Books for the Nature Lover in Your Life

Theodore Roosevelt once said, "The lack of power to take joy in outdoor nature is as real a misfortune as the lack of power to take joy in books." Here’s a collection of gifts that combine both joys – books that celebrate the wonder and the history of places where Nature’s abundance is evident. Our books for the nature lover cover the hidden history of iconic national treasures like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone in words and rare photos. From Denali in Alaska, to the Badlands of North Dakota, to Sequoia in California, to the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, to the majestic Niagara Falls in New York, these books celebrate Nature’s grandeur.

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Glacier National Park

An Environmental History of the Willamette Valley

Giant City State Park

Colorado National Monument

Fly Fishing New Hampshire's Secret Waters

The Bronx River

High Vistas:

Wild Catalina Island:

An Ocklawaha River Odyssey

Fly Fishing and Conservation in Vermont

Exploring Southern New Hampshire:

Columbia River Gorge:

Clingmans Dome:

Chiricahua Mountains:

Chattanooga's Robert Sparks Walker:

Cape Cod Wildlife:

An Environmental History of the Willamette Valley

9781467141468

$24.99

Western Oregon's Willamette Basin, once a vast wilderness, became a thriving community almost overnight. When Oregon territory was opened for homesteading in the early 1800s, most of the intrepid pioneers settled in the valley, spurring rapid changes in the landscape. Heralded as fertile with a mild climate and an abundance of natural resources, the valley enticed farmers, miners and loggers, who were quickly followed by the construction of rail lines and roads. Dams were built to harness the once free-flowing Willamette River and provide power to the growing population. As cities rose, people like Portland architect Edward Bennett and conservationist governor Tom McCall worked to contain urban sprawl. Authors Elizabeth and William Orr bring to life the changes that sculpted Oregon's beloved Willamette Valley.

Colorado National Monument

9780738569796

$24.99

Amid the rock spires and red-rock canyons west of Grand Junction near the Utah state line, a young man with a checkered past single-handedly built trails at a salary of $1 a month. John Otto brought the beauty of the canyons to the attention of the local chambers of commerce and eventually the National Park Service. With the stroke of a pen, Pres. William Taft added the Colorado National Monument to the park system in 1911. Otto's eccentricities toward bureaucrats and businessmen caused him to abandon a quarter-century of trail building in the mid-1930s. His legacy was then picked up by hundreds of young men from the Civilian Conservation Corps prior to World War II. Today their combined efforts bring thousands of hikers, bicyclists, and motorists to the same trails Otto first used to introduce people to the canyon lands a century ago and the odd rock monoliths that seem to rise hundreds of feet out of the canyon floor. Scenic vistas of the Little Bookcliffs mountain range and the great Grand Mesa complete the beautiful panorama.

Fly Fishing New Hampshire's Secret Waters

9781467141680

$21.99

New Hampshire's hard and rugged exterior protects one of America's richest native brook trout fisheries. These abundant waters are as varied as the landscape, from Mount Washington to peaceful meadows. The anticipation of the largest mayfly hatch contrasts with the quiet, deep waters of holding pools, and anglers are rewarded when they learn how to read the rivers and streams. Remote areas such as the Perry Ponds may require an entire day, while more accessible waters such as Mink Brook still provide excitement. With more than fifty years of experience, Steve Angers reveals some of his favorite spots and details what it takes to be successful when fishing in the Granite State.

The Bronx River

9781609491802

$21.99

Discover the fascinating history of the Bronx River and the ways this small waterway influenced and was affected by the people around it.

The Bronx River flows 23 miles from its source in Valhalla to its mouth, the East River in the Bronx. This waterway was used for centuries by Native American tribes for drinking, food and transportation. They called it ""Aquehung"" meaning a fast stream flowing along a high bluff. After the arrival of Europeans, though, the Bronx River suffered as industry prospered. It powered mills and, unfortunately, became a dumping ground for all kinds of waste. Its appearance and ecosystem were forever changed. However, community members are now again attempting to alter the river - only this time for the better - by helping it recover.

High Vistas:

9781596293557

$21.99

High Vistas" is the first anthology devoted to nature writings on Western North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains. Each selection features a biographical essay introducing each author from celebrated naturalists John Muir and William Bartram to lesser-known writers whose words deserve to be heard and reveals how he or she went about exploring and depicting the region. Searching for rare wildflowers and elusive birds, scaling vertical cliffs, experimenting with medicinal plants, exploring a vast cavern, enduring horrific thunderstorms and encountering timber wolves, panthers, black bears and giant rattlesnakes are just some of the adventures that unfold in these pages."

High Vistas:

9781596293564

$21.99

High Vistas is the first anthology devoted to nature and descriptive writing from Western North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains, inclusive of the Tennessee side of the present day Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Arranged chronologically with annotations, the twenty-one selections in this second of two volumes display the variety and development of nature and descriptive writing in the region during the twentieth century through today.

Wild Catalina Island:

9781609496630

$21.99

A year-round escape for one million annual tourists, Catalina Island is gaining popularity as a world-class eco-destination. Eighty-eight percent of the island is under the watch of the Catalina Island Conservancy, which preserves, manages and restores the island's unique wild lands. Bison, foxes and bald eagles are its best-known inhabitants, but Catalina is home to more than sixty other animal and plant species that exist nowhere else on earth. And they are all within the boundaries of one of the world's most populous regions: Los Angeles County. Biologists Frank Hein and Carlos de la Rosa present a highly enjoyable tour through the fascinating origins, mysterious quirks and ecological victories of one of the West Coast's most remarkable places.

