Backpacking Travel Guide Books

Here we mainly highlight books specifically aimed at backpacking but include a few guides we find most backpacking adventures can benefit from. Also, see hiking travel guide books.

Africa

• Lonely Planet Trekking in East Africa (Lonely Planet) by David Else, 2nd Edition, 1998.
• Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya: A Climbing and Trekking Guide (Mountaineers Books) by Cameron M. Burns, 1998.

  Asia

• Highly Recommended  Lonely Planet Trekking in the Indian Himalaya: Walking Guide (Lonely Planet) by Garry Weare, 3rd Edition, 1997.
• Lonely Planet Jerusalem (Lonely Planet) by Paul Hellander,Andrew Humpreys, 2nd Edition, 1999. With day trips beyond the city, including excursions to the Dead Sea Jericho and Bethlehem
• Trekking in Nepal: A Traveler's Guide (Mountaineers Books) by Stephen Bezruchka, 7th Edition, 1997.
• Highly Recommended  Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya (Lonely Planet) by Stan Armington, 8th Edition, 2001.
• Highly Recommended  Lonely Planet Nepal (Lonely Planet) by Richard Everist and Hugh Finlay, 5th Edition, 2001.
• Asia Overland (Trekking Guides) (Trail Blazer) by Mark Elliott and Will Klass, 1998.
• Japan for the Impoverished: A Travel Guide (Borgnan Corp) by James Rickman, 1996.

  Australia and New Zealand

• Highly Recommended  Lonely Planet Bushwalking in Australia (Lonely Planet) by John Chapman and Monica Chapman, 3rd Edition, 1997.
• Lonely Planet Outback Australia (Lonely Planet) by Denis O'Byrne, 2nd Edition, 1998.
• Highly Recommended  Lonely Planet Tramping in New Zealand (Lonely Planet) by Jim DuFresne, 5th Edition, 2002.
• Lonely Planet Cycling New Zealand (Lonely Planet) by Nicola Wells, Neil Irvine and Ian Duckworth , 2000.

  Canada

• Canadian Rockies Trail Guide (Alpenbooks) by Brian Patton and Bart Robinson, 6th Edition, 1996.
• Inside Out British Columbia (Sasquatch Books), 1998.

  Caribbean

• The Caribbean: A Walking and Hiking Guide () by Leonard M. Adkins, 2nd Edition, 1995.

  Europe

• Lonely Planet Walking in Spain (Lonely Planet) by Miles Roddis, Jose Placer, Nancy Frey, John Noble and Matt Fletcher, 2nd Edition, 1999.
• Cycling Along the Waterways of France (Bicycle Books) by Tony Roberts, 1998.
• Cycling the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg (Bicycle Books) by Kathy Widing and Jerry Widing, 1998.
• Camping Your Way Through Europe (Affordable Travel Press) by Carol Mickelsen and Jack Tavenner (Illustrator), 1998.
• France on Foot (Attis) by Bruce LeFavour and Faith Echtermeyer (Photographer), 1999.
• The Independent Walker's Guide to France (Interlink) by Frank W. Booth, 1998.
• The Independent Walker's Guide to Italy (Interlink) by Frank W. Booth, 1998.
• Highly Recommended  Rick Steves' London 2003 (Rick Steves) by Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw , 2002.
• Highly Recommended  Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2003 (Rick Steves) by Rick Steves, 21st Edition, 2002. Great guide for getting closer to the local culture while traveling. PBS often shows his travelogues.
• Greece: The Rough Guide (Rough Guides) by Mark Ellingham, Marc Dubin, Natania Jansz and John Merlin Fisher, 7th Edition, 1998.
• Lonely Planet Cycling France (Lonely Planet) by S. Dillon, Katherine Wilding, Neil Irvine and Catherine Palmer, 2000.
• Lonely Planet Cycling Britain (Lonely Planet) by N. Crowther , Ian Connellan, Nicola Wells and Ian Duckworth, 2000.
• Highly Recommended  Lonely Planet Walking in Britain (Lonely Planet) by David Else, Sandra Bardwell, Gareth McCormack and Helen Fairbairn, 2001.
• Michael Brein's Guide to London by the Underground (Michael Brein) by Michael Brein, 1999. Fold out map of London's underground. Includes maps to 50 points of interest near Tube stops.
• Michelin Camping/Caravanning France (Michelin), 2000.

  South America

• Backpacking and Trekking in Peru and Bolivia (Bradt) by Hilary Bradt, Petra Schepens and Jonathan Derksen, 5th Edition, 1995.

