New Hampshire Books

This book is perfect for people wanting to do beginner (and even a couple moderate) hikes in the White Mountains. It is very easy to use and detailed. All hiking books should use the format of this book. I highly recommend it.

If you are looking for more agressive hikes or multi-day trips, get the AMC White Mountain Guide with maps.

Being an avid hiker and an avid reader of hiking guides (when it's too cold and white to hike), I purchased several hiking guides to help me plan my recent vacation to New England. This guide is by far the best of that lot.

This guide describes 50 hikes in the White Mountains (45 in northern New Hampshire, 5 in extreme western Maine) divided into 8 regions by geography. Each hike contains detailed directions to the trailhead, a very good map that shows you almost everything along the trail except contour lines, and a description that usually lasts for several pages. The descriptions are divided into two sections: the first just gives directions for walking the trail along with the major highlights, while the second gives lots of information about the scenery (animate and inanimate) you are likely to see on the trail. In fact, this guide gives you more information on the forest and fauna than just about any guide I have ever read. Length of the hikes range from 0.5 miles to 5 miles with the average at 2 or 3 miles. Also, some of the trails can be combined to form longer hikes of up to 10 miles.

This guide emphasizes hiking with kids, so one might think the appropriate audience is somewhat limited. However, as a single man with no kids, I can attest that this guide will be useful to anyone interested in White Mountain hiking. In fact, much of the information "intended for kids" I found to be just good information about the trail's natural setting (as described above). So don't think this guide is one of the specialized type; it can actually be used by a very broad audience.

If there was one drawback to this guide, it would be the significant changes that have occurred on some of these trails since the book went to press. On my personal hiking journeys, I discovered:

1) the trail to Arethusa Falls (highest in NH) has been rerouted and
2) the Old Man profile in Franconia Notch has collapsed.

So there will need to be an updated version published in a few years. However, the publication date is still fairly current, and trail changes are beyond the author's control.

In summary, this is an excellent guide that anyone interested in White Mountain dayhiking should own. Very highly recommended.

This is a terrific book to use when you are going to hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It is rich with information presented in an easily accessible format. Useful introductory chapters tell you how to get the most out of the book, make suggestions for hiking with children, and discuss the natural history of the region, including line illustrations of plants and a few animals. A map shows the location of each of the 50 hikes, which are divided up between the Franconia Notch, Waterville Valley/Squam Lake, Kancamagus, Crawford Notch, Pinkham Notch, North Conway, Evans Notch and North Country regions. An easy-to-read chart lists all the hikes and their difficulty level, distance and whether or not there is a river, a waterfall, a lake or pond, a view, rock ledges, wooden bridge, blueberry bushes or special geological feature on that particular hike. A short introduction to each region details facilities available such as camping sites and visitor centers. Several pages are devoted to each hike, including length, elevation gain, time requirement and difficulty level, a description of the trail, highlights for kids, directions to get there, a map and a photograph. The book concludes with a bibliography and index.

If you get one book to help you explore the White Mountains, it should be this one, particuarly if you are hiking with children.

Now in an updated and revised second edition, Robert Buchsbaum's Nature Hikes In The White Mountains continues to be the premier guide to New England's White Mountain waterfalls, mountain ponds, blueberry patches, and outdoor adventures for the hiker, backpacker, and nature enthusiast. Mixing trail descriptions with natural history, Buchsbaum provides a series of hiking opportunities including a map, distance, estimated hiking time, elevation change, and level of difficulty. Nature Hikes In The White Mountains offers natural sites and activities for children; sidebars on natural features along the trail; detailed driving instructions to reach each trail; and a quick reference chart for selecting the perfect hike. Whether for a day hike, a weekend excursion, or to plan an outdoor vacation, Nature Hikes In The White Mountains will prove a much appreciated, practical, and even inspirational guide!

Went to the White Mountains with another adult friend and picked this book because the walks looked about our speed. The directions are great, descriptions and nature discussions also very informative and entertaining. I particularly liked the "what the kids get out of it" feature for each walk. I particularly recommend the walk to Diana's Baths, a waterful near North Conway, NH.

