Exploring Utah

Wild Utah
Bill Cunningham & Polly Burke

While visiting Bryce, Zion and the North Rim recently, I found this book and fell in love with it immediately. It covers some of my favorite country and includes day hikes as well as backpack trips. The book is divided into four primary sections that encompass areas covering Basin and Range, Hot Desert, Colorado Plateau, and Middle Rocky Mountains and Central Plateaus. I have had a hard time finding this book at Amazon, but you can still find it if you look hard enough. If you like getting away from it all, you'll LOVE this book!

 

Exploring Canyonlands and Arches National Parks
Bill Schneider

The red rocks, arches and mazes of strange and fascinating formations is a playground for exploring. But you definitely want to know what you are getting into when hiking in this remote region. This is the only available guidebook to all 62 trails and 22 backcountry roads in both parks.

With Arches you'll find spectacular scenery, much of it from the front seat of your vehicle. Except for dealing with the heat of summer, Arches has pretty easy day hikes. Now Canyonlands is quite another story. There is some serious backcountry here, and you will certainly want to plan your trip in complete detail. Don't leave things to chance; you may never get that chance again!

Exploring Canyonlands and Arches National Parks is ideal for helping you plan either type of trip. Well written and easy to understand, you'll greatly appreciate the information found within these pages.

 

Utah Atlas and Gazetteer
Delorme

Covers the entire state of Utah in a scale equaling 1:250,000 or 1"=4 miles and contour intervals at 300 feet. Each page covers 37 miles x 55 miles and includes GPS grids and tick marks, index place names, and color-coded BLM, state lands, and other publicly-owned lands with locater map and shaded relief. Gazetteer categories include biking, BLM recreation sites, campgrounds, fishing, hiking, historic sites, museums, hunting, national lands, river trips, scenic drives, ski areas, state parks, unique natural features, and welcome centers. I wouldn't recommend it for backpacking trips, but for most backcountry road trips, it's excellent!

 

Utah's National Parks: Hiking, Camping, and Vacationing in Utah's Canyon Country
Ron Adkison

Encompassing some of the most beautiful canyon country in the Four Corners region, Ron Adkison writes of 123 different hikes in Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. There are hikes for every ability; walks along paved paths to demanding cross-country backpack treks. There are excellent detailed driving directions to get to the trailheads, and plenty of good practical advice on desert safety and survival. Included are 55 updated topographic maps depicting all the routes described in the book. To top it off, you'll find information on the geology and natural and human history of each park.

 

Best Easy Day Hikes Canyonlands and Arches
Bill Schneider

There are quite a few day hikes to be found in Arches and Canyonlands. And just because they are short doesn't mean they are lacking in spectacular beauty. Everywhere you turn in these two parks has eye-popping views! This is a great book if your time and/or energy is limited. With the hikes being easy and relatively short, it also comes in handy when hiking with the family. And being a Falcon Guide, you know it has all the useful information you need for getting in some fun, easier hikes.

 

Best Hikes with Children Utah
Maureen Keilty

There are many guide books today, but so many seem to forget that some people hike with children. What a concept! With the special needs and considerations in mind, the Best Hikes with Children series describes routes and interesting sights that are fun for everyone. The appropriate cautions are pointed out and the degree of difficulty makes it easy to know if a particular hike is suited to you and your hiking companions.