North Carolina Hiking Trails, 3rd

Rating:
Summary: No frills, but comprehensive
Review: If there's a walkway, path, or trail in North Carolina, it's probably in this book. Perhaps more remarkably, the author has hiked every one and measured almost all of them. The descriptions are from his personal journals, augmented by some researched background information on many parks, forests, and important trails.

To convey this huge quantity of information in a relatively compact book, the author has adopted a shorthand style that's reminiscent of telegrams and classified ads. The only maps are two large foldouts that show the general locations of the trailheads. However, the lack of trail maps and the terse style make it difficult to understand how various trails interconnect (until you buy the topos). If that bothers you, try Randy Johnson's "Hiking North Carolina."