Day Hiking Yellowstone

Rating:
Summary: Experience counts.
Review: The twenty-five years of cumulative ranger experience of the authors really shows. Yellowstone hiking guides by Bill Schneider and Robert Stone contain more hikes (with much briefer descriptions) and guides by Tom Carter and Mark Marschall are fine books rich in description but the Andersons' book of 29 hikes is the "gold standard." It combines accuracy, useful topographic maps, interesting naturalist information, and excellent color photographs at a great price. It even makes a good souvenir to keep after you've hiked.

Rating:
Summary: Experience counts.
Review: The twenty-five years of cumulative ranger experience of the authors really shows. Yellowstone hiking guides by Bill Schneider and Robert Stone contain more hikes (with much briefer descriptions) and guides by Tom Carter and Mark Marschall are fine books rich in description but the Andersons' book of 29 hikes is the "gold standard." It combines accuracy, useful topographic maps, interesting naturalist information, and excellent color photographs at a great price. It even makes a good souvenir to keep after you've hiked.

Rating:
Summary: Good, inexpensive guide
Review: Whether you want to see breath-taking scenery, waterfalls, unique geology, interesting history or find some good fishing, this book has it. The twenty hikes are divided into five each of short, half-day, full-day and overnight hikes. Each trail description includes the start and end point, distance, elevation changes, time required and comments.

Although we didn't try any of the overnight excursions, we did try at least one of the other categories. We especially liked the full-day hike (#14) to 7 Mile Hole. The side trip to Washburn Hot Springs is well worth the effort. Overall, we found the descriptions accurate and relatively easy to follow, although natural changes can effect some of the descriptions (for example, fire damage).

The book contains several good resources for inexperienced hikers, including good rules for hiking and essential equipment lists. A chart lists the type of features (waterfalls, geysers, wildflowers, etc) found on each of the hikes. Small sections of the USGS maps are included for many of the hikes, although purchasing a TOPO map is recommended.

The book is physically small so it fits well in a pack. It weathered our hikes well, too. We'll use it again and again.

Rating:
Summary: Good, inexpensive guide
Review: Whether you want to see breath-taking scenery, waterfalls, unique geology, interesting history or find some good fishing, this book has it. The twenty hikes are divided into five each of short, half-day, full-day and overnight hikes. Each trail description includes the start and end point, distance, elevation changes, time required and comments.

Although we didn't try any of the overnight excursions, we did try at least one of the other categories. We especially liked the full-day hike (#14) to 7 Mile Hole. The side trip to Washburn Hot Springs is well worth the effort. Overall, we found the descriptions accurate and relatively easy to follow, although natural changes can effect some of the descriptions (for example, fire damage).

The book contains several good resources for inexperienced hikers, including good rules for hiking and essential equipment lists. A chart lists the type of features (waterfalls, geysers, wildflowers, etc) found on each of the hikes. Small sections of the USGS maps are included for many of the hikes, although purchasing a TOPO map is recommended.

The book is physically small so it fits well in a pack. It weathered our hikes well, too. We'll use it again and again.