A Field Guide to the Grand Canyon 2nd Edition

By Stephen Whitney

Book Overview

* Illustrated with more than 60 full-color illustration plates * The only field guide of its kind for this popular destination * Completely updated, compact volume If you've ever marveled at the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon, you've probably thought about taking an up close and personal look at the area, too. Well, now you can This fully updated edition of our popular field guide is both thorough and easy to use. A Field Guide to the Grand Canyon describes and illustrates the areas plants and animals, and offers fascinating in-depth information on the natural history and geology of this dramatic region. Whether you're an active explorer or an armchair naturalist, you'll be certain to enjoy this colorful, informative trip through one of the United States' natural treasures. You'll find complete species information (including common and scientific names, notable features, and more) on more than 480 plants and animals is coupled with beautifully illustrated full-page plates for easy reference. Also included is a geologic history of the Canyon with illustrations detailing the formation of one of the world's great natural wonders.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898864895
• ISBN13: 9780898864892
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Great book to have on the canyon for river runners

Loads of detail. Really liked this book. - River and Desert Plants of the Grand Canyon by Kristin Huisinga, Lori Makarick and Kate Watters published 2006 by Mountain Press Publishing Company Missoula, Montana PO Box 2399, Missoula, Montana 59806 (406) 728-1900 Great book! - "Guidebook to the Colorado River Part 1 Lee's Ferry to Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon National Park (and Part 2 Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon National Park to Lake Mead Arizona-Nevada) Two BYU Geology Professors W. Kenneth Hamblin and J. Keith Rigby. Indepth mile by mile with some pictures etc. They are only $5 a piece. A publication of the Department of Geology, Brigham Young University Provo, Utah 84602.

nice intro to canyon flora and fauna

This book was a nice introduction to the geology, plant and animal life of the grand canyon. It is small enough to take in your pack and is fun to read once you've arrived at camp and try to identify the plants, animals and strata you saw. Not too much specific information about any one species, strata, etc., but good general intros to flora, cacti, etc. I'd recommend it if it's your first hike in the canyon and you're just looking for a simple book to become familiar with the names of thing. You can find it in the gift shops on both rims too.

best available guide to plants and wildlife

Handy easy-to-use guide to birds, flowers, cacti, wildflowers, reptiles, mammals, geology of the grand canyon. Nothing like it anywhere.

Concise, and yet thorough

I agree with everything the previous reviewer said, except that I really like the overviews of Canyon geology and so on, and don't feel that those make to book too heavy to be useful as a field guide. This is probably the best and most informative guide for a hiker or visitor to the Grand Canyon to take along.

The best all-around field guide to Grand Canyon.

This is the most thorough traditional field guide to the Canyon, complete with pictures of flora and fauna for identification in the field. It's perfect for day hikes along the rim or packed on raft trips, but if you're going on a long canyon trek on foot you may find it a bit heavy to pack. The great number of pages devoted to an overview of history, basic geology, trails, etc. are not really necessary on the trail and I have even considered cutting all that extraneous material out, as the field guide portions are excellent, but I shrink from slicing up a good book! Steve, how about a two-volume set next time, one for the armchair and one for the trail? Though there is information about Canyon hiking routes, this is not a trail guide; you'll want to get Scott Thybony's or Sharon Spangler's book for that, or one of several others that are available. But it is valuable reading for anyone planning to spend time in one of our most magnificent parks, and certainly worth tossing into your suitcase, if not into your backpack.