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Hiking North Carolina: A Guide To Nearly 500 Of North Carolina's Greatest Hiking Trails (State Hiking Guides Series) Paperback – February 1, 2007
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Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
This newly revised and expanded edition of Hiking North Carolina describes nearly 500 routes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smokies—Eastern America’s highest mountains—across the rolling Piedmont, to the Outer Banks archipelago. Choose a challenging backpack adventure on the Appalachian Trail, an easy family ramble on an urban greenway, a trek through a lush subtropical enclave, or a hike to photograph wildflowers and waterfalls.
For more than twenty-five years, FalconGuideS® have set the standard for outdoor guidebooks. Written by top experts and enthusiasts, each guide invites you to experience the adventure and beauty of the outdoors.
Features:
Guaranteed binding—if this binding fails, the publisher will replace the book for free
Features:
Guaranteed binding—if this binding fails, the publisher will replace the book for free
Accurate directions to the trailhead
Detailed trail descriptions, and GPS-compatible trail maps
Difficulty ratings, elevation gains, and more for every featured hike
About the Author
Randy Johnson divides his time between Greensboro, North Carolina, and his home in the mountains near Banner Elk. He is editor of Hemispheres, the magazine of United Airlines and the United States’ most award-winning in-flight magazine (www.hemispheresmagazine.com). He is also editor for Epic, an Internet magazine published for The North Face (www.exploreepic.com).
He is also the author of Hiking Virginia, Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway, Best Easy Day Hikes Blue Ridge Parkway, and Southern Snow: The Winter Guide to Dixie. Visit his Web site at www.randyjohnsonbooks.com to see special features relating to his books.
He is also the author of Hiking Virginia, Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway, Best Easy Day Hikes Blue Ridge Parkway, and Southern Snow: The Winter Guide to Dixie. Visit his Web site at www.randyjohnsonbooks.com to see special features relating to his books.
More About the Author
My goal is to write guide books that engage readers as much as the articles I publish in national magazines and newspapers (some have won awards from the Society of American Travel Writers and North American Travel Journalists Association).
Check out a winter 2011 article and video about Mount Mitchell:
http://www.wncmagazine.com/feature/outdoors/life_at_the_top
"Hiking North Carolina," is the bestselling statewide trail guide and the newest printing includes many updates. "Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway" and "Best Easy Day Hikes Blue Ridge Parkway" are bestsellers, both just revised and expanded in 2010. And the new "Best Easy Day Hikes Great Smoky Mountains National Park" is one of only four books in the popular "Best Easy" series to be bundled with a National Geographic/Trails Illustrated map (of the Great Smokies, at a great price!).
I'm a writer and photojournalist, but part of what makes my books different is that I'm a trail professional, too. Trail managing agencies have adopted trail suggestions recommended in my books. I founded the trail program at Grandfather Mountain, designed and built new trails, and orchestrated backcountry research that helped the mountain become the world's only privately-owned Biosphere Reserve (and now a state park). During the completion of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Grandfather, I helped create the trail network that's in place today.
The professional trail builder/manager part of my life isn't past. I was just named the task force leader for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along Grandfather Mountain's Tanawha Trail to Blowing Rock, NC. I'll be teaching trail building workshops for the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in 2011 (www.ncmst.org/).
Writing books that help people find outdoor adventure gives me the same satisfaction I get designing and building new trails, or just advising hikers I used to meet in the Grandfather backcountry. That's why my books' trail descriptions explore an entire area, recommend a range of hikes, and include history, ecology, climate, and culture.
My passion for sharing the outdoors is why I'm especially honored when someone buys one of my guides, perhaps at a signing, and asks me to sign it for someone they love and want to encourage to get out on the trail, to get fit--and enjoy nature with the gift-giver!
As a longtime photojournalist, I know photos impart a true sense of place, and most of my books include a lot. My pictures have appeared in Backpacker and Outside. I've photographed European ski areas for "SKI Magazine," had full-page photo spreads in "USA Today." And I'm a bona-fide map fanatic. My books have plentiful, accurate maps.
Along the way I've been a founding editor of "The Mountain Times" in Boone, mountain columnist for "The Charlotte Observer," and until 2009, the longtime editor-in-chief of United Airlines' "Hemispheres," the United States' most award-winning inflight magazine (named "World's Best inflight" in 2006).
Today, I'm expanding my list of books. Expect an upcoming revision of "Southern Snow: The Winter Guide to Dixie" (it's been called a "cult classic"). Please troll around on Amazon for the latest. And check out my Web site--www.randyjohnsonbooks.com--to read many published articles, view my trail videos, and a schedule of presentations.
I hope you'll consider my guides. Here's wishing you the kind of hiking experiences that inspire me to write them!
