Follow The Blue Blazes

Many changes have taken place in the decade since Follow the Blue Blazes was first published, changes in the trails themselves and in the way we hike them. The Buckeye Trail still wends its way around the state of Ohio, following the course marked out by the characteristic blue blazes on trees and signposts along the way. In the intervening years, however, sections of the trail have changed their route, added amenities, or just grown more interesting. From the startling rock formations and graceful waterfalls of Old Man’s Cave, to Native American mounds, battlefields, and scenic rivers, Connie and Robert J. Pond provide a captivating guide to often-overlooked treasures around the state. Each chapter features an overview of a 100-mile section of the trail and three self-guided featured hikes. The overviews and the accompanying maps may be read consecutively to acquaint the reader with the entire course of the trail. But most readers will best enjoy the trail by taking the guide along on one of the featured hikes. Each route is outlined on an easy-to-read map with GPS coordinates and waypoints to guide the hiker, as well as explicit directions from parking lot to trailhead. The Buckeye Trail is readily accessible from Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, Cleveland, and Akron. Even a short trip can lead to an adventure near your own backyard.

Hiking Maryland and Delaware explores sixty-two easy-to-follow, and easy-to-get-to hikes. Weaving the natural history and rich cultural history of two of our nation's oldest states, the author guides you through the rugged mountains, old-growth hardwood forests, salt-marsh wildlife preserves, and Piedmont stream valleys that attracted settlers to the region more than three centuries ago.

Who says you have to travel far from home to go on a great hike? In Best Hikes Cleveland veteran hiker Joe Baur offers the absolute best hikes in the greater Cleveland area. Each featured trail is perfect for the urban and suburbanite hard-pressed to find outdoor activities close to home. Every chapter includes up-to-date hike specs, a brief hike description, directional cues, and a detailed map.

Plunge down singletrack over the Allegheny Mountains in Maryland, or travel off-road through Virginia’s scenic horse and wine country with this fully updated and revised Mountain Biking the Washington, D.C./Baltimore Area. Featuring the greatest off-road bicycle rides of Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., readers will find maps, color photos, GPS coordinates, and much more.

Imagine walking 1,444 miles with a backpack carrying the bare necessities of life, 26 maps, and a whole lot of grit. When three-time Appalachian Trail Hiker, Andy "Captain Blue" Niekamp decided to hike Ohio's Buckeye Trail, he took on the challenge of his life. On this 88-day adventure, Captain Blue found things he didn't know he had: a Buckeye Trail family who assisted and encouraged him; a home state rich with scenic beauty and history; the physical, mental, and emotional stamina to travel Ohio alone and on foot. Readers will enjoy the trail tales of Captain Blue, past and present, and his knack for bringing humor and good-natured reflection to a hiker's experiences in the elements: the cold, snow, wind, rain, heat, and humidity of springtime in Ohio; the physical test of walking for miles every day on a variety of treadways; the unpredictability of nature; and the sincere generosity of strangers.

Lace up your boots and sample 50 of the finest trails Massachusetts has to offer. This hiker's paradise offers not only mountaintop vistas but also historic landmarks and pristine seashore. Hike along cranberry bogs in Massasoit State Park, trace the edge of a cliff overlooking the Merrimack River in Maudslay State Park, follow the Appalachian Trail over Becket and Walling Mountains in October Mountain State Forest, or walk the state from Rhode Island to New Hampshire on the Midstate Trail. Veteran hiker and outdoor writer Ben Ames will introduce you to these trails and more. Use this guide for: detailed route maps for each trail; accurate route profiles showing the ups and downs of each hike; tips on equipment, trip planning, and hiking with dogs and children; accurate directions, difficulty ratings, trail contacts, and more.

Hiking Georgia features more than one hundred trails from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. It also includes easy one-hour strolls along quiet nature trails, a trek along 80 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and medium-distance trails that suit many hikers.

The Poconos of northeastern Pennsylvania may get eight million visitors a year, but there are places there one can get lost—and would gladly be lost for a bit. From the iconic Dingmans Bridge spanning the Delaware, to the region's 150 lakes and forested mountains, Hiking the Poconos covers it all—with the added plus of listing a B&B, a campground, restaurant, local events, and more along with each hike description