Comprehensive and beautifully illustrated trailside reference describes more than 270 plants and animals plus geology of an area that includes nine national parks and monuments. Published in cooperation with Canyonlands National Park.

A Naturalist's Guide to Canyon Country is the perfect companion if you plan to explore the northern Colorado Plateau, that vast province that encompasses eastern Utah, far western Colorado, and sections of northern Arizona and New Mexico. It is a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated trailside reference to more than 270 plants and animals plus geology of an area that includes nine national parks and monuments. With this guide in hand, you will gain a sympathetic understanding of the desert ecosystems that make up the region. You will learn about the battle between uplift and erosion that has sculpted the sandstone fins of Arches National Park and the needles of Canyonlands. You will learn to differentiate between prickly pear and claret cup cacti and between the tracks of striped and spotted skunks. You will find out how the lizard uses its tail as a first line of defense. In short, you will learn to appreciate this remarkable land as you never did before.

Praise for the previous edition: "David Williams has written an excellent field guide to the Colorado Plateau that not only opens our eyes, but sustains our souls as we learn who we live among. Knowledge fuels wonder. When I am hiking in the desert I will take four items with me: food, water, a map, and this field guide. David Williams' book is that essental and that critical to a desert lover's experience."--Terry Tempest Williams, author of Refuge and An Unspoken Hunger "Wandering through bookstores from Moab to Zion, we kept stumbling across this beautifully illustrated, highly informative book on red rock country. A Naturalist's Guide to Canyon Country is an indispensable component of any Southwest trip."--National Geographic Adventure, Best of 2006 Gear and Trends - Desert