Lonely Planet relaunches national park guidebooks

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Lonely Planet, the guidebook publishing company, is relaunching its series on national parks with four books out this spring: "Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks"; "Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks"; "Grand Canyon National Park"; and "Banff, Jasper and Glacier National Parks."

New in the $20 paperbacks are chapters on "Kids & Pets" with recommendations for family hikes, kennel listings and descriptions of where you are allowed to hike with your dog. New chapters on "Clothing & Equipment" offer checklists of what gear to bring and listings for outfitters where you can rent bikes or boats, hire guides and stock up on essentials

In addition to maps, photos, itineraries, lists of hikes of varying difficulty, campground descriptions and climate charts, the books also include tips on volunteering and advice for women traveling solo.

In the Yellowstone guide, authors Bradley Mayhew and Carolyn McCarthy note that "dawn and dusk are the only times for serious wildlife-watchers. Get to the most popular turnouts early, as they fill up quickly in summer." But, they add that "driving the Grand Loop almost guarantees you a view of bison and elk."

Mayhew and McCarthy describe the Old Faithful Inn as "possibly the world's grandest log cabin," and a hot spring soak at Boiling Springs near Mammoth as "the park's worst-kept secret." They note that "Yellowstone is a great place to learn an activity." Try a fly-fishing clinic, a rock-climbing course or a horseback-riding adventure. For children in Yellowstone, the book's recommended hikes include Wraith Falls, on the Mammoth to Tower-Roosevelt Road; Trout Lake, in the park's northwest corner, and Ribbon Lake, near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.