Welcome!

Enrich Your Travels with Longitude

We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.

SIGN UP FOR

Longitude News

Get our monthly e-mail update

GET A

Catalog

BEST OF 2011

Wild Coast

John Gimlette

SEE ALL >

FOR THE HOLIDAYS

To the Arctic

Florian Schultz

SEE ALL >

OUR FAVORITES

Arctic Dreams

Barry Lopez

SEE ALL >

GLOBES

The Pioneer

Replogle

SEE ALL >

YOSEMITE

More Books

The Art of Photographing Nature

The Art of Photographing Nature


by Art Wolfe | Martha Hill

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 184 PAGES

An elegant how-to book, featuring 250 photographs by nature photographer Art Wolfe and insightful commentary by Martha Hill, a former photo editor at Audubon magazine. (PHT02, $30.00)

Basic Essentials Photography in the Outdoors


by Jonathan Hanson

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 65 PAGES

Intended for your backpack, this slim guide outlines the essential knowledge needed to take pictures from what camera to buy to how to take better pictures. (PHT05, $8.95)

The Best of the West, An Anthology of Classic Writing from the American West

The Best of the West, An Anthology of Classic Writing from the American West


by Tony Hillerman

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 528 PAGES

A campfire collection of unforgettable portraits of the West, this anthology takes in travelers, homesteaders, Navajos, government officials, pioneers and authors as diverse as Meriwether Lewis, John Steinbeck and Edward Abbey. (USW87, $18.99)

Between Pacific Tides

Between Pacific Tides


by Edward F. Ricketts | Jack Calvin | Joel W. Hedgpeth | David W. Phillips | John Steinbeck

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 652 PAGES

A handbook to the rocky shores and tide pools of the Pacific Coast of the United States. Each intertidal zone is discussed in depth, augmented by black-and-white photographs and diagrams. (FG34, $32.95)

The Big Year, A Tale Of Man, Nature, And Fowl Obsession

The Big Year, A Tale Of Man, Nature, And Fowl Obsession


by Mark Obmascik

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 272 PAGES

Friday, October 14 sees the opening of David Frankel's The Big Year, the most unlikely Hollywood movie of the season. Who would have thought that Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson would star in a movie about ... birding. The movie is based on Mark Obmascik's utterly compelling account of a three-way race (roofing contractor, tycoon, software nerd) to see the most birds in a year. (BRD29, $15.00)

The Birdwatcher's Companion to North American Birdlife

The Birdwatcher's Companion to North American Birdlife


by Christopher W. Leahy | Gordon Morrison

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 1072 PAGES

A handsome, fully illustrated survey of the birds of North America, organized A to Z, covering birds, bird biology, conservation and birdwatching. (NAM21, $19.95)

Cadillac Desert, The American West and Its Disappearing Water

Cadillac Desert, The American West and Its Disappearing Water


by Marc Reisner

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 582 PAGES

A definitive history of water development in the American desert -- and a now-classic chronicle of wrong-headed policies and misadventures controlling the great rivers of the West. (USW246, $18.00)

California Fault, Searching for the Spirit of a State Along the San Andreas


by Thurston Clarke

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 417 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

A good natured portrait of the Golden State. (CAL33, $12.95)

California, A History

California, A History


by Kevin Starr

  • HISTORY
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES

A lively short history in the excellent Modern Library Chronicles series, written by a renowned historian. (CAL204, $14.95)

Cannery Row

Cannery Row


by John Steinbeck

  • LITERATURE
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 193 PAGES

Based on memories of characters he met living in Monterey, including his good friend the marine biologist Ed Ricketts, this is Steinbeck's story of the good-natured bums, prostitutes, alcoholics and other denizens of Cannery Row. (USW150, $15.00)

Chasing Monarchs, A Migration with the Butterflies of Passage

Chasing Monarchs, A Migration with the Butterflies of Passage


by Robert Michael Pyle

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 307 PAGES

A memoir of Lepidoptery, combing the entomologist-author's considerable knowledge of butterflies and their biology with a rambling road trip from British Columbia through the Southwest to Mexico. (MEX62, $14.00)

Compass Guide Coastal California

Compass Guide Coastal California


by John Doerper | Galen Rowell

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 397 PAGES

This compact guide is an excellent overview of coastal California, with particular emphasis on history, nature and visitor attractions. (CAL38, $21.00)

Continental Drift


by James D. Houston

  • LITERATURE
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 337 PAGES

A novel about a California family shaken by war abroad and crime at home. (CAL103, $15.95)

Cowgirls: Women of the American West

Cowgirls: Women of the American West


by Teresa Jordan

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 309 PAGES

The story of the western woman, past and present, is intimately recounted through the words of the women themselves. (USW13, $19.95)