An Ocklawaha River Odyssey

9781467139632

$24.99

Photojournalists Bob and Liz Randall spent two years exploring Floridaâ€™s ancient and enchanting Ocklawaha River. Their journey provides an inside look at the rich recreational resources of the river, its wildlife and the people, past and present, who contributed to its history and welfare. Along the way, they met artists, environmentalists, captains, law enforcement officials, conservationists, filmmakers, historians and local descendants whose lives are inextricably intertwined with the prehistoric river. From its subterranean and aquatic past to the Seminole Indian Wars, the steamboat era and political struggles, many voices are integral to the riverâ€™s survival and to one of the longest environmental conflicts in Florida history.

Fly Fishing and Conservation in Vermont

9781467141321

$24.99

Vermont is an angler's paradise, but few pause to consider the past and future impact that conservation has had on trout fishing. Writer, angler and conservationist Tim Traver combines the latest fisheries science with well-seasoned opinions on the storied past, evolving present and hopeful future of this worthy pursuit. Become part of a long-running stewardship and restoration story with a history of success and a challenging future. This is fishing journalism at its best, with stories and resources that are sure to whet your appetite for exploring the rivers, streams and lakes in the most rural corners of the state. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book supports the work of the White River Partnership and Vermont River Conservancy.

Exploring Southern New Hampshire:

9781626194236

$21.99

Walkers, bikers, paddlers and snowshoers can encounter relics of the past and their incredible tales from Keene to the Seacoast. Exploring Southern New Hampshire" takes history off the page, out of the car and into the welcoming pine-scented woods and pristine waters of the Granite State. Hike Mount Monadnock, paddle the Nashua River and retrace Lincoln's footsteps down Exeter's streets. Experience the legacy of a women's sawmill at Turkey Pond from the waters that powered it. Visit Cathedral of the Pines, a beautiful outdoor altar built with stones from historic sites around the world. Set sail on the Piscataqua River onboard a gundalow and learn about the region's rich maritime history. Local history explorer and nature lover Lucie Bryar leads readers through the Monadnock, Merrimack Valley and Seacoast regions. Granite State natives and transplants alike will explore trails and waterways to gain a new appreciation for the history hidden in natural New Hampshire."

Columbia River Gorge:

9780738524320

$24.99

Lying in the shadows of Mt. Hood and the Cascade peaks, Columbia River Gorge is as rich in history as the bounty its fertile soils provide. From the numerous native tribes, Lewis & Clark, and famed botanist David Douglas to a guru's siege at Antelope and the modern Gorge's reputation for world-class windsurfing, its stories shape the area into a thriving chain of distinctive communities. The Gorge meshes its vibrant past with a stunning physical backdrop to provide the perfect vista for all who are curious about this alluring region.

Clingmans Dome:

9781609497880

$23.99

Clingmans Dome towers over the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains as the highest point in both the national park and the state of Tennessee. The mountain holds an ancient allure--the Cherokee treasured it, as did early settlers, and it captivates throngs of visitors today. Scarred by logging, invasive species and modern pollution, the mountain endures. Through lush narratives and fascinating detail, author Marci Spencer presents the natural and human history of this iconic destination, including Senator Thomas Clingman's 1858 journey to measure the mountain and the 1934 birth of the park.

Chiricahua Mountains:

9781609498009

$21.99

With elevations above nine thousand feet, dense vegetation and unique rock formations, the Chiricahua Mountains are a unique wildlife refuge and natural botanic reserve. Inhabited by Apaches and then homesteaders, the U.S. Cavalry, miners, outlaws and tourists, this range has retained its allure through time. Apache legend Geronimo surrendered in 1886 to General Nelson Miles in Skeleton Canyon, on the east side of the Chiricahuas in the neighboring Peloncillo Mountains. Johnny Ringo and Curly Bill Brocius led the outlaws in the short-lived town of Galeyville. Chiricahua National Monument was created in 1924, and the Civilian Conservation Corps arrived in the 1930s to build trails, rock structures and fire lookouts. Join author William Ascarza as he tours the natural and human histories of this magnificent Arizona mountain range.

Chattanooga's Robert Sparks Walker:

9781626191136

$23.99

The legend that was Robert Sparks Walker began in a log cabin outside Chattanooga called Spring Frog Cabin, a humble abode built by a Cherokee naturalist in 1750. Walker would continue in the footsteps of that Cherokee to become synonymous both with Chattanooga and nature, penning thousands of articles, poems and books as a naturalist. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, Walker gained international fame for his work, yet his largest impact remains in his native Tennessee. He helped to found the Chattanooga Audubon Society, including preserving his childhood home through Audubon Acres. Walker is remembered throughout the state for his nationally syndicated nature column, and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Environmental Stewardship is given in his name. His life was one of adventure, reflection and a deep devotion to the understanding and preservation of nature. Local author Alexandra Walker Clark, granddaughter of Robert Sparks Walker, celebrates the life of this Scenic City pioneer.