America’s Great National Forests, Wildernesses, and Grasslands

The National Forest System is often overlooked for its big brother, the National Park System, but America’s Great National Forests, Wildernesses, and Grasslands proves without a doubt that the beauty of these forests and other landscapes can be just as captivating as the National Parks. The book is broken into seven sections by region and then is further divided to focus on individual forests. Historical, geographical, and climate information is presented in simple language alongside beautiful photography.

Being a California native, I was immediately drawn to this section (1 state, 18 national forests, 1 national grassland, 21 million acres, 24.6 million visitors, so I was informed). The photographs in this section do a phenomenal job of illustrating the vast variety of landscapes that can be found in California and while I have explored many of them myself, this proved to me just how little of the state I truly have seen.

Although this book is better viewed at arm’s length as some of the photos begin to get a little fuzzy if you try to look too closely, the landscapes were nonetheless breathtaking. It’s safe to say I’ve added a few destinations to my bucket list.