Empire Express, Building the First Transcontinental Railroad

Empire Express, Building the First Transcontinental Railroad


by David Haward Bain

  • HISTORY
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 816 PAGES

A magisterial history of the railroad that connected the East to the West -- and radically changed the face of America. It is quite a tale, featuring greed, corruption, disaster and many memorable characters. (USW135, $30.00)

Eyewitness Guide California

Eyewitness Guide California


by Eyewitness Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 660 PAGES

A literate, visually rich guide to the Golden State, featuring color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a region-by-region synopsis of California's attractions with a particular focus on San Francisco and Los Angeles. (USW146, $30.00)

Eyewitness Guide San Francisco and Northern California

Eyewitness Guide San Francisco and Northern California


by Eyewitness Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 336 PAGES

Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. With excellent maps. (USW147, $25.00)

Falcon Guide, Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Falcon Guide, Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks


by Laurel Scheidt

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 296 PAGES

A practical hiking guide to Sequoia and Kings Canyon. (CAL123, $16.95)

Falcon Guide, Hiking the Sierra Nevada

Falcon Guide, Hiking the Sierra Nevada


by Barry Parr

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 356 PAGES

A practical guide to hiking in the Sierra Nevada, including Yosemite, Sequoia and King's Canyon. It features descriptions of 96 hikes, maps, black-and-white photographs, and practical information. (CAL71, $19.95)

A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes

A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes


by William Eschmeyer | Earl Herald | Howard Hammann | Roger Tory Peterson

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 336 PAGES

An illustrated field guide to the fish found in Pacific coast waters. (FG45, $20.00)

A Field Guide to Western Birds

A Field Guide to Western Birds


by Roger Tory Peterson

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 512 PAGES

A field guide to the birds west of the Mississippi, featuring color plates of each species. (FG18, $19.95)

A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians

A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians


by Robert Stebbins

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 533 PAGES

The definitive field guide, with a special section on Baja's endemic species. (FG08, $22.00)

Fodor's San Francisco's 25 Best

Fodor's San Francisco's 25 Best


by Fodor's

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2012
  • PAPER
  • 128 PAGES

A shirt-pocket guide to San Francisco, this slim book includes an excellent map of the center of the city and essential information on its highlights. (USW185, $12.99)

Gold Dust and Gunsmoke, Tales of Gold Rush Outlaws, Gunfighters, Lawmen and Vigilantes


by John Boessenecker

  • HISTORY
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES

A history of the California Gold Rush, as seen through the rampant criminal acts that characterized it (USW189, $21.95)

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath


by John Steinbeck

  • LITERATURE
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 612 PAGES

Steibeck's epic, Pulitzer Prize-winning tale of the Joad family and their journey from Oklahoma to California in search of a new life, wonderfully detailed in it portrait of rural life in the 1930s and a classic novel of the road. John Ford made it into a movie. (USW151, $16.00)

Guide to the John Muir Trail

Guide to the John Muir Trail


by Kathy Morey | Elizabeth Wenk

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 112 PAGES

A point-to-point guide to the 211-mile John Muir Trail, enhanced by 28 topographic maps. (CAL208, $17.95)

Insight Guide U.S. National Parks West

Insight Guide U.S. National Parks West


by Insight Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 413 PAGES

This superb guide offers a thoroughly illustrated, informative overview of the national parks of the western United States, including Arches, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest. (USW181, $24.99)

John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide

John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide


by John Shaw

  • REFERENCE
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 160 PAGES

An updated edition of Shaw's guide to taking better photographs of plants, animals and landscapes. The book offers solid advice on equipment and basic techniques, and is highly recommended as the best reference for the wildlife photographer. (PHT01, $24.99)

Kingbird Highway, The Story of a Natural Obsession That Got a Little Out of Hand

Kingbird Highway, The Story of a Natural Obsession That Got a Little Out of Hand


by Kenn Kaufman

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 336 PAGES

Kaufman's absorbing account of coming-of-age as a Wichita teenager on the road in 1973 with a summer's pay in his pocket and the goal of seeing as many birds as he could in a year. (BRD27, $14.95)

The Literature of California, Vol. 1

The Literature of California, Vol. 1


by Jack Hicks | Al Young | James D. Houston | Maxine Hong Kingston

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 653 PAGES

A best-of anthology of California writing, pre-1945. (CAL102, $29.95)

Moon Handbook Coastal California


by Kim Weir

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 550 PAGES

A practical guide to the Californian coast by veteran Moon Handbook writer Kim Weir, good features information on food, accommodations and attractions. (CAL189, $19.95)

Moon Handbook Northern California

Moon Handbook Northern California


by Kim Weir

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 560 PAGES

A comprehensive guide to northern California, with a wealth of practical information and coverage of local history, culture and nature. (CAL60, $19.95)

Moon Handbook Tahoe


by Ken Castle

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

A practical guide to Lake Tahoe and surroundings from the reliable Moon Handbooks series. Written by a local expert, it includes information on accommodations, activities and attractions. (CAL97, $17.95)

