NG Secrets of the National Parks: The Experts' Guide to the Best Experiences Beyond the Tourist Trail

by National Geographic Society

Find the best National Geographic picks in 32 amazing national parks including Yellowstone's Lamar Valley, the Everglades' Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail, and Yosemite's exquisite Snow Creek Trail. Discover that Lamar Valley is home to many of the park's wolf packs; why the Everglades is the domain of the pink flamingo; and that astounding views of Yosemite's Half Dome and Tenaya Canyon are accessible on an easy day hike. The majority of national park visitors often stick to the most celebrated trails and scenic overlooks, missing a whole world of stunning scenery in the process. Informed by park rangers, superintendents, and frequent park visitors, National Geographic Secrets of the National Parks provides all the inspiration and information you need to plan your visit beyond the well-trodden, touristy spots in these 32 great national parks. Stunning photographs, informative sidebars, and easy-to-use maps will help make your next national park adventure memorable. FEATURED Acadia - Shenandoah - Great Smoky Mountains - Biscayne - Everglades SOUTHWEST & Big Bend - Petrified Forest - Grand Canyon - Bryce Canyon - Zion - Capitol Reef - Mesa Verde - Canyonlands - Arches - Rocky Mountain - Wind Cave - Badlands - Theodore Roosevelt - Yellowstone - Grand Teton - Glacier Mount Ranier - Olympic - Crater Lake - Redwood - Yosemite - Channel Islands - Sequoia & Kings Canyon - Death Valley - Joshua Tree - Hawaii Volcanoes - Haleakala

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2013

About the author

The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.

Reviews

[John]

This volume has additional information not found in the main NG National Parks guide, but much of it seems like filler material (otherwise it would have been included in the main guide instead of this one!). Very few things were noteworthy, making this an unnecessary investment unless you're looking for every bit of info you can find about the national parks. Knowing now what I know, I'd pass on it... and I advise you do the same.

[Stephanie]

Short and easy to navigate this book gives you an insiders look into some of the country’s most popular national parks. I bought it when preparing to visit Acadia and really appreciated tips such as stargazing on ocean dr. This wasn’t something I had come across on the hundreds of blogs I had already read.

[Kelly Whitt]

Lots of good info on many parks for those who want to spend more time and get away from crowds. My copy is now thoroughly marked up.

[Kicking it with Krischelle]

I used this book to supplement an older edition of National Geographic's Guide to National Parks in the United States . This older version is from the 1990’s, but the trails it mentions helped to ensure what the most popular hikes were while the newer Secrets of the National Parks book helped me find more hidden gems in the park with fewer crowds and updated information.

Can this book be used on its own for planning?
Yes! The maps are great and show small numbers next to each area you should visit making google maps unnecessary. This book is great at giving details about each major area of the park that will give you a geographical knowledge of the National Park as a whole. You'll find both popular and hidden spots across the park in this list. But, be aware that hotels and restaurants are not included in this book.

You'll also find a section titled "Local Intelligence" where you can get tips about what to watch out for from locals.

This is a great book to bring along on trips and use as a reference.

Update: During my visits to various National Parks across the U.S., I've noticed that many lesser-known parks are tucked away in the back section of the book with minimal information and no included maps. This makes it feel more like a supplementary guide rather than a comprehensive resource on its own.