2024 the best of us book review

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50 of the greatest hikes in the country, for all abilities and in all landscapes

Beautifully illustrated, this best-of compendium features the most memorable one-day hikes in every region of the United States from Sierra Buttes Lookout in Tahoe National Forest to Grinnell Glacier Trail in Montana's Glacier National Park to Giant Mountain in Adirondack Park and beyond.

Organized by region, this guide goes into detail about what makes each hike so remarkable and why it might be worth a detour or even a special journey for someone looking to broaden their horizons. All of the hikes are doable during daylight hours and none require camping.

America’s Best Day Hikes comes with all the information anyone would need to experience these unique locations, including details about the hike itself―difficulty, duration, seasonal hazards, and more.―as well as traveling, planning, and packing suggestions. All this paired with Derek Dellinger’s stunning photography makes this incredible volume a must-have for any lover of the outdoors.

100 color photographs, 50 maps

From the Publisher

GRINNELL GLACIER TRAIL—Glacier National Park, Montana

Grinnell Lake from the trail to Grinnell Glacier

DISTANCE: 10.5 milesELEVATION GAIN: 1,840 feetTIME COMMITMENT: 5 to 7 hoursFEE: National Park Pass or entrance feeDOGS: Not permittedCAMPING ALONG TRAIL: NoDIFFICULTY: Strenuous but manageable grade, challenges may arise with trail conditions at higher elevations

Snow often persists at higher elevations in the park well into the summer, and hikers attempting the Grinnell Glacier Trail in June and July will most likely encounter snow bridges and potentially difficult snow crossings. Hiking poles can help a great deal with keeping your balance in slick, slippery spots. Traction devices are also recommended early or late in the season when ice may be present.

FISHER TOWERS—Castle Valley, Utah

The Fisher Towers from the final viewpoint

DISTANCE: 4.6 milesELEVATION GAIN: 1,760 feetTIME COMMITMENT: 3 to 4 hoursFEE: NoneDOGS: PermittedCAMPING ALONG TRAIL: NoDIFFICULTY: Rugged trail with moderate ups and downs, made challenging by the lack of shade and extreme heat in summer months

While the crowds congregate in vast numbers at Arches National Park, visitors to the Moab area can find another stunning natural rock formation just a short drive away that few tourists are aware of. This hike below Fisher Towers is probably the best day hike in the area, an always interesting, swerving path through desert washes and gullies, under the base of staggeringly huge rock towers, and finally up to a ridge, where the towers themselves are framed dramatically against a sprawling valley, a panorama of mesas, hills, and mountains. As far as desert hikes go, it doesn’t get much better than this, and even with the competition posed by Utah’s varied scenery and many famous landmarks, the Fisher Towers trek remains one of my favorite hikes in all of the American Southwest.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Countryman Press; Illustrated edition (October 22, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 328 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 168268265X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1682682654
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.4 x 1.2 x 10.4 inches
Reviewer: P. Stewart
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Birthday gift
Review: Beautiful gift for a hiker friend. Informative and great photography

Reviewer: Denise Wolsieffer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Beautiful book!
Review: I purchased a copy of America's Best Day Hikes: Spectacular Single-Day Hikes Across the States as a gift for a cousin and her husband who love to go hiking. The book is divided up by regions which is helpful for travel planning. Specific information is provided such as trail distance, elevation, time commitment, fees, parking, camping accommodations, and so forth. While it is a great gift for hikers, it is such a beautiful book, it could be on anyone's coffee table. The photos are just gorgeous!

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: wonderful
Review: Bought this for a friend as a gift. Looked through it and now I want one for myself! Beautiful pictures and great description of the trails.

Reviewer: S. Wilson
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good book - bad condition
Review: This book is a gift and I need it too soon to return it, but the condition of the book jacket was pretty bad. Disappointing for a new book. The book itself was what I hoped it would be.

Reviewer: MKR fan in US
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Everyone needs one!
Review: A very general book for one day hike in the US.This is an awesome book with all the iconic hikes in the US and with nice detailed explanations on each one.However, as a midwesterner I need a specific book for midwest.

Reviewer: J. A. S.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: An inspiring guide for hikers who want to explore the US
Review: This is a great book for anybody who likes to travel and hike. Writer-photographer Derek Dellinger has chosen 50 iconic day hikes throughout the US. (It's not one per state; states with a lot of great hiking, like Colorado, get more.) The book isn't meant to replace regional guides that include dozens of hikes. It's intended more as a wish book: If you're planning on traveling to a region you haven't been to before, what are the one or two don't-miss hikes in that area? My husband and I have done several of the hikes in the book and agree with his recommendations (at least in those cases!). The route descriptions and other advice are clear and useful.This isn't a book you'll throw in your backpack. It's more of a coffee-table book, with gorgeous photography by the author--something to inspire you as you plan your next adventure. It's also a great gift book for any hikers on your list.

Reviewer: Amber
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Beautiful
Review: Bought as a gift but thumbed through it myself. It is absolutely gorgeous and perfect and I can't wait to see their face!

Reviewer: Ebbs
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great book
Review: Pictures could be more vibrant, but the book is great. Let’s you know if you can have pets on the trail, camping allowed, estimated time it will last etc.