John Muir once wrote, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” But today, they’re calling us to do more than explore—they’re asking us to protect. Literary legends of the West like Malcom Margolin, who recently passed, have long used the power of the pen to promote preservation of our wildlands. Now, a new generation of authors are celebrating a similar spirit, encouraging a deeper connection and understanding of the outdoors. Whether you’re road-tripping, overlanding, or cooking up a meal driven by nature, their books will inspire mindful adventure and stewardship.
The National Parks Traveler’s Companion by Potter Gift and Rachel Federman
This charming journal helps you track visits to all 63 U.S. national parks, with checklists, prompts, and stamp spaces. It’s a tactile reminder to treat each wild place like a story worth remembering.
Overlanding 101 by Scott Brady
Adventure pro Scott Brady shares everything you need to know about overlanding, from off-road techniques to choosing gear. It’s empowering and rooted in respect for the lands you’ll traverse.
Parks 2 by Brian Kelley
Photographer Brian Kelley’s latest coffee-table stunner features vintage maps, historic park ephemera, and essays celebrating our public lands. It’s a nostalgic journey through the national parks— and a call to protect their future.
Coastal by Scott Clark with Betsy Andrews
This cookbook serves as an edible postcard from a food-fueled California road trip. Clark, chef-owner of Dad’s Luncheonette in Half Moon Bay, captures the magic of the beach bonfires and sun-drenched surf towns.
Eventually a Sequoia by Jeremy Collins
Peppered with musings, photographs, and illustrations, this eco-travelogue documents environmental change-makers from the granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau to Sierra Club members and indigenous Gwich’in activists looking to defend the Alaskan Arctic from drilling.
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