"... a great pleasure to read, even if you're not looking for a place to stay. You can feel the authors were bent on romance... not just filling up the book. Accommodations are described in charming detail, also meals, with the occasional recipe. If you contemplate a getaway in new England, this is the book to take along." Travel Writer Marketletter

"[The] captivating prose invokes the spirit and visual appeal of the places described. [The book] provides perfect fodder for couples [and is] an indispensable planning assistant." About.com

"Where to eat, where to stay and what to do are covered. The Foulkes also throw in tidbits such as tasty regional recipes, a bit of poetry by Emerson and a love letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne." Chicago Daily Herald

This is far more comprehensive than other books in this area -- it's well written and the layout made it easy and a pleasure to read. The recipes and maps made it practical and much more interesting than a typical travel book.

A selection of recommended inns, delightful restaurants, resorts, festivals, the best places to stroll together under the stars or have a secluded champagne picnic - the most romantic places. This book visits special spots in in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont. Each place has been carefully selected, making sure that it offers something special - in-room fireplaces, four-poster beds, Jacuzzis, enchanting gardens, five-star cuisine.

I was very pleased with the book all the info in it was excellent!!!!

I enjoyed everything about this book. Not only are the trail maps well drawn but the descriptions of the waterfalls almost makes you feel like you are standing next to the falls as you are reading about it. One thing that makes this book unique to hiking books is the Historical Detour section at the end of each chapter. I enjoyed learning about the history of the White Mountain National Forest and the many stories about how these waterfalls got their names. I might add that the photography in this book is excellent. There are some beautiful shots of almost every waterfall mentioned in the book. Not only is this book goood for finding good waterfall hikes but it also makes for some relaxing reading.

I am an avid hiker of the Appalachian Mountains from the Carolinas to Maine. As such, I have purchased my share of guidebooks. Without a doubt in my mind, this is the best guidebook ever published. It reads more like a novel. I live in both Florida and New Hamphire and I find myself picking up this book to read for pleasure when I'm in Florida, 1000's of miles from the White Mountains. This book is efficient. As the title suggests, one can cover 100 waterfalls in 30 hikes, most of which are not very grueling. The book describes the waterfalls in detail but reads like a novel. It uses descriptions from early guidebooks as well, some over 100 years old! The directions to the waterfalls are clear and well written and include vital statistics like distance to each, vertical elevation gained, difficulty and altitude. A sketch map is shown for each hike (although one would use a separate topographic map for the actual hike). In addition, and I think this really separates this from other guides, a history is included for each hike of the area. These histories include Indian stories predating European settlement, stories of the early European settlements, the first grand hotels and even ski resorts. It truly gives the reader/hiker a sense of time and place. If you hike the White Mountains get this book!

This book inspired one of the best vacations I've taken (while closest to home!)exploring the waterfalls of NH. The directions and descriptions are accurate and easy to follow, and the falls themselves are exquisite--even in dry August weather, when we saw them. This will be a gift to friends, to be sure. Experienced hikers will appreciate it, but it's suitable for beginners. Not many geriatric hikes, however.

To my thinking there is not much more thrilling than turning a corner to find a spectacular and beautiful rush of water cascading over cliffs or through a rocky terrain. Who doesn't like waterfalls?!

This terrific guide to the waterfalls of New Hampshire's White Mountains details 30 hikes to 100 waterfalls, so many of the walks take you to several falls. A regional map pinpoints the thirty treks and a lengthy introduction relates waterfall nomenclature and origins, tells you how to use the book and offers tips to make your trip enjoyable. Detailed within four subregions (the Connecticut , Pemigewasset/Merrimack, Saco and Androscoggin watersheds), entries are 6-10 pages long and include location, distance, altitude gain, difficulty, access information, a map, trail and hike details, and a photograph of the falls.

An indispensable guide for waterfall lovers, particularly those travelling with kids.

The book concludes with appendices on regional geology and camping facilities, a bibliography and an index.

absoute evil,this book will slowly but surely curdle your blood.dynamite from start to finish,with an ending you will not forget.

They only let me give it 5 stars, so that's what I'm giving it. There's no product description on this book right now, so from the back cover : "Harrowing tensions explode in a series of events that could happen anywhere, to anyone, just as they do to John Moore - whose days of freedom run out, who is stripped of his possessions, his courage, and his hopes, by the ominous presence of a stranger impossible to resist."

On the acres outside Harlowe that have been owned by several generations of Moores, John and Mim take care of his mother, raise their daughter and live life close to the land they love. One Thursday, when the local law, a one-man force, comes calling for donations to an auction to benefit the police, they laugh but donate. The Auctioneer is Perly Dunsmore, a worldly man who suddenly descends on quiet, sleepy Harlowe. As Thursday after Thursday passes, the requests for donations turn to demands and Harlowe's police force grows along with the power Dunsmore has over the town. What the townspeople end up giving goes far beyond the old furniture and rusty tools of the first auction. How far they have to be pushed before they fight back will shock you.