Check out a winter 2011 article and video about Mount Mitchell:
http://www.wncmagazine.com/feature/outdoors/life_at_the_top
"Hiking North Carolina," is the bestselling statewide trail guide and the newest printing includes many updates. "Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway" and "Best Easy Day Hikes Blue Ridge Parkway" are bestsellers, both just revised and expanded in 2010. And the new "Best Easy Day Hikes Great Smoky Mountains National Park" is one of only four books in the popular "Best Easy" series to be bundled with a National Geographic/Trails Illustrated map (of the Great Smokies, at a great price!).
I'm a writer and photojournalist, but part of what makes my books different is that I'm a trail professional, too. Trail managing agencies have adopted trail suggestions recommended in my books. I founded the trail program at Grandfather Mountain, designed and built new trails, and orchestrated backcountry research that helped the mountain become the world's only privately-owned Biosphere Reserve (and now a state park). During the completion of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Grandfather, I helped create the trail network that's in place today.
The professional trail builder/manager part of my life isn't past. I was just named the task force leader for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along Grandfather Mountain's Tanawha Trail to Blowing Rock, NC. I'll be teaching trail building workshops for the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in 2011 (www.ncmst.org/).
Writing books that help people find outdoor adventure gives me the same satisfaction I get designing and building new trails, or just advising hikers I used to meet in the Grandfather backcountry. That's why my books' trail descriptions explore an entire area, recommend a range of hikes, and include history, ecology, climate, and culture.
My passion for sharing the outdoors is why I'm especially honored when someone buys one of my guides, perhaps at a signing, and asks me to sign it for someone they love and want to encourage to get out on the trail, to get fit--and enjoy nature with the gift-giver!
As a longtime photojournalist, I know photos impart a true sense of place, and most of my books include a lot. My pictures have appeared in Backpacker and Outside. I've photographed European ski areas for "SKI Magazine," had full-page photo spreads in "USA Today." And I'm a bona-fide map fanatic. My books have plentiful, accurate maps.
Along the way I've been a founding editor of "The Mountain Times" in Boone, mountain columnist for "The Charlotte Observer," and until 2009, the longtime editor-in-chief of United Airlines' "Hemispheres," the United States' most award-winning inflight magazine (named "World's Best inflight" in 2006).
Today, I'm expanding my list of books. Expect an upcoming revision of "Southern Snow: The Winter Guide to Dixie" (it's been called a "cult classic"). Please troll around on Amazon for the latest. And check out my Web site--www.randyjohnsonbooks.com--to read many published articles, view my trail videos, and a schedule of presentations.
I hope you'll consider my guides. Here's wishing you the kind of hiking experiences that inspire me to write them!
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By
Anthony Hill
on March 7, 2007
Format: Paperback
Comment
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A few years ago, I reviewed this author's first edition. It was then, hands down, the best single reference for hiking in North Carolina. In the 11 years since the first edition was published, quite a bit has happened in the outdoor/hiking scene in the state. The author was kind enough to send me a copy of the 2nd edition, and it's a pleasure to review it.
The first thing that both my wife and I noticed and liked is that the book's pages now have rounded corners, something that every "field guide" should have. The maps have all been completely re-drawn. There is much more detail added, they generally cover a somewhat larger area, and shaded gray scale indicates different elevation levels. A new feature is a simple one, but very helpful -- an alpha index to trails and topics.
The text has been thoroughly and substantially updated. This is not just the first edition with a new cover and a few new photos. The organization of the hikes west of the Blue Ridge has changed from an alphabetical to a generally northeast - southwest directional approach, which is more convenient when planning a trip to a specific area. Expanded text and more photos have added 33 additional pages to the 2nd edition.
If recreational hiking or serious backpacking is for you, and you plan on doing so in North Carolina, this book is an essential reference.
The first thing that both my wife and I noticed and liked is that the book's pages now have rounded corners, something that every "field guide" should have. The maps have all been completely re-drawn. There is much more detail added, they generally cover a somewhat larger area, and shaded gray scale indicates different elevation levels. A new feature is a simple one, but very helpful -- an alpha index to trails and topics.
The text has been thoroughly and substantially updated. This is not just the first edition with a new cover and a few new photos. The organization of the hikes west of the Blue Ridge has changed from an alphabetical to a generally northeast - southwest directional approach, which is more convenient when planning a trip to a specific area. Expanded text and more photos have added 33 additional pages to the 2nd edition.
If recreational hiking or serious backpacking is for you, and you plan on doing so in North Carolina, this book is an essential reference.
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By
Amy Segreti
on March 31, 2007
Format: Paperback
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I am the editor of a newspaper in North Carolina and I write a monthly travel column. I picked up a handful of North Carolina travel guides to review, and this one happened to be in my stack.
