Our National Parks

Reflections from the famed naturalist and “Father of the National Parks” evoking the humbling beauty of the West’s mountains and forests.

John Muir’s Our National Parks—long an encouragement and inspiration to travelers, campers, and naturalists—is as profound for readers today as it was in 1901.

Take in Muir’s detailed observations of the sights, scents, sounds, and textures of Yosemite, Yellowstone, and forest reservations of the West. Be reminded that (as Muir sagely puts it), “Wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.” These vivid sketches highlight John Muir’s warmth, humor, and passionate advocacy for these public lands.

“In a glow of enthusiasm, he pictures the beauties of the Yosemite, the Yellowstone Park, and the region of the great sequoias, and tells of the joys of living in those earthly paradises.” —The New York Times