  USA

• Backpacking Wisconsin (Univ of Wisconsin Press) by Elizabeth D. Hailman and Jack Parker Hailman, 2000.
• Highly Recommended  Hostels USA: The Only Comprehensive, Unofficial, Opinionated Guide (Pequot Press) by Evan Halper and Paul Karr, 1997. An excellent guide to hostels in the USA which will help you find the hostel that is right for you.
• Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park (Falcon) by Kent Dannen and Donna Dannen, 9th Edition, 2002.
• The Unofficial Guide to the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Region (Other) by Joe Surkiewicz and Bob Schlinger, 4th Edition, 2001.
• Camping Hawaii: A Complete Guide (Univ of Hawaii) by Richard McMahon, 1997.
• Lonely Planet Hiking in the USA (Lonely Planet) by Marisa Gierlich, John Mock, Kimberley O'Neil and Clem Lindenmayer, 2000.
• Best Coast Hikes of Northern California (Sierra Club Books) by Mark Soares, 1998.
• Camper's Guide to Texas (Gulf) by E. Little and Mildred J. Little, 4th Edition, 1998.
• Hiking the Great Northwest (Mountaineers Books) by Ira Spring, Harvey Manning and Vicky Spring, 2nd Edition, 1998.
• Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (NorthWord Press) by Todd Wilkinson and Michael H. Francis (Photographer), 1999.
• Best Easy Day Hikes San Diego (Falcon) by Sean O'Brien, 1999.
• Inside and Out Northern California (Sasquatch Books) by Dennis J. Oliver, 1999.
• Camping! Washington (Sasquatch Books) by Ron C. Judd, 1999. More than 600 Washington campgrounds rated and facilities for each campground indicated.
• Grand Canyon (Travelers Tales) by Sean O'Reilly, James O'Reilly and Larry Habegger (Editors), 1999. Travelogue
• Michael Brein's Guide to Washington by the Metro (Michael Brein) by Michael Brein and Penne Franklin, 2000. Fold out map of metro system. Includes maps to 50 points of interest near Metro stops.

• The Appalachian Trail Backpacker: Trail-Proven Advice for Hikes of any (Menasha Ridge Press) by Frank Logue and Victoria Logue, 2nd Edition, 1994. A valuable guide especially for beginning and intermediate hikers.
• Appalachian Trail Guide to Central Virginia (Appalachian Trail Conference), 1997.

• Canoe Country Flora: Plants and Trees of the North Woods (Pfeifer-Hamilton) by Mark Stensaas, Mark Stensas and Jeff Sonstegard, 1996.
• Boundary Waters: Canoe Camping With Style (Ics Books) by Cliff Jacobson and Cliff Moen (Illustrator), 1995.

• 50 Hikes in New Jersey (Backcountry) by Bruce C. Scofield, Stella J. Green and H. Neil Zimmerman, 2nd Edition, 1997.
• 50 Hikes in Western Pennsylvania: (Countryman Press) by Tom Thwaites, 3rd Edition, 2003.
• Fifty Hikes in Central Pennsylvania: (Countryman Press) by Tom Thwaites, 4th Edition, 2001.
• 50 Hikes in Eastern Pennsylvania: (Countryman Press) by Tom Thwaites, 4th Edition, 2003.

• Camper's Guide to Oregon & Washington (Ki2 Enterprises) by Kiki Canniff, 3rd Edition, 1995.

• Pacific Northwest Camping (Foghorn) by Tom Stienstra, 6th Edition, 1998.

• Hiking Yellowstone National Park (Falcon) by Bill Schneider, 1998.

• Smoky Mountain Hiking & Camping (Menasha Ridge Press) by Lee Barnes, 1994.
• Highly Recommended  Guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway (Menasha Ridge Press) by Victoria Logue, Frank Logue and Nicole Blouin, 1998. The authors guide your travel along the parkway with details on hundreds of points of interests arranged geographically. Hiking icon illustrates the many oportunities to explore the area.

• Frommer's Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks (Frommer) by Don Laine, Barbara Laine , 2nd Edition, 2000. Zion and Bryce are exceptional - John
• Guide to the John Muir Trail (Wilderness Press) by Thomas Winnett and Kathy Morey, 3rd Edition, 1998.
• California Waterfalls (Foghorn) by Ann Marie Brown, 1997.
• Camping California's National Forests (Falcon) by George Stratton, 1998.
• Highly Recommended  Foghorn Outdoors - California Hiking: (Foghorn) by Tom Stienstra and Ann Marie Brown, 6th Edition, 2003. 900 pages
• Highly Recommended  California Camping (Foghorn) by Tom Stienstra, 10th Edition, 1998.

  Worldwide

• The Backpacker's Handbook (McGraw-Hill) by Chris Townsend, 1998.
• Camping in the 90s: Tips, Techniques and Secrets (Menasha Ridge Press) by Victoria Logue and Leigh Ellis (Illustrator), 1997. Full of tips for camping useful mainly to new campers.