Alt, David D., and Donald W. Hyndman. Roadside Geology of Washington. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Co., 1984. Easy-to-understand book on volcanoes, glaciers, floods, and how they created Washingtons particular features.
Kozloff, Eugene N. Plants and Animals of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2003. It may be older than this author, but still the most thorough book of its kind.
Sept, Duane J. The Beachcombers Guide to Seashore Life in the Pacific Northwest (Revised). Vancouver, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing, 2009. Identify shells, rocks, and other seaside finds with this handy reference.
Whitney, Stephen, and Rob Sandelin. Field Guide to the Cascades & Olympics. Seattle: The Mountaineers, 2004. An easily -packable, waterproof guide to flora and fauna perfect for long hikes and camping trips.
Beckey, Fred. Cascade Alpine Guide: Climbing and High Routes. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 2000-2009. Four volumes of very detailed Cascade climbing routes, plus historical information and photos.
Burton, Joan, and Ira Spring. Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington and the Cascades. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 2006. Having kids doesnt have to mean the end of your days on the trail. A guide to short hikes, all featuring lakes, waterfalls, views, or other points of interest that will motivate kids of all ages.
Copeland, Craig, and Kathy Copeland. Hiking from Here to Wow North Cascades. Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2007. Skip the standard hikes and go straight to the ones that make you say Wow by perusing the lineup in this guide.
Landers, Rich. 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest: Eastern Washington, Northern Rockies, Wallowas. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 2003. Descriptions, photos, and maps of hikes in eastern Washington plus parts of Idaho, Montana, and Oregon.
Manning, Harvey, and Penny Manning. Walks & Hikes in the Foothills and Lowlands Around Puget Sound. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 1995. The legendary trail guide Harvey Manning passed away several years ago, but his cranky yet endearing guides endure. Manning was an extremely active member of The Mountaineers, a tireless wilderness advocate, and was responsible for naming countless trails and natural features in western Washington.
Molvar, Erik. Hiking Olympic National Park. Helena, MT: Falcon Press, 2008. A popular guide to the trails winding through the Olympic National Park.
Wood, Robert L. Olympic Mountains Trail Guide. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 2000. Detailed trail descriptions, maps, and photos of national park and national forest trails on the Olympic Peninsula.
Brandvold, Dan. Wingshooters Guide to Washington. Belgrade, MT: Wilderness Adventures Press, 2001. Everything you need to know to hunt Washingtons dozens of species of game birds.
Landers, Rich, Dan Hensen, Vern Huser, and Doug North. Paddling Washington: 100 Flat-water and Whitewater Routes in Washington State and the Inland Northwest. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 2008. Whether youre looking for a quiet canoe trip or a roaring raft ride, this volume is for you.
Mueller, Marge, and Ted Mueller. Exploring Washingtons Wild Areas. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 2002. This book provides an overview of Washingtons wilderness areas and national parks, with brief descriptions of hiking and climbing in each. An excellent introduction to these wild places.
Mueller, Marge, and Ted Mueller. North Puget Sound: Afoot & Afloat. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 2006. Painstakingly detailed guide to North Puget Sound, from Point Roberts to Whidbey Island and west to Neah Bay, helpful to both boaters and landlubbers. Boat launches, parks, points of interest, plus photos and maps.
Poffenbarger, Amy, and Mark Poffenbarger. Mountain Biking Washington: A Guide to Washingtons Greatest Off-Road Bicycle Rides. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot, 2006.
Romaine, Garret. Gem Trails of Washington. Upland, CA: Gem Guide Books, 2007. The perfect guide for rockhounds on the road. Includes GPS coordinates for better finding hunting grounds in the middle of nowhere.
Spring, Vicky, and Tom Kirkendall. 100 Best Cross Country Ski Trails in Washington. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 2002.
Stienstra, Tom. Moon Washington Camping. Berkeley: Avalon Travel, 2006. The authoritative guide to public and private campgrounds around the state.
Trudell, Steve, and Joe Ammirati. Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest: Timber Press Pocket Guide. Portland: Timber Press. 2009. A guide to one of Washingtons most peaceful yet dangerous outdoor activities. Features hundreds of indigenous mushrooms and advice on their edibility.
Dwyer, Jeff. Ghost Hunters Guide to Seattle and Puget Sound. Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Company, 2008. Hang around Seattles best haunts with help from this eccentric book.
Elenga, Maureen. Seattle Architecture: A Walking Guide to Downtown. Seattle: Seattle Architecture Foundation, 2008. Architecture buffs and urban explorers are sure to enjoy the various site histories and descriptions detailed here.
Fischer, Monica. Best Places Seattle. Seattle: Sasquatch Books, 2008. The list format can be a bit wearing, but this book offers a very comprehensive compendium of Seattle dining choices.
Lucas, Eric. Seattle Survival Guide. Seattle: Sasquatch Books, 2005. Crucial guide to hitting the ground running after transplanting to Seattle.
Moon Metro Seattle. Berkeley: Avalon Travel, 2005. A handy map-based guide offering tips on Seattles hotspots.
The following is an invitation to check out other Moon books in which Washington visitors may be interested. All of these are authoritative guides for their respective regions. Find out more on the web at www.moon.com .