20 Beautiful Hiking Coffee Table Books to Inspire More Adventures (2023)
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Looking for hiking coffee table books?
Here’s a roundup of beautiful coffee table books that are all about hiking!
This list includes a range of books that cover trails in a specific region, across the United States, or around the world. Set your sights on trails as near or as far from home as you desire.
These visually stunning works are great for inspiring future plans or just allowing armchair travel when you can’t make the trip in person. They also make wonderful gifts for hikers.
With that, enjoy this list of hiking coffee table books!
Quick Picks
Don’t have time to read the whole list? Here are a few hiking coffee table books that stand out.
Bucket List US Hikes
National Park Hikes
Day Hikes
International Hikes
USA Hikes
1. America’s Great Hiking Trails
This hiking coffee table book focuses on America’s 11 trails that have been designated National Scenic Trails.
These long-distance trails cover much of the country, running through beautiful scenery in a total of 49 states and 8 national parks.
Hikers will discover each trail through rich photography, a map, and descriptions of the trail’s history and significance.
This book is perfect to encourage both thru-hikers and day hikers to hit the trail since the descriptions include recommendations for shorter trail segments, too.
Whether it inspires actual hiking travel trips or is simply used for armchair travels, this large volume is a great gateway for hikers to experience some of America’s most spectacular trails.
2. America’s Great Mountain Trails: 100 Highcountry Hikes of a Lifetime
Many of America’s best hiking opportunities are in its mountain ranges. Mountain hikes offer the rewarding combination of physically challenging trails paired with panoramic views.
This coffee table book details 100 of these spectacular mountain hikes.
Explore America’s iconic mountain ranges – from the Appalachians in the east to the Sierra Nevadas out west – through phenomenal photographs and practical information.
The hikes include everything from famous routes to lesser-known trails in locations ranging from Alaska all the way to Puerto Rico.
Between the thorough guidance and jaw-dropping photography, hikers won’t be able to resist heading to the mountains after perusing this coffee table book.
3. America’s Great Forest Trails: 100 Woodland Hikes of a Lifetime
Head into the woods – vicariously or in reality – with this volume on hiking through America’s forests.
This coffee table book provides the perfect combination of gorgeous photos and detailed information to compel hikers to explore the country’s beautiful forests.
The book covers 100 wooded trails around America. The trails range from day hikes to trails that take weeks to complete, so there’s something for hikers of all skill levels.
Whether it’s used as a bucket list or simply as a means to experience nature from home, this coffee table book will transport readers to some of the nation’s most refreshing scenery.
4. America’s Best Day Hikes: Spectacular Single-Day Hikes Across the States
Looking for a coffee table book with achievable hikes?
This book is full of wonderful trails from around the country that can be completed in a single day.
Hikers will learn about the best day hikes to pursue when traveling to new areas around the lower 48 states. The 50 trails in the book include a few must-do hikes in each region of the US.
The selected hikes include both iconic trails and hidden gems that are representative of each area.
This book is perfect for casual hikers seeking an attainable bucket list. The trails can be done by hikers with a short window of time to spend in an area – without doing tons of research or investing in backpacking gear.
And with plenty of information from trail descriptions to advice on planning and packing, hikers will have no excuse not to pursue each of these day hikes over the course of a lifetime.
5. 50 States 500 Day Hikes: An Essential Guide to America’s Best Trails for All Levels of Hikers
This hiking coffee table book is unique from others on the market.
While most coffee table books compile the most beautiful trails for the breathtaking photography, this book focuses instead on capturing hikes in all 50 states.
Hikers don’t need to just dream about the trails in the book. Since the included trails are all day hikes and are available in every state, almost any hiker can pursue something from these pages.
It’s the ideal coffee table book for hikers who would rather learn about new trails across the country than look at the same famous, best-of-the-best hikes that are repeated in other books.
6. Hiking America’s Wilderness: 600 Destinations in the Natural World
This book showcases hiking opportunities in America’s federally preserved lands – areas that are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and National Park Service.