This book is truly a horror story and, if you begin by thinking this sort of thing could never happen, as you read, you'll be shocked at how easily it unfolds. The cover says "soon to be a major motion picture" - I don't think that ever happened, but it would make a great movie!

I read this book about a year or so ago, and I still get upset when I think about it. I know some people that are like the ones in that little town, That would just sit and let things happen to them. Perfect example is, the Middle East, where the people there have let evil (Alchaida,and the Taliban)come and slowly take over until they became the law that everyone feared. I urge you to read this book, you will never forget it!

Read this book, if you can find a copy. Buy a used copy, borrow it from someone, or obtain a copy of this book at your local library. It's a fairly fast read, and riveting. A novel, yes ... but you can't help but wonder, "Could it happen today? In the 21st Century?" I encourage high school English teachers to not only read this book, but find a way for their class to read it and discuss it. This book is (IMHO) a modern day classic. The implications, lessons, and warnings inherent in this story are applicable, even today ... decades after the story was set in a fictitious small town in New Hampshire in the late '60's. Topics that could be discussed and touched on are: bullies, extortion, and the expression: "All that is needed for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing." For a good scare that will leave you pondering human nature: READ THIS BOOK!

The fun starts the moment that Stanley and Alice check into the Blue Frog Inn and doesn't stop until the improbable(or just goofy)conclusion. I've read all of the books in this series and while this is a little different from most it is just zany enough to keep you reading. It involves two murders, a small town sheriff who doesn't have a clue and a little bit of everything for everyone.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun light mystery to read.

A fascinating story of murder and mystery among strangers.

Parnell Hall has written another well-loved Stanley Hastings mystery. Private detective Stanley Hastings and his wife, Alice, have just taken a vacation to relax when strange things begin to happen. On a hiking trip Stanley meets lots of new people who all turn out to stay in the same inn where he's vacationing. This seems strange to Stanley, but he doesn't mind until someone begins killing the guests one by one, bringing his vacation plans to an end. The officer investigating the murders suspects everyone, even Stanley, until all clues lead to the arrest of one of the other guests. Believing the guest to be innocent, the Hastings try to find the real murderer.

If you are looking for a book that will keep you guessing and that has a twisting plot, this is the book for you. It has interesting characters and a surprise ending that will make you unable to put this book down. So settle in for an evening of mystery.

Each time someone in the book asks, "I beg your pardon?" I tumble into hysterics. This is the result of cleverly built up dialogue that becomes funnier with each fragment of repartee.
Who cares about the plot? This author is a genius who could solve all the problems of the world with his wonderfully optimistic and forgiving attitude, and a humor that is on the par with the very best comedy writers (even exceeding them). I had to stop reading at times to prevent myself from strangling on my own convulsive laughter. Have mercy, Parnell. If you had been any funnier, I'd have gladly died laughing.

As a mystery writer with a book in its initial release, I have long admired Parnell Hall's work because of his unique approach to the mystery genre. His style and voice are entirely his own. COZY, his new Stanley Hastings outing, perfectly illustrates what I admire about Hall and his writing. Hastings and his wife travel to a New Hampshire bed and breakfast where a series of homicides immediately begin to occur. The local police, in the manner of the long history of cozies, mishandle every clue. Hastings finds that he must solve the crimes in this well-plotted mystery. COZY is a solid work by a solid writer who keeps his tone light and his approach, in this book, breezy. I recommend COZY highly.

Reviewers have noted that in Darby, Ernest Hebert has created New Hampshire's own version of Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha County. Howard Elman, the main character in The Dogs of March, and a recurring character in the series is a working man, ignorant in many ways through his near illiteracy. He becomes unemployed, and without health insurance early in the story when the factory he's worked in all his life is sold and the jobs and machinery are moved south. He finds himself in a battle against change and in conflict with the new people moving into the area who have "college degrees and big bank accounts." Zoe Cutter is the newcomer who's bought the property adjacent to Howard Elman's forty acres. Zoe has come from the city with plenty of money and ideas about turning the property into an idyllic New England landscape, and running a country boutique. The junk cars and abandoned machinery that are eyesores to Zoe are as much a part of the landscape to Howard as the trees and the stone walls.

Hebert was probably the first (and may remain the only) author to masterfully, elegantly and genuinely create Granite State natives, working class people, as complete characters not just as caricatures of the stereotypical New England Yankee, used to backdrop bigger stories.