Mountain Light, In Search of the Dynamic Landscape

Mountain Light, In Search of the Dynamic Landscape


by Galen Rowell

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

The 25th anniverary edition of Rowell's landmark book, featuring 80 spectacular images, divided according to visual content. Each chapter illustrates a theme or technique, supplemented by a short personal essay. (PHT06, $29.95)

The Mountains of California

The Mountains of California


by John Muir

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 281 PAGES

The classic account by the pioneering conservationist of Yosemite and lesser-known regions of the Sierra Nevada. Muir's tribute includes his commentary on the glaciers, geology and natural history of the region. (USW368, $13.95)

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees (Western Region)

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees (Western Region)


by Elbert L. Little | Angelo Lomeo

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1980
  • PAPER
  • 862 PAGES

This volume packs lots of photographs to aid in identifying the wide array of rare, locally abundant, and widespread trees. (USW225, $19.95)

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America


by Jon Dunn

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 576 PAGES

From Alaska to Baja California, Nova Scotia and Florida, this guide is the veteran's choice for birding anywhere in the United States. Tabbed for easy access, the color range maps in this sixth edition are outstanding. (FG09, $27.95)

Native Universe, Voices of Indian America


by Clifford E. Trafzer

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

This sumptuously illustrated cultural history, written exclusively by Native Americans, is published in celebration of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. (USA95, $22.00)

The Natural History of Big Sur


by Paul Henson | Donald J. Usner | Valerie A. Kells

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1996
  • PAPER

A natural history and guide to Big Sur, California with detailed information on specific sites and trails. (CAL62, $29.95)

Natural History of the Islands of California


by Allan A. Schoenherr | C. Robert Feldmeth | Michael J. Emerson | David Mooney

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 502 PAGES

A survey of the ecology, geology and human history of California's coastal islands. (CAL111, $55.00)

Natural State, A Literary Anthology of California Nature Writing


by Steven Gilbar

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES

Divided by ecological region, this book is a literary tour of California's unrivaled natural diversity, featuring essays and excerpts by such great writers as Barry Lopez, Gretel Ehrlich and John McPhee. Gary Snyder provided the afterword. (CAL101, $26.95)

Nature Noir, A Park Ranger's Patrol in the Sierra

Nature Noir, A Park Ranger's Patrol in the Sierra


by Jordan Fisher Smith

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 216 PAGES

The memoir of a park ranger on duty in the river canyons of the Sierra Nevada, a region ultimately drowned by the building of a dam. (CAL187, $14.95)

The New Encyclopedia of the American West


by Howard R. Lamar

  • REFERENCE
  • 1998
  • HARD COVER
  • 1320 PAGES

A massive -- and entertaining -- reference to the West. (USW416, $85.00)

Northern California and Southern Oregon Coast Map

Northern California and Southern Oregon Coast Map


by Global Graphics

  • MAP

A recreational map of the coastal regions of Oregon and northern California at a scale of 1:500,000. (USW459, $4.95)

Oaks of California


by Bruce Pavlik | Pamela Muick | Sharon Johnson

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 184 PAGES

A natural history of the oak in California. (CAL63, $22.95)

Off the Wall, Death in Yosemite

Off the Wall, Death in Yosemite


by Michael Ghiglieri | Charles Farabee

  • EXPLORATION
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 608 PAGES

The irresistible and instructive roundup of "All Known Fatal Mishaps in America's First Protected Land of Scenic Wonders." (SWU235, $24.95)

Plant Life in the World's Mediterranean Climates

Plant Life in the World's Mediterranean Climates


by Paul Dallman

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 210 PAGES

Richly illustrated, clearly written and engaging, this book is an ecological overview of the landscapes, plants and vegetation types found in Mediterranean climates. (MED21, $35.95)

Remember D-Day, Both Sides Tell Their Stories


by Ronald J. Drez | David Eisenhower

  • HISTORY
  • 2004
  • HARD COVER
  • 64 PAGES
  • YOUNG ADULTS

An engaging and well-constructed history of the D-Day invasion for readers in grades 5 to 8, complete with anecdotes from soldiers, black-and-white photographs and plenty of historical information. (USA96, $17.95)

Return to Wild America, A Yearlong Search for the Continent's Natural Soul

Return to Wild America, A Yearlong Search for the Continent's Natural Soul


by Scott Weidensaul

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 416 PAGES

An eye-opening trek in the footsteps of conservation pioneers Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher, whose 1953 journey across America resulted in the classic Wild America. (USA123, $16.00)

Roadside Geology, Northern and Central California


by David D. Alt | Donald Hyndman

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 369 PAGES

Designed for the roadside traveler, this book explains in detail the geologic history of California as seen through the car window – a great introduction to basic geomorphology and how the dramatic landscapes were formed. (USW188, $20.00)