Explore 600 of these designated wilderness areas through hundreds of photographs and first-hand experiences from the author.
Each hike in the book is assigned a rating of one through five to help readers identify the best trails on these lands.
With hundreds of destinations around the country to choose from, nearly every type of ecosystem is included. This encapsulates quite a variety of landscapes and offers something to appeal to every hiker.
7. Wanderlust USA: The Great American Hike
Prepare to drool over these American trails that will instill a sense of wanderlust in readers.
The hikes include everything from day hikes to long-distance trails. Everyone from novice hikers to experienced backpackers will find an alluring trail to get them outdoors.
Each hike includes essential information for hikers to assess if the trail is ideal for them. Basic facts like trail distances and difficulty levels are presented alongside bite-size tidbits like the recommended season, nearby accommodations and highlights like the wildlife or history found along the trail.
Enjoy browsing these stunning scenes from the pages – and then enjoy experiencing them in person.
8. Lonely Planet National Trails of America
This coffee table book is perfect for hikers who want to explore all of the United States – not just the country’s scenery, but its history too.
The book includes 60 of America’s National Trails: National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails, and National Recreation Trails.
These trails capture quite a variety of landscapes, difficulty levels, and stories.
Travel through the book’s pages from Alaska to Puerto Rico on trails as short as half a mile and as long as 6,800 miles.
Some of the trails are in urban settings and others are in remote environments.
Some trails trace the nation’s troubled history – like the Trail of Tears and the route from Selma to Montgomery. Others celebrate America’s natural beauty.
The book’s photos are enough to give hikers a powerful connection to the nation. But hikers who want to walk these routes will get plenty of practical information and lists of additional planning resources to take on these trails – and experience their stories – for themselves.
9. America’s National Historic Trails: Walking the Trails of History
Lovers of both hiking and history can explore America’s past through the trails in this coffee table book.
This book features the 19 National Historic Trails across the United States.
These long-distance trails connect historic sites and retrace past routes of exploration, trade, and battles.
They cover thousands of miles across more than 40 states.
Head back in time to experience the history that is preserved by these trails.
Regional & National Park Hikes
10. Hiking America’s National Parks
National parks enthusiasts and hikers alike will be inspired to explore America’s most outstanding landscapes through the trails in this book.
The trails included in these pages reveal the diversity of hikes that are available in America’s national parks. Both short and long trails will take hikers through landscapes ranging from hikes in the rugged Rocky Mountains to coastal hikes in Acadia.
All 63 of the country’s national parks are covered in the book. A handful of trails in each park are included to show the range of options that are available to park visitors.
Whether you gravitate towards accessible nature walks or multi-day backpacking trips, all hikers can experience the greatest natural wonders in the United States by heading to the national parks.
11. Walks of a Lifetime in America’s National Parks: Extraordinary Hikes in Exceptional Places
Get inspired to leave the car and explore America’s national parks on foot.
This coffee table book explains how and why visitors should hike in the national parks. The combination of these explanations and the park-by-park guidance will motivate any reader to set out on these spectacular trails.
Learn about a variety of trails ranging from nature walks and day hikes to iconic backpacking trips all throughout the national parks.
This book was released in 2020 so it includes every national park except for West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Although the book predates the establishment of this park, it is still comprehensive and beautiful enough of a work to earn a spot on any hiker’s coffee table.
Shopping for someone who loves the national parks? Check out even more books about America’s national parks.
12. Hiking Trails of the Pacific Northwest: Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Southwestern British Columbia
Get to know one of the best regions in the United States for hiking in this book on Pacific Northwest trails.
In this book, local hiking experts provide an overview of the hiking opportunities available from northern California up to southern British Columbia.
It shares high-level descriptions of distinct hiking regions in each state, including brief mentions of some of the trails that exist in each region. Both day hikes and backpacking routes are featured throughout the pages.
This book is great for both readers who are completely new to the Pacific Northwest and long-time hikers who want to display a tribute to the region they call home.