When I think about why The Dogs of March has endured for nearly 30 years, why it remains in print and why I find it as true and relevant now as I did when I first read it, I believe it's because beneath the well drawn characters, the intimate sense of place, and the taut, compelling plot, flowing throughout the story and elevating it to literature is a theme about insiders and outsiders. What has often been called regional fiction isn't regional at all. This is a universal story.

A lot of the authors I love are household names. Ernest Hebert is not as widely known, but he is one of my favorites and may turn out to be one of the best writers you've never heard of -- yet.

I read Hebert's novel many years ago and was surprised when it went out of print. It is a wonderful novel, much better and more profound I think than "The Beans of Egypt, Maine" in honestly protraying rural poverty in New England. Hebert's characters are beautifully rendered and unlike with Chute's, the author does not condescend to them nor does he make them larger or smaller than life, though he does portray them with empathy and with heart. His characters have their own pettiness and desires and dignity, and he allows them to follow their own paths without making them cartoon-like puppets or grotesques. They are poor but they are not made to argue for some political point of view (though of course one can hardly not be moved when the main character talks about "teeth"--when referring to the lack of dental care for the poor). As with all great art, this novel makes its politcal statement by fashioning characters we do identify with. This is a profoundly moving novel that deserves to be rediscovered and applauded as the gritty and realistic novel it is.

I was sorry I waited to read it. I am from New Hampshire, a strange place but home. I have been in Seattle for several years. This book gave me flashbacks of growing up. I didn't realize then some of the odd behavior of those around me as well as myself. If you are from the sticks of N.E. you will love this book. It is hilarious, smart, and tight. If you are not and you like to read non-industry writers, writers with imagination. Pick up this book. It is great. I was truly blown away. I grew up with a TV but we had no channels but for PBS (Durham NH) and cable was not yet in the hinterlands. I read many books in New Hampshire and about New Hampshire, this is the very best. Hebert nailed this story. Trust me if you like original, new, fresh, material read "The Dogs of March."

I was born and raised in New Hampshire and, to echo a previous reviewer from the Granite State, this is spot on.

I love Russo's books, but "Dogs of March" is far more gritty and, at a dirt level, far more realistic. The town I grew up in had trash men that were constantly building "additions" to their tin, aluminum foil and tar paper shack out by the railroad tracks. They were clones of the Ollie Jordan family in Hebert's novel.

Besides the characters, there is a powerful story of what drives men to do extraordinary and bizarre things.

This is among a handful of novels I've read twice.

No home movies, no photo albums, no old songs warm myheart more than traveling through New England to some of the very places described in this book. That's where my memories lie. That's where my father took me, and his father before that.

And while I have moved away, there are two great reminders of a childhood that I can only describe as ecstatic. A picture on my wall of E.B. White. And Hickoff & Plumley's book about the best places to fish. Some I've been to. Some I was taken to by these authors.

For those of you who are not as nostaglic and wistful about New England, let me with all honesty say that this book will serve as a superb and practical guidebook. And for those who have a little something more connected to the region, this book is a blueprint for irreplacable memories.

And damned good fishing spots and tips.

I had the pleasure of attending a seminar by Steve Hickoff last winter. I bought this book from him at the seminar, and have used it a lot more than I ever thought I would. My family and I were on vacation at Sebago Lake in Maine recently, and the information in the book on Sebago Lake, the Crooked River, and the Presumpscott River was invaluable. The maps of the Crooked and Presumpscott rivers especially allowed me to get up early, get to a good fishing spot, and even catch a couple of fish (all before the rest of the family even knew I had gone fishing). I really like the Crooked River, it has become one of my favorites. As an earlier reviewer stated, this book gives you the information to get to the good spots, without wasting a lot of time driving around. The book also provided information on what sections of the rivers were fly fishing only, and the local regulations for taking trout and salmon. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who plans on doing any fly fishing in Maine, NH, and Vermont.

FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF VERMONT TO THE ALLAGASH IN MAINE TO SEACOAST OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. HICKOFF AND PLUMNEY KNOW WERE IT'S AT. FROM THEORY TO FLIES TO PRACTICAL INFO. THEY NOT ONLY TALK THE TALK, THEY WALK THE WALK. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANY FLY FISHERMAN RATHER A BEGINNER OR A EXPERT. TIGHT LINES, STEVE, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

I travel around New England regularly and usually have a fly rod in my car. It is always frustrating when I have a couple of hours of free time and I spend it trying to figure out where to fish instead of spending it fishing. This book has all you need to know to find a spot and catch (and hopefully release) some fish. Unlike some books the authors don't limit themselves to only one kind of fish or claim that every spot they talk about is going to rival the best place you've ever fished. Highly recommended for anyone who gets the privilege of fishing in New England!

