You can't go wrong with a book or books from the original mountain Jedi, Mike Maples, including his latest book about Cosby!
A Complete Hiking and Historical Guide Book is for the hiker who wants to know more about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This book covers completely the northern section of the park known as Cosby. It takes a hiker up every main creek, park trail and man-ways with a historical view of the area before the park was formed. Maps, old photos, deed plots and genealogy of this area is included in this book. Author Mike Maples has written four other books on the Smoky Mountains and has been a long time hiker and explorer of the mountains and it's history. He is not a professional writer, but a story teller and a researcher that shares what old timers have shared with him to anyone who is interested and loves the history and hiking. Hike off-trail at your own risk and enjoy the book.
Smoky Mountain Waters is a complete list of cascades, streams and waterfalls of the Smoky Mountains. A photo journal guide as an introduction to these waters. Hike off-trail at your own risk. Author Mike Maples has written five other books on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Smoky Mountains Cemeteries is an excellent research guide on families that settled and lived inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Also, a hiking reference book to use while exploring the trails of the mountains. Author Mike Maples has over 40 years hiking experience inside the Smoky Mountains and has written several books on the subjects from genealogy to waterfalls.
The Smoky Mountains Book One takes the reader on an adventure exploring park trails and off-trail within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Written by an avid hiker and local mountain historian Mike Maples. Book One covers mostly the northern section of the park, from the Sugarland Visitor Center to Cosby. A hiking guide and history book of those who once lived here and called the Smokies their home. Book contains historical information, maps, old and new photos, along with passed down old mountain folks stories. A must have hiking guide for those who love to explore the backwoods of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Smoky Mountains, Book One at Amazon.
Avid hiker and mountain historian Mike Maples shares the history beyond just the trails in "The Smoky Mountains Book Two". This book covers early settlers of the mountains along with personal hiking stories, old photos, maps, forgotten trails, animal encounters and so much more. Detailed history from Elkmont to Tremont, including Metcalf Bottoms. Top ten spring time flower hikes and remote adventures for the reader to study and plan a exciting hike. These books are a continuing series about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Smoky Mountains, Book Two at Amazon
Families of the Brier is a historical account of the families that lived in Big Greenbrier inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from 1790 to 1930's. It is a photo, map and data base production that includes census, genealogy and hiking information on finding all the old home places, school's, churches and other historical structures that once stood inside the park. Many communities that started with the first settlers to over 300 families by the 1920's. Readers will enjoy this book for it's history and a useful guide while hiking.
Families of the Brier at Amazon
Take a vivid look off-trail through the eyes of the fearless Mike Poppen
Need a Christmas gift for someone that is hard to buy for that loves the Smokies? Consider my "Beyond the Trails in the Great Smoky Mountains" magazine. Click on the Paypal link below to get the magazine for $15 with free shipping included today (Shipping with the stiff envelope I send it in is over a $4 value). You do NOT need a Paypal account to use this link, you can simply use your debit card or credit card. As always, thanks to everyone for the support as I share my passion for our beloved Smoky Mountains.
PayPal Link or contact Mike through facebook.
PayPal Link or contact Mike through facebook.
One of, if not the best, blogger of the Smokies! Order Mike Gourley's new book "Great Friends, Great Hikes, Great Smoky Mountains: The Blogs of Mike Gourley" with proceeds going to help Mike Maples in his fight against cancer!
Mike Gourley has written numerous blogs about hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains and other National Parks. This first collection of blogs is dedicated to Mike Maples with whom Gourley has shared many an adventure with.
...also available from Mike Gourley...
Just a Wanderin’ Boy in the Great Smoky Mountains
Amazon or contact Mike through directly through facebook!
Just a Wanderin’ Boy in the Great Smoky Mountains
Amazon or contact Mike through directly through facebook!
The true story of one mans struggle to survive in the wilderness of the Great Smoky Mountains. Cold, wet and lost the author spends three nights on the chilly ground and four days wandering up and down ridges, through cold creeks and rough terrain trying to find his way out of the mountains.
And no Christmas could be complete without Debra Ferrell's "Smoky Mountain Hiker" magazine!
Smoky Mountain Hiker is an exciting magazine for the whole family to enjoy. There are so many aspects of Great Smoky Mountains to explore, whether it be a walk- in the- woods, short hikes, long hikes, off-trail hikes, or just a beautiful photo shoot. The wildlife is so abundant in these mountains and magnificent to see. So, come along and take a journey through the pages of this publication. I hope you enjoy and look forward to seeing you on the trail.
Available here!
Check out the Award-winning author Dr. Gail Palmer who is a native of Blount County in the foothills of Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee. She received a Community History award from East Tennessee Historical Society for her body of work including the creative non-fiction series, "Smoky Mountain Tales, Vol. 1 & 2: Feuds, Murder & Mayhem." Called a "captivating and entertaining model for communicating local history through storytelling,"
Available at Amazon
She also has a new book on the cemeteries of the Smokies
available in the official park store or online here!
Also, check out these great off trail books from Greg Hoover
Stories about off-trail hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mainly stories to entertain, but if you'll pay careful attention, you'll learn about some great, out-of-the-way places in the park: Cat Stairs, Jumpoff, the "real" Charlies Bunion, Porters Creek manway, The Gorge of Raven Fork, and plenty of others.
Available here.
Hallowed Hills, Holy Waters tells stories of the author's hiking, fishing, and paddling trips in the out-of-the-way corners of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This book is perfect for anyone who has fallen in love with these mountains and is ready to take the next step beyond the park's crowded hotspots. While it is not primarily a "how to" or "where to" book, it does give the reader valuable ideas about where (and when) to go to avoid the crowds. The stories are told with humor and insight from years of experience in exploring America's most popular national park. Curl up with this book in a soft chair on a cold winter night for some vicarious trips on the ridges and rivers of the Smoky Mountains.
Available here.