13. The Trails of the Adirondacks: Hiking America’s Original Wilderness
Check out some of the best hiking on the east coast in this book on the Adirondack mountains.
The Adirondack Park in New York is the largest protected area in the lower 48 states.
While the Adirondacks are best known among hikers for the 46 peaks above 4,000 feet, this coffee table book goes beyond these famous peaks to capture a more comprehensive look at the entire park.
Learn what makes these ancient mountains unique through beautiful landscape photography, historical pictures, and a written history of Adirondack trails.
International Hikes
14. Lonely Planet Epic Hikes of the Americas
Learn about trails in the United States and beyond in this book of hikes in the Americas.
This work contains 50 of the most spectacular trails in North, Central, and South America. Everything from day hikes to overnight trips are included.
Each trail includes rich images accompanied by a first-hand description from someone who has completed the hike. Let yourself be drawn into a hike from the photos, then learn all about how to hike it in the text.
It’s a great book to allow your day dreams of adventures to expand beyond US hikes.
15. Lonely Planet Epic Hikes of the World
If Epic Hikes of the Americas entices you, consider the global installment of this series from Lonely Planet.
Discover the world’s best trails of all kinds, from urban paths to day hikes to elite mountain adventures.
This book provides in-depth information on 50 hikes from 30 countries around the world. Plus, each trail includes suggestions for three similar hikes for even more inspiration.
Travel the globe right from your living room as you browse the high-quality photographs – and let the logistical details unlock the possibility of completing the hikes in person.
16. 100 Hikes of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Scenic Trails
This book is one of the most spectacular options for hikers seeking to learn about a variety of trails all over the world.
The 100 hikes that are featured in the book cover all continents and climates, capturing the diversity of environments around the globe. An assortment of trails from short hikes to long-distance trails are included.
All of the photographs are works from National Geographic. These exceptional images are captivating whether you’re choosing a coffee table book as a beautiful piece to display or to inspire the ultimate bucket list.
17. Hike: Adventures on Foot
Experience some of the most spectacular routes on Earth in this book of hikes from around the world.
You’ll find 125 trails from every continent ranging from shorter walks to intense trails that cross an entire country.
Each hike comes with a description that will let you begin to imagine a complete itinerary. The details include not just the specifics of the trail but also spots to explore along the way like top sights and restaurants.
Let your daydreams of global adventures run wild as you peruse this amazing coffee table book.
18. You Are Here: Hikes
If you’re looking for a beautiful collection of photos without the hands-on guidance or colorful descriptions, this is the coffee table book for you.
This book contains magnificent photography from trails around the world. Each picture is accompanied by the name of the trail or location along with GPS coordinates.
It’s perfect for any hiker seeking inspiration to head out on adventures rather than practical guidance.
It’s also great for anyone who wants to display a stunning collection of photos showing the world’s natural beauty.
19. Classic Hikes of the World: 23 Breathtaking Treks
While other hiking coffee table books capture a variety of trails, this book is specifically intended for backpackers.
This book contains the 23 best overnight hikes that the author has embarked on.
Some of the trails can be done as weekend trips while others call for multi-week adventures.
Half of the trails are located in North America, but trails from 6 continents are included.
Each trail has detailed route information that could only be provided by someone who has completed the hike before. It’s perfect for practical hikers who want to know exactly what they’re getting into before letting their daydreams run too far.
If you’re looking for a list of backpacking opportunities or don’t want to scour a long list of hikes for inspiration, this is a great coffee table book for you.
20. 1001 Walks You Must Take Before You Die
This is one of the most comprehensive coffee table books for anyone who wants to journey on their own two feet.
Everything from short, urban walks to rugged thru-hikes are compiled in this list of over a thousand walks from around the world.
Even if your definition of hiking strictly refers to uphill walks in the woods, there are plenty of hikes in the book that will interest you.
This book is the ultimate source of inspiration for scenic and special routes across the globe.
