You are here

Review | Your Guide To The National Parks, 3rd Edition

Share
Your Guide To The National Parks, 3rd edition

For park travelers who prefer having a tactile national park guide in their hands, the 3rd edition of Your Guide To The National Parks has arrived with a number of updates, not the least of which is the inclusion of four "new" national parks.

Michael Joseph Oswald's latest edition is not something you'll stick in your daypack to lug around. It's too heavy for that, running to more than 700 pages! But it is ideal for traveling from park to park in your car or truck and poring over in the evening to plan your next day's activities, or your next park destination.

As for those "new" parks, Oswald has added chapters on Indiana Dunes, Gateway Arch, White Sands, and New River Gorge, all which had their National Park Service designations changed since the 2nd edition.

What else is new in this edition? All new four-color photos, regional maps depicting park units, vacation planners that include "tips and recommendations," and sections that point to destinations nearby the parks that are worthy of your consideration.

Something sure to spur a little friendly debate are the author's sections on best parks, best sites in parks, best parks for for paddling, biking, hiking, and best lodges.

In truth, there likely is no 100 percent agreement to be had upon rankings of the parks. For everyone who says Yellowstone National Park unquestionably is No. 1, another will no doubt say Rocky Mountain, or Great Smoky Mountains, or Olympic, or ... name your favorite park. Still, it can be a fun discussion of what your favorite park is compared to your friend's and why. Do Gateway Arch National Park and Hot Springs National Park comport to the stereotypical idea of a "national park"? Oswald isn't so sure.

No doubt, his decision to leave the Blue Ridge Parkway, Natchez Trace Parkway, and the paved road through Arches National Park off his list of "Best Scenic Drives" will generate some consternation.

The section on "Suggested Trips" is a nice addition, as there are more than a few national parks that have national park neighbors in the general vicinity that justify a road trip connecting a few parks on your travels. These pages point out possible park connections, and include mileages between the parks. For instance, Biscayne National Park is 55 miles from Everglades National Park which is a 173-mile drive, plus a 2-hour ferry ride, to Dry Tortugas National Park. Want to tack on Virgin Islands National Park? That's a 3-hour flight from Miami, plus a ferry ride from St. Thomas to St. John.

Also nice in this edition are the park maps with the author's favorite spots highlighted. For instance, at Big Bend National Park the map points you to Santa Elena Canyon and Emory Peak, along with some others, for hiking, and suggests the hot springs for a nice soak.

Throughout the chapters you'll naturally find sections on hiking (with mileage and difficulty ratings), visitor center information, ranger programs, cycling options, seasonal weather trends, camping and lodging, and much more. 

No big publishing house backs Oswald's passion for the parks, another reason to purchase this $28 book: support the little guy! But beyond that, there's a rich trove of information in this edition to help you get the most out of your national park adventure. If there's a fault, it's one we've noted with other guidebooks -- there are no blank pages for you to make your own notes, nor a space to stamp your park passport.

But if you want a thorough primer on the 63 "national parks" in the park system, you can't miss with this one.

Support National Parks Traveler

National Parks Traveler is a small, editorially independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit media organization. The Traveler is not part of the federal government nor a corporate subsidiary. Your support helps ensure the Traveler's news and feature coverage of national parks and protected areas endures. 

EIN: 26-2378789

Support Essential Coverage of Essential Places

A copy of National Parks Traveler's financial statements may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: National Parks Traveler, P.O. Box 980452, Park City, Utah 84098. National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas.

Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below:

  • Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER, (REGISTRATION NO. CH 51659), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
  • Georgia: A full and fair description of the programs and financial statement summary of National Parks Traveler is available upon request at the office and phone number indicated above.
  • Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534).
  • North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
  • Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of National Parks Traveler may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
  • Virginia: Financial statements are available from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
  • Washington: National Parks Traveler is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities, or on file at Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504.

Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

FREE for iPhones and Android phones.