The 16 Best Books About Yellowstone National Park

This was the first of a series of books about deaths in the national.  It’s the kind of book you can’t quite believe you’re reading, but you just can’t put it down.  It details all the deaths that have occurred in Yellowstone – from bison gorings and grizzly bear attacks to people being dissolved in hot springs and buried in avalanches.  If you revel in the gruesome and macabre, you’ll love this Yellowstone book. 

Written by the author Tim Cahill, who lives a stone’s throw from the park, this is one of the best books on Yellowstone National Park.  With humor and an easy-to-read style, Cahill describes easy day hikes and explores less-trafficked back country hiking trails.  Discover through his musing the geysers, hot springs, and wildlife of the park.  There is also a section on his favorite books about the park.  

If you want to discover much more about the park before you go, then get this Yellowstone National Park book.  Packed full of fascinating information about the history, ecology, wildlife and plant life and other environmental features and supplemented with over 100 illustrations and photos.  From how the park formed to modern day ecological issues, covering the gamut from grizzly bears to geysers, this will give you great insight into the park. 

This is my pick for the best Yellowstone guide book.  It covers all aspects of the park from useful tips to where to stay, where to eat and what to see.  It’s actually one of the guide books on Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, though the Yellowstone section is larger.

Another pick for the best guide book for Yellowstone, the Lonely Planet guide books are hard to beat.  All the essential information you need for a trip to the park. 

This is one of the best Yellowstone hiking guide books. It provides information on more than 100 hiking trails in the park, from easy day hikes that most people can do to longer back country hikes you need a permit for. 

Yellowstone is teeming with wildlife. Get the most out of your trip with this handy pocket guide to the animals and birds you might see. Being able to identify what you see adds to your enjoyment and this is super portable, making it easy to take with you around the park.

The story of how wolves were returned to Yellowstone and the unexpected and far-reaching impact that this had on the environment within the park is absolutely fascinating.   This book covers this story in depth, including the politics behind the wolves’ return, in an easy and engaging style.  

Yellowstone actually sits atop a gigantic dormant supervolcano.  This is fuel for a fictional fantasy of what would happen if the enormous volcano stirred to life and erupted. This one tells the story of the main character Alex after the supervolcano erupts and turns the world to hell, and his journey to find his family. 

The second of these books has the Yellowstone supervolcano erupting and starting the next ice age.  It tells the story of a detective from Los Angeles (where it now snows) and how he and the people in his life start to recreate a new world. If you like a good post-apocalyptic tale, then this one’s for you. 

This is the first in a series of murder thrillers set in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. The main character is Jake Trenton, a detective based in Jackson Hole, just south of Yellowstone.  If you like murder mysteries and love national parks, what could be better than them combined into one? 

Yellowstone was the first national park established in the United States, so it has a storied history.  This is a great account of the exploration of the park and all that went into its establishment as a national park. 

This book explores the history of Yellowstone National Park through the lens of the ‘spirit’ of the park and the attitudes people have had towards the park and the influence it has on people over the years.  It includes historic photos, artistic renditions and stunning modern-day photos. 

Based on the letters, journals, and diaries of visitors and tourists from the early 1800’s to the early 1900’s, this book is filled with tales of adventure and awe.  From accounts of eruptions of geysers that now lie dormant to stories of feeding the wildlife, these adventures give us a fascinating glimpse into a world that no longer exists.  

One of the best books about Yellowstone Park for kids, this book is fun and informative.  It tells the story of twins Elena and Christopher who visit their ranger aunt in Yellowstone.  Chris wanders off and Elena’s plush toy bison, Buddy, comes to life and helps her find Chris.  Filled with gorgeous photos and sprinkled with fun facts about the park, this is a great way to introduce kids to Yellowstone.  

If you are visiting Yellowstone with kids, then you should get this book.  Filled with fun facts and photos of the park’s animals, plants and geothermal features, it includes a section for kids to check off where they saw each of them, as well as directions on where to find them.  

This is a guide book especially written and designed for kids.  It has plenty of photos and drawings of the wildlife and geological features in Yellowstone, along with easy-to-read descriptions.  It even has word games and puzzles, an animal checklist and packing list.  

James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.

He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and all of the main national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks. 

Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for most of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, comprehensive camping and hiking gear reviews and buying guides, and helpful packing lists and gift guides will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.

As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.

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