks journal so much, we considered putting it in the first section on the best national parks books overall. Yes, it’s really that good!

First, publisher Fifty-Nine Parks commissioned original vintage-style artwork for The Art of the National Parks journal.

Then there are all the unexpected little extras (and at such a low price point!). It includes an elastic journal strap, pen loop holder, ribbon bookmark, and a thick pocket for mementos like national park passport stamps or photos.

As far as the pages themselves, they include fairly general prompts and just enough space to jot down the highlights. There are also about 30 extra pages in the back for NPS-managed sites that aren’t proper parks—like national monuments.

39. National Parks Bucket List Adventure Guide & Journal

The Bucket List Adventure Guide is probably the most giftable option on our national parks book list.

Part guidebook and part national parks journal, this book offers an overview of every park and two journal pages for each. Find information including the most popular attractions and best time to visit, and journal prompts such as what the weather was like and your favorite adventure.

We love that each park’s page includes a large space for a photo, national park sticker, or passport stamp. Also, the packaging is thoughtful and top-notch! It comes in a heavy-duty protective case with magnetic closure, and the book itself is thick, too.

40. 63 National Park Adventure Guide by Anderson Design Group

Instead of telling you why we love Anderson Design Group’s 63 National Park Adventure Guide, we’re going to share a review with you. This reviewer says it all:

I looked through every other passport book before finding this one and not a single one compares to the visual appeal […]. The short blurb about each park and suggested activities provides just enough insight and a bit of Treasure Hunt without repeating the same ol’ marketing copy of every single other national park passport book out there. I can pick up a visitors guide anywhere…the art contained here is beautifully unique.

The updated 2024 edition includes all the newest parks and offers fun facts and basic info for each one, like when it was established and a highlight of one animal to look for.

You’ll also find a list of the 10 best things to do in each park, with plenty of space for note-taking, passport stamps, or anything else you want to remember.

What really sets this national park journal apart is the fact that it comes with high-quality commemorative stickers and a special place to put them once you’ve visited each park. We also love its compact size, making it the perfect travel companion.

41. National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States Journal

Being that this national parks journal has the Nat Geo name behind it, it should come as no surprise that it’s especially thorough.

In addition to a map of the parks, space for photos and national park stamps, and standard prompts, the journal includes several extra prompts and journaling space. We love the addition of questions like, “What was the first thing I noticed when I arrived?” and “What I wish I knew before going.”

42. The National Parks Bucket List: The Ultimate Adventure Journal for all 63 Parks

Of all the national park journals out there, The National Parks Bucket List is a standout for two major reasons. One, the colorful vintage artwork is gorgeous.

Two, each park’s overview and tips page is written from a first-person perspective. In the Bucket List Travel Tip, you’ll learn which specific tour the author recommends, where she stayed, or why she thinks one season is better than another.

And while the overview doesn’t give a ton of information, it does offer some awesome fun facts. For example: did you know that Wind Cave National Park was the first cave ever to be designated a national park?

43. Letterfolk Kids National Park Passport Journal

This kids’ National Park Passport Journal is a delightful way to get young explorers excited about visiting national parks.

It’s designed specifically for kids, with interactive pages where they can draw, jot down their observations, and collect park stamps. Each page of the national park journal includes age-appropriate prompts that encourage kids to engage with the natural world around them.

Other Books About National Parks

In this last section, you’ll find a little of everything. Books that cover the history and creation of the national parks, books on camping and cooking…basically, several of the best books about the outdoors overall!

44. The Power of Scenery: Frederick Law Olmsted and the Origin of National Parks

Like so many other aspects of American history, there’s much more to national parks than the ‘main characters’ most people know. The Power of Scenery delves into the origin of the parks, and the major role landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted played.

This book explores how Olmsted, best known as the architect who designed Central Park in New York City and the US Capitol, influenced the creation and development of public lands like Yellowstone National Park.

Olmsted’s visionary ideas shaped national park policy, laying the groundwork for the preservation of these natural spaces for centuries to come.

45. The National Parks Cookbook

Not only is The National Parks Cookbook an awesome national park book overall, but it’s also one of the best outdoor books for camping enthusiasts, foodies, fans of travel photography, and people who enjoy leafing through physical cookbooks. 

The collection of 70+ recipes is inspired by the national parks themselves, whether the landscape or an actual recipe from a lodge.

For example, you’ll find the recipes for a Yosemite Firefall Cocktail from The Ahwahnee Bar and the Hikers’ Stew served at Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon.

Quick note: although it may seem like this book is a collection of camping recipes, they’re actually much fancier, intended to be made at home.