Haunted Hikes of New Hampshire is a hiking trail guide with a difference. From ghost towns of Monson Center and Indian Arrowhead Forest, to the UFO of Indian Head, to tales of Satan at Devil's Den Mountain, each hike is presented with a black-and-white map, and a scary story of its history. A handful of black-and-white photographs intersperse this spooky delight enthusiastically recommended for hikers in search of not just natural splendor, but also the unexplained majesty of the preternatural.

One thing about hiking is that kids often need a little extra motivation to want to do the hike. O'Connor has added the "haunted" aspect, which provides that extra motivation. The hike descriptions are easy to follow and the stories of the "hauntings" are well written and engaging.

What a treat this book is. It is perfect to set the stage for group hikes with kids. The excitement about the history of the mountain and the tales of mysterious encounters really get the kids geared up to hike. They actually like it more and forget the difficulty. They find themselves atop the mountain with big smiles. Thanks for book, I will use it often.

I moved to California 15 years ago after being a life-long resident of New England. In her book, O'Connnor manages to give us the gift of a bird's eye view of the haunted places and hikes associated with them in New Hampshire in both a charming and a little scary way. I can't wait to get back there to try some of the hikes. I especially like the way she rates them according to difficulty, awarding "ghost" icons to each description. Especially helpful are her very detailed directions on how to get to the beginning of each hike, and overall what to expect. As I am an elementary school teacher, I would love to take my class on some of these hikes. Her recounts of the scary stuff are enthralling. I found myself able to transport myself back in time to the misty, spectral past of New Hampshire, and imagine that the people in these stories really lived.

The book is very informative and great for anyone who wants to mountain bike or is already into mountain biking. It also has great pictures, especially page 202.

This is the finest mountain biking guide I've ever read. It gives great information about trails of all abilities, plus tips on local attractions. This type of information is good to all types of mountain bikers, from rabid racers to families on day trips. Along with some of the premier trails in Maine and New Hampshire, such as in Acadia National Park, it gives descriptions of trails off the beaten path, such as that through Jefferson Notch in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Mr. Fitzhenry also provides local histories of the areas visited (which could be a book in itself) as well as great directions and trail descriptions. This book is good for local New Englanders and those from "away", because Bob did such a good job of finding trails throughout the two states. I highly recommend it.

Excellent! Great selection of trails with a variety of terrain. This guide book provides more pertinent trail information than any other I've read. Particularly helpful is the trail contour plots as well as overlaying trail lines onto accurate topo-maps. The authors writing style is unique causing me to actually read the book cover to cover.

This book has a lot of great info for both seasoned riders and the beginner. The maps, trail directions and descriptions of the rides are just the start. I have rolled over the MT. Agamenticus (Mount A) Pg. 236 trails for years and the author really hits the mark. I can't wait to hit the rest of the trails.

This book gives very concise and complete directions to the locations of the places listed. Not only was I able to find every location that I wanted to see and with little or no problem, but also there were good places to eat and other things to do along the way.The accuracy in the distances from the starting points to the destinations is so good that with care there is almost no chance of getting lost. Obviously the authors took great care to be accurate in their discriptions and directions and have written a book that is a real joy to use. I look forward to using other guides by the same authors as I know the will be correct in their information.

This is the best series of travel books about New England that I have found. It is easy to read with information I haven't found in other travel books. The New Hampshire book didn't disappoint. It is up to the standard I expect from this series.

This book gives very concise and complete directions to the locations of the places listed. Not only was I able to find every location that I wanted to see and with little or no problem, but also there were good places to eat and other things to do alone the way.The accuracy in the distances from the starting points to the destinations is so good that with care there is almost no chance of getting lost. Obviously the authors took great care to be accurate in their discriptions and directions and have written a book that is a real joy to use. I look forward to using other guides by the same authors as I know the will be correct in their information.

Spent a week in the White Mtns and used the book extensively. Most interesting was "discovering" the old Mineral Springs resort in Conway. Book was well written, concise maps and directions were very clear. This book, combined with a good road map and a general guidebook make touring NH very enjoyable.