I'm one of those people who like to know where I'm going and what to see while I'm there. I don't go overboard researching every single thing about the place, but I try to do a little homework beforehand. I especially like maps and try to see the sights along the way whenever we're travelling. So, I was pleasantly surprised with this travel guide on National Parks of the West since we've managed to see a number of them in the last few years and still have a bunch on our list to see.

At over 900 pages this is a nice hefty book and a good choice to keep in the car but maybe not a backpack. It's loaded with great pictures and comments, many of them apparently submitted online by ordinary travelers - which is a nice touch. The beginning includes a lot of good info such as the history of the parks system and tips for visiting, safety, stargazing, and just picking which ones to visit. There are some great sections that list specifics such as best parks for hiking, camping, inspiration, families, bears, etc. Following that are the 38 individual parks profiled, each including useful information like average monthly high and low temperatures, getting around, why to visit, etc. And I think this is a good guide for those who are making a very quick trip or just to get you started. And even though it's crammed with information, if you're like me this won't quite be adequate, especially for big parks like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.

My complaints are minor, and I don't mean to nit-pick, but I think they're worth mentioning:
* Maps: the maps are pretty small and frequently cross over the center of the book, leaving an annoying gap. Fortunately you'll get a nice big one from the friendly ranger when you pay your admission at the gate.
* Directions: last year we visited the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest (AZ) and had only our AAA guides. But AAA gave specific time-saving directions depending upon *which way* you were traveling on I-40 (check the map - it was more useful than you might think), but nothing of the sort here.
* What's Nearby: nice feature, but sometimes seems uninformed and selective. No mention of Dead Horse Point State Park (UT) which is practically across the street from Arches (UT) and definitely worth seeing. (I also remember reading - maybe on the NPS website - that Arches is best to see at sunset, whereas Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands are better in the morning light, but other than some vague "tips" it's not clear).

Also, the Arches section starts with a picture of Landscape Arch (from a nice angle that's different from the usual perspective) but the blurb calls it Delicate Arch (oops! - any other such mistakes?). So use this guide as a good place to get started, but do yourself a favor and do a little homework beforehand.