I have to say -- I had high expectations for this book. A quote from CNN.com is printed on the back. Falcon Guides are, "written by top experts and enthusiasts." It's an official American Hiking Society book.
I expected a lot -- and that's what I got.
This book, in short, is amazing. The introduction is lengthy and goes over things you may need, safety information and more. Each trail begins with a one-sentence overview so you can quickly tell if it's not for you, then continues to have easy-to-find points about its general location, detailed information about finding the trailhead, distance, difficulty, best maps, elevation gain or loss, water availability (!!!), and a phone number and Web site link (finally, a guidebook that has realized we entered the 21st century seven years ago and, 9 times out of 10, we want a way to get valuable information without actually speaking to someone).
Following this, each trail features GPS compatible maps and an extremely detailed 1-4 page description of the hike you can take, in addition to pointing out things you might miss along the way (Spanish moss, anyone?) For example: "If you linger over lunch [at the Linville gorge trail] and scan the rock-hewn amphitheater, the start of Linville Gorge, you can imagine the hemmed-in feeling William Linville and his son must have felt near here in 1766 when confronted by Native Americans -- who then scalped them." Wow.
The only con of this book is its title.Read more ›
I have to say -- I had high expectations for this book. A quote from CNN.com is printed on the back. Falcon Guides are, "written by top experts and enthusiasts." It's an official American Hiking Society book.
I expected a lot -- and that's what I got.
This book, in short, is amazing. The introduction is lengthy and goes over things you may need, safety information and more. Each trail begins with a one-sentence overview so you can quickly tell if it's not for you, then continues to have easy-to-find points about its general location, detailed information about finding the trailhead, distance, difficulty, best maps, elevation gain or loss, water availability (!!!), and a phone number and Web site link (finally, a guidebook that has realized we entered the 21st century seven years ago and, 9 times out of 10, we want a way to get valuable information without actually speaking to someone).
Following this, each trail features GPS compatible maps and an extremely detailed 1-4 page description of the hike you can take, in addition to pointing out things you might miss along the way (Spanish moss, anyone?) For example: "If you linger over lunch [at the Linville gorge trail] and scan the rock-hewn amphitheater, the start of Linville Gorge, you can imagine the hemmed-in feeling William Linville and his son must have felt near here in 1766 when confronted by Native Americans -- who then scalped them." Wow.
The only con of this book is its title.Read more ›
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22 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By
Noel C. Fenton
on May 20, 2007
Format: Paperback
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This was a good book for a general description of several trails in North Carolina, but didn't give many details. I think I was looking for something that would give me enough information to pick one trail out of them all to visit, but the brief descriptions didn't give me enough to go on. If you already know which trail you want to trek and it is one of the trails covered in the book, you're pretty well set. You will, however, need another map to know exactly how to get to that particular trail...the book has a map with a general location but no specific driving information.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By
Robert M. Branch
on July 11, 2007
Format: Paperback
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Mr. Johnson's "Hiking North Carolina" is a guide for hikers by a lifelong hiker in the North Carolina High Country. North Carolina has hundreds of miles of hiking trail, and Randy has hiked most of them himself. The one risk of writing a guide about something you love so much, is to ruin the sense of adventure by including too much information. On the other hand, I have been hiking long enough to remember guides that would allow you to barely find the trailhead, much less give you good information about the trail and what you will encounter. There is a fine balance between a guide that tells too much, like the Appalachian Trail guides, and a guide that says too little, like some I see in popular magazines. I believe that Mr. Johnson's guide strikes a good balance between the two; telling you what you need to know while preserving the sense of adventure in the experience. It's the adventure that draws us into the woods after all. I recommend this guide for anyone who is interested in hiking in the state. His maps are quite detailed and well drawn, and his trail descriptions are enough to get you where you want to go without spoiling the fun of discovery. It is an excellent work and well worth including in your outdoor library.
Robert Branch
Burnsville, NC
Robert Branch
Burnsville, NC
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By
R. Sharpley
on July 31, 2007
Format: Paperback
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This is an excellent resource and planning guide. I have nothing to add to the earlier reviews, most of which are 5 stars.
The lack of GPS coordinates of the trailheads is the one glaring deficiency and the reliance on another map resource is no substitute. The copy edit staff should have done their homework and inserted this information, since it could be done from their desks. It appears instead that they put their efforts into misleading advertising -
"Detailed trail descriptions, and GPS-compatible trail maps"
Nevertheless, I have since purchased extra copies for gifts.
The lack of GPS coordinates of the trailheads is the one glaring deficiency and the reliance on another map resource is no substitute. The copy edit staff should have done their homework and inserted this information, since it could be done from their desks. It appears instead that they put their efforts into misleading advertising -
"Detailed trail descriptions, and GPS-compatible trail maps"
Nevertheless, I have since purchased extra copies for gifts.
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