Rough Guide Yosemite


by Paul Whitfield

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 280 PAGES

A comprehensive guide to Yosemite in the hip, literate and very infomative Rough Guide style. (CAL242, $19.99)

San Francisco Map

San Francisco Map


by Borch Maps

  • 2006
  • MAP

A laminated, folded map of the city center of San Francisco at a nice scale of 1:13,000. (CAL80, $8.95)

Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast, An Illustrated Guide to Northern California, Oregon, Washington & British Columb


by Eugene Kozloff

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1983
  • PAPER
  • 370 PAGES

A guide and handbook to nearshore marine life from British Columbia to San Mateo, California. (PNW60, $29.95)

Sequoia/King's Canyon Map

Sequoia/King's Canyon Map


by Trails Illustrated

  • MAP

A topographic map of Sequoia National Park and King's Canyon at a scale of 1:112,000. (CAL72, $11.95)

Sierra Nevada/Lake Tahoe Area Map


by AAA Publishing

  • MAP

A road map of Lake Tahoe and surroundings. (CAL98, $4.95)

Song for the Blue Ocean, Encounters Along the World's Coasts and Beneath the Seas

Song for the Blue Ocean, Encounters Along the World's Coasts and Beneath the Seas


by Carl Safina

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 458 PAGES

A grand tour of our blue planet, divided geographically, this book is an excellent resource -- fascinating to read and full of hope. It combines a personal journey, hundreds of interviews with fisherman and scientists around the world, and a tour of important watery habitats. (OCE09, $18.99)

Stolen Continents, 500 Years of Conquest and Resistance in the Americas

Stolen Continents, 500 Years of Conquest and Resistance in the Americas


by Ronald Wright

  • HISTORY
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 464 PAGES

A powerful history of imperialism and resistance in the Americas, with a focus on the Aztec, Maya, Inca, Cherokee and Iroquois. Wright draws on an impressive range of archival material in reconstructing this classic account. (NAM20, $24.95)

The Tahoe Sierra, A Natural History Guide to 112 Hikes in Northern Sierra

The Tahoe Sierra, A Natural History Guide to 112 Hikes in Northern Sierra


by Jeffrey P. Schaffer

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 402 PAGES

A guide to trails and hikes in the Tahoe Sierra region. (CAL96, $19.95)

To See Every Bird On Earth: A Father, A Son, And A Lifelong Obsession

To See Every Bird On Earth: A Father, A Son, And A Lifelong Obsession


by Dan Koeppel

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 304 PAGES

In this enormously appealing memoir of a life devoted to birds. Koeppel chronicles his father's growing obsession and accomplishment as an elite birdwatcher, one of a handful of people who have tallied 7,000 species. (BRD28, $14.00)

Top Trails Yosemite


by Jeffrey P. Schaffer

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 383 PAGES

Whether you're looking for a scenic stroll, a full-day adventure, or a backpacking trek, you'll find them all is this round-up of 46 "must-do" Yosemite hikes. (CAL299, $16.95)

Tortilla Flat

Tortilla Flat


by John Steinbeck

  • LITERATURE
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 174 PAGES

First of his Monterey novels, Steinbeck peoples his tales of life in run-down Tortilla Flat with a colorful cast of memorable characters. (USW149, $14.00)

Trains of Discovery, Railroads and the Legacy of the National Parks

Trains of Discovery, Railroads and the Legacy of the National Parks


by Alfred Runte

  • HISTORY
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 128 PAGES

An illustrated tribute to American railroads and national parks, featuring period advertisements, posters and memorabilia of Glacier, Grand Canyon and Denali National Parks. (USW56, $24.95)

The Verb to Bird, Sightings of an Avid Birder

The Verb to Bird, Sightings of an Avid Birder


by Peter Cashwell

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 269 PAGES

A memoir of the birding life, its pleasures, obsessions and pitfalls. Based in the Carolinas (where he teaches English), Cashwell recounts in these essays the birds he's encountered, the why and wherefores of the birding life and some very entertaining anecdotes. (BRD26, $16.95)

Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey

Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey


by Lillian Schlissel

  • HISTORY
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 278 PAGES

A fascinating, well researched selection of women's diaries and journals from the Wild West, including vivid accounts of buffalo hunts, Indian raids, childbirth under difficult circumstances, geological wonders and a telling amount of inward trepidation. With black-and-white photographs throughout. (USW395, $16.95)

Yosemite Wildlife

Yosemite Wildlife


by James Kavanagh

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2007
  • PLASTIC CARD

A handy, laminated fold-up card featuring 140 birds, mammals, reptiles and insects. (USW499, $5.95)

 

Longitude provides recommended reading for travelers in partnership with the leading tour operators and travel programs for hundreds of destinations worldwide. We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.