46. Where Should We Camp Next?: National Parks

Where Should We Camp Next?: National Parks is the ultimate outdoor book for anyone planning a camping trip to America’s national parks.

Written by seasoned campers and the creators of the RV Atlas podcast, this book is jam-packed with not just camping tips for individual parks, but also practical advice for getting campground reservations, campground reviews, and more.

Best of all, because the authors ‘walk the walk’ (meaning, they actually camp with their family. A lot.), the reviews and feedback are genuine and specific to camping in national parks.

47. National Parks Maps: Illustrated Maps of America’s 62 National Parks

The best way to describe National Parks Maps: Illustrated Maps is a visual treat. Not only for parks lovers, but for anyone who enjoys maps or illustration, and certainly for children. It would also make an excellent teacher’s guide, as a tool for introducing younger students to the parks.

Each of the gorgeous full-color maps offers a whimsical yet informative overview of the park, capturing its main points of interest and unique history or landscape features.

One pleasant surprise is the inclusion of history on how the national parks were created. The beginning of the book profiles Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir, highlighting the fateful Yosemite Valley camping trip that very literally created the national park movement.

Our ONE complaint is that this book doesn’t include the newest national park, New River Gorge. Fingers crossed for a new version soon!

48. The Wild Inside

Y’all, I *LOVED* this book. Like, couldn’t put it down, devoured it on a 5-day trip to Glacier National Park.

Without spoiling anything, The Wild Inside storyline follows a park ranger with close ties to Glacier as he solves a murder in the park. The author does a brilliant job of keeping you guessing, leaving you on the edge of your seat, and also detailing the park’s incredible beauty and wildness.

Christine Carbo has three other books out, all part of the ‘Glacier Mystery Series.’ And yes, I’m already working on #2.

49. Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks

If you’ve ever wondered what life as a park ranger is really like, this is one of the best national park books. Ranger Confidential draws readers in with stories from several real-life park rangers in some of the most iconic parks, including Grand Canyon, Denali, and the Great Smokies.

Some of the stories are dark, even sad, and some are thrilling. The writing is unexpectedly funny and clever overall, though, making for an easy read.

50. Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia to Zion Journey Through Every National Park

New York Times bestseller Leave Only Footprints is a travel memoir that’s as entertaining as it is inspiring.

Travel writer Conor Knighton, who’s been described as witty, energetic, and hilarious, chronicles his year-long adventure visiting every national park (59 at the time). The epic road trip came the year after Covid-19 changed the world, at a time when everyone needed some form of healing.

With heavy doses of heart, humor, and the kind of insight that comes only from firsthand experience, he shares quirky observations and relatable lessons learned along the way.

51. Trip Tales: From Family Camping to Life as a Ranger

Another light-hearted book, Trip Tales: From Family Camping to Life as a Ranger offers a behind-the-scenes look at life in America’s national park system.

The book is a collection of personal stories that take you from the author’s childhood camping trips to her day-to-day experiences as a park ranger. Each tale is laced with humor and insight, and the book doesn’t contain anything at all inappropriate, making it perfect for family reading.

52. Alone in Wonderland

On the surface, Alone in Wonderland is about backpacking Washington’s iconic 93-mile Wonderland Trail. However, it’s actually so much more than that, a relatable, vulnerable, funny, thoroughly human story about a woman coming into her own.

A sentence from the book’s description reads, “This book is a testament to the decision to name who you want to be and make it so.” Clearly different from other outdoor books, any type of adventurer (and even wannabe adventurer!) will love this one…and struggle to put it down.

53. The National Parks Postcard Coloring Book

Love the idea of a national parks coloring book, but want one that’s not necessarily meant for kids? The National Parks Postcard Coloring Book features 20 intricate, even challenging illustrations. Made from award-winning photographer Ian Shive’s images, they’re also realistic.

54. King Sequoia: The Tree That Inspired a Nation, Created Our National Park System, and Changed the Way We Think about Nature

King Sequoia

55. Our National Monuments: America’s Hidden Gems

QT Luong’s second book, Our National Monuments: America’s Hidden Gems, introduces readers to lesser-known, less-visited sites protected by the National Park Service.

Through a perfect marriage of Luong’s photography and commentary from conservationists, the book forces the reader to shift their lens from uber-famous national parks to the equally breathtaking but often overlooked national monuments.

A first of its kind book, Our National Monuments has won several awards and continues to garner critics’ and readers’ acclaim. It’s a beautiful coffee table book, but you’ll actually want to read it, too.

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