Beyond the National Parks: A Recreation Guide to Public Lands in the West
by Mary E. Tisdale and Bibi Booth

Publisher:  Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN:  1560985666

The original 1.8 billion-acre public domain of land held by the U.S. Government once stretched from the Appalachian Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Over time, two-thirds of this land was transferred to individuals, corporations and states, while other parcels were set aside for national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, and other public purposes. A large portion of the remaining public land fell under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Established in 1946, BLM manages more than 265 million acres of America's public lands, comprising roughly one-eighth of the country's land surface and more than forty percent of the land under federal ownership. Most of the lands managed by BLM are located in 12 western states, including Alaska, with only small parcels scattered throughout the east.

To help commemorate BLM's 50th anniversary, many of its partner organizations were asked to identify public land sites of special significance to their members or of particular importance to their organizational goals or activities. A publication entitled Beyond the National Parks: A Recreation Guide to Public Lands in the West offers a glimpse into these places--wild and scenic river systems, lakes and reservoirs, fishable streams, wilderness areas, national trails, and many other sites that offer outstanding recreational opportunities.

Beyond the National Parks begins with an overview of BLM, explaining its role as a steward of the land, with the seemingly conflicting mandate of managing the public lands "for the benefit of all Americans." This role includes accommodating recreational use, sustained yield, wildlife protection, and historical preservation. This section of the book goes on to explain that while BLM encourages the use of public lands for recreation, that many of these places are wild and undeveloped, which often means no amenities or creature comforts. It points out that visitors should take steps to minimize their impact, and then explains "Leave No Trace," a national outdoor ethics program. Finally, this section offers several pages of common sense tips for minimizing impact while still enjoying various recreational activities.

The next section of Beyond the National Parks provides information on many of the BLM partners that contributed to the book by offering their own lists of public land sites of special significance. Selections included in the book were limited to those sites that were deemed suitable for recreational visits. The BLM partners include organizations of all types. Some, like the International Mountain Bicycling Association or American Hiking Society, are interested in promoting a specific activity. Others, such as Ducks Unlimited or the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, are concerned with wildlife conservation. Still others, like the Society for American Archaeology, are involved in historical preservation. Beyond the National Parks devotes two pages to each partner, providing information on its mission and a list of its favorite sites.

These sites are described in greater detail in the main portion of the book, which is arranged alphabetically in a state-by-state format. Coverage includes a wide variety of "off the beaten path" areas. You'll find information on scenic highways that feature opportunities for wildlife observation, like the Dall Sheep Viewing Area along the Dalton Highway in Alaska, Kokopelli's Trail, one of the premier bike trails in Colorado and Utah, and the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness, one of the largest dune complexes in North America. Also included are places of historic interest, like the 2,037-mile Iditarod National Historic Trail in Alaska, once used by early 20th-century prospectors, and the Baker Caves in Idaho, which were occupied by Native Americans more than 1,000 years ago. Specific information presented for each site includes contact data (address, phone, and fax number), a brief description, driving directions, visitor activities, permits and fees, camping and lodging, food and supplies, and first aid. The guide also includes a state map at the beginning of each chapter that pinpoints all the listed sites, as well as individual maps for each site.

Finally, the directory includes two appendices. The first provides contact information for BLM and its state offices, and the second provides contact information for each of the contributing partner organizations. A site index is also included. As is the case with most guide books that cover the great outdoors, a picture really is worth a thousand words, and one of the best features of Beyond the National Parks is its inclusion of 158 color photos that cover a wide variety of natural, recreational, and historic areas.

If you are interested in learning about and possibly exploring some of the lesser known recreational areas in the western United States, then Beyond the National Parks is a worthwhile purchase. It is informative, provides balanced coverage of a wide variety of sites, and is presented in a consistent and easy to use format.

Darren Smith, your Guide for U.S. National/State Parks