Other Parks and Monuments of California and the Pacific

Here is a map of the islands along with some neighboring areas. Please note that this is not a marine map. If you plan to travel by sea, be sure to pick up the appropriate charts for the area. For those interested in exploring California National Parks, there are several great books about National Parks and travel literature that can enhance your journey.

This handy, small-format book serves as a great guide for young explorers, covering the zone from high tide to low tide and the various types of organisms found in those areas, particularly in the tidal pools. It’s an excellent resource among books about National Parks, especially for those interested in California National Parks, and enhances any travel literature collection.

This handy, small-format book is one of the best travel literature options that covers bird life along the Pacific Coast, stretching from British Columbia to the Mexico border. It not only includes waterfowl and shorebirds but also features species common to nearshore areas. While there are certainly larger, more comprehensive bird guides to the West Coast and even books about National Parks, this guide stands out for its convenient size.

Twenty-four easier hikes in Death Valley National Park. These hikes range from about 1 mile to 4-5 miles.   The book is definitely weighted more toward the shorter hikes, which probably makes sense in the hottest place on earth. The book is divided into two sections: 15 hikes in the southern and eastern portions of the park and 9 hikes in the northern and western portions. There is a brief introduction to hiking safely in the park.

This map is a great overview of the park.  The immense size of the park means that the scale here is 1:175,000 which makes less useful for numerous short hiking trails in the park, but it is still excellent for getting around the different areas of the park by car or for exploring the dirt and 4 wheel drive roads.

Very interesting guide to Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding gateway cities. The guide covers a wide variety of topics from local plants and animals to art and artists. The park is covered through the lens of the three different entrances with short descriptions of trails and as well as other interesting facts.  The guide also covers the gateway communities around the park.

Joshua Tree is located in the Mojave Desert ecoregion. This book covers a wide range of topics, from the geology to the plants and animals of the desert. It also covers human adaptation, conservation, and issues facing the area. While not a guide with pictures of all the plants and animals of the area, it does a great job covering the breadth of subjects under the umbrella of Natural History.

Covering two adjacent parks in the Sierra mountains, this hiking guide offers 40 suggested hikes, ranging from easy strolls through the giant trees to more challenging hikes to high-country lakes.   The first 60 pages cover the basics of visiting the area, such as campgrounds and the "must-see" sights.  There is also information on the area's geology, plants, and animals.  Overall, a solid smaller format book that is easy to carry along.

Given the proximity of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to Yosemite National Park, several books primarily focused on Yosemite also include information on these two parks.  There is also considerable crossover on books about natural history, as all three parks are in the Sierras.