Best Selling Books and Maps from Bored Feet Press

Announcing the best selling books and maps from the Bored Feet website. Click on the titles for more information.

Best selling books:

1. The Hiker's hip pocket Guide to the Mendocino Coast—4th Edition

Bob Lorentzen

This essential new edition includes many updates and new trails. Includes all the classic hikes and many new hikes, plus updates to our marvelous Mendocino Coast trail system.

2. Exploring Eastern Sierra Canyons
Bishop to Lone Pine

Sharon Giacomazzi

This handsome and handy guide covers thirteen dramatic eastside Sierra Canyons. Starting around the spectacular forks of Bishop Canyon, Sharon divulges a wealth of hikes both popular and obscure, then continues south to include hikes near Mount Whitney.

3. An Everyday History of Somewhere

Ray Raphael

Ray Raphael’s classic award-winning people's history of California’s north coast is an evocative blend of oral history and narrative. As the subtitle says “Being the true story of Indians, deer, homesteaders, potatoes, loggers, trees, fishermen, salmon, and other living things in the back woods of Northern California.”

4. Exploring Eastern Sierra Canyons
Sonora Pass to Pine Creek

Sharon Giacomazzi

Discover the hidden beauty of the Eastern Sierra's wondrous canyons with Sierra native Sharon Giacomazzi as your guide. She details local history, campgrounds, resorts, where to find the best wildflower blooms, autumn color displays and waterfalls, and more

5. Trails and Tales of Yosemite and the Central Sierra
A Guide for Hikers and History Buffs

Sharon Giacomazzi

Sharon Giacomazzi loves to tell history tales and she loves to hike. She combines these passions in an enthralling guide to the glorious Central Sierra, presenting more than 60 fun excursions. Updated for 2013.

6. The Mendocino Coast Glove Box Guide, 3rd Edition
Lodgings, Eateries, Sights, History, Activities and More

Bob Lorentzen

Our bestselling guide to the scenic and cultural treasures of the Mendocino coast has been thoroughly revised and updated in this new third edition. The text weaves local history and anecdote with road notes to chronicle the journey.Price reduced!

7. Geologic Trips
Sierra Nevada

Ted Konigsmark

If you have ever wondered how the rocks and scenery of the Sierra Nevada were formed, take this geologic guide with you on your next trip. Written for the non-geologist, this detailed guide describes 116 of the geologic attractions of the Sierra

8. Conifers of the Pacific Slope
A Field Guide to the Conifers of California, Oregon and Washington

Michael Kauffmann

This book provides in depth information about the 65 conifer species that occur in the three Pacific Coast states and beyond, color photos, accurate and updated range maps for each species, plus an elaborate key to aid with identification.

9. If I Live Until Morning
A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation

Jean Muenchrath

A riveting tale of Sierra adventure, personal tragedy, and personal transformation. After skiing 200 miles along California’s rugged John Muir Trail, Muenchrath faces death from an accident on Mount Whitney.

10. Shaping the Sonoma-Mendocino Coast
Exploring the Coastal Geology of Northern California

Thomas E. Cochrane

Geologist Cochrane provides a detailed yet approachable overview of how and why the Sonoma-Mendocino Coast appears as it does today––with all its fascinating oddities. An 85-mile road log provides precise instructions for a self-drive geological tour from Bodega Bay to Elk

11. Humboldt Rocks
How They Got Here, What They Are, How to Find Them

Meryl King, Illustrated by Lance Anderson

This book presents the amazing geology of Humboldt County in clear and informative language. It begins deep in the Gorda Trench, where sulfurous steam vents support giant tube worms, then moves on to describe an earthquake before describing the rocks that underlie all this action.

12. Wild Mushroom Cookbook
Recipes from Mendocino For Cooks Everywhere

Alison Gardner and Merry Winslow

Alison Gardner and Merry Winslow have created the most comprehensive collection of wild mushroom recipes ever assembled. Full of ideas that you can also apply to store-bought mushrooms, this book will stimulate your imagination and guide your creativity.

13. Aurelius O. Carpenter
Photographer of the Mendocino Frontier

Marvin A. Schenck, Karen Holmes, and Sherrie Smith-Ferri

Aurelius Carpenter photographed the frontier of northern California's rural Mendocino County region.He documented the lives of Pomo Indians and White settlers, the coming of the railroad, logging and shipping industries, and the agricultural endeavors and natural beauties of the area.

14. Climber's Guide to the Sonora Pass Highway
2nd Edition

Brad Young & Steve Dawson

Details nearly 1500 routes found along or near the Sonora Pass Highway in the Sierra Nevada north of Yosemite National Park and south of Lake Tahoe.

15. The Guide to Bodie and Eastern Sierra Historic Sites

George Williams III

In this book, George Williams III tells of the gold discovery at Bodie in 1859, the camp's boom in 1879, its long decline, and its present state. This book also details the history and present state of other mining towns and camps in the area: nearby Aurora, Lucky Boy, and many more.

16. The Murders at Convict Lake

George Williams III
Illustrations by Dave Comstock

In 1871 a terrible shootout occurred at this Eastern Sierra lake between escaped convicts and a posse, leaving several men dead and wounded. Williams tells the gruesome story of the escape, man hunt and murders based on news accounts of the day.

17. Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West
Cultural and Scientific Basis for their Use

James Adams, Michelle Wong, Enrique Villaseñor

This informative guide covers the traditional healing uses and modern pharmacological data on 115 native plants found in California and the West. While western plants have been used in healing for thousands of years, this book carefully explains the uses of each plant for healing and the spiritual dimension of that healing process. The Fourth Edition is written by two Chumash healers and a professor of pharmacology. This book is like no other, presenting the spiritual dimension of healing as a necessary part of the healing process.

18. Norman Clyde
Legendary Mountaineer of California's Sierra Nevada

Robert C. Pavlik, foreword by Steve Roper

Biography of legendary mountaineer Norman Clyde (1885-1972). Clyde is credited with more than 130 first ascents throughout western North America.

19. In the Company of Redwoods
An Interactive Guide to Learning 50 Redwood Community Plants through Hand Tinting

Text and Photography by David Casterson

Biologist Casterson presents fifty redwood community plants found in the redwood’s range. The text for each plant describes its characteristics and other botanical facts about it. Each plant has a grey toned photo of that plant’s foliage and flower, tintable with colored pencils.

20. Great Day Hikes in and around Napa Valley
Third Edition

Ken Stanton

Ken Stanton has fully expanded and updated his popular guide to trails around Napa Valley. His captivating,detailed trail reports, featuring many little known hikes, include entertaining tales of Napa's colorful past.

21. Take Me to the Tide Pools
An Interactive Guide for Learning about Tide Pool Animals

Text and Photography by David Casterson
Illustrations by Anoosh Moutafian

This book truly appeals to all West Coast tide pool and aquarium visitors. With excellent color photos, space for notes, and b&w photos designed to be colored in, this interactive book makes learning fun.

22. On the Road with Mark Twain in California and Nevada
New Revised Edition

George J. Williams III

This book details what is known of Twain’s years in the West, providing details of his stay in each of more than two dozen towns he lived in and visited. This book also tells visitors what they will find in these towns today.

23. California Plants
A Guide to Our Iconic Flora

Matt Ritter

This guide for exploring California’s great diversity of plants includes species descriptions, color photos and range maps,natural history stories, tree ID flow charts, wildflower color guide, and more.

24. When You See Flukes

by Katherine Hocker and Cheryl Cook
Illustrations by Katherine Hocker

Vivid illustrations, lively text, hidden picture challenges, and layers of natural history make this a book that parents, teachers and children will enjoy.

25. Yosemite Adventures
50 Spectacular Hikes, Climbs and Winter Treks

Matt Johanson, Foreword by Hans Florine

This book is unlike most outdoor guides since it covers five different ways to explore in and around Yosemite National Park: winter treks, hikes, backpacking trips, mountain climbing, and rock climbing. It also covers a broad range of experience levels, from beginner to advanced.

26. The Donner Party
Weathering the Storm

Mark McLaughlin

This unique look at the 1846-47 winter of entrapment the Donner Party suffered in the snowbound Sierra Nevada focuses on the extremely harsh conditions of that long and legendary winter.

27. My Favorite Ghosts
Stories from the Ghost Towns and Historic Mining Camps of Colorado

John K. Aldrich

This new edition of My Favorite Ghosts presents 20 of the sites John loved most from the 425 he researched for the series. The sites were chosen with an eye towards what remains for today's explorers and those with the best stories.

28. Hiking Humboldt
Volume One

Kenneth M. Burton; Maps by Jason Barnes

Ken Burton describes 55 hikes, ranging from 5 to 15 miles in length, throughout Humboldt County in the first hiking guide to cover both coastal and inland regions of the county.

29. The Mount Whitney Guide
30 Years on the Mountain
A Comprehensive Trail Guide
Third Edition

Doug Thompson with Elisabeth Newbold

A Collection of Stories, Trail Tips, History, Recipes and More from the Whitney Portal Store, est. 1935. No book has more detail and inside information about the various routes to the top of Mt. Whitney, their requirements, and the choices involved than this one.

30. The Singer in the Stream

Katherine Hocker & Mary Willson, Illustrations by Katherine Hocker

This handsome picture book, written and illustrated by two dipper researchers, introduces readers to these charming birds and their watery world. Here you will discover what dippers eat and how they get it, where and how they nest, where they go in winter, and much more.

31. Field Guide to Manzanitas
California, North America, and Mexico

Michael Kauffmann, Tom Parker and Michael Vasey; Photographs by Jeff Bisbee

This ground-breaking field guide covers the species and subspecies of Arctostaphylos native to western North America. The book features color photos, accurate, detailed range maps, and descriptions of each species.

Best Selling Maps, Playing Cards, and Other Sidelines:

1. Native American Playing Cards
55 Portraits by Edward Curtis

Prospero Art

This stunning deck features 55 of the best images taken by Internationally known ethnologist and photographer Edward Curtis (1868-1952), known as Shadow Catcher, a name bestowed upon him by several tribes.

2. Chickens Playing Cards
55 Vintage Illustrations

Prospero Art

This amusing deck features classic illustrations of chickens from old note cards. Includes 35 varieties of birds plus plenty of adorable chicks.

3. Redwood National and State Parks: North
5th Edition

Redwood Hikes Press

This map covers all of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

4. Mark Twain Playing Cards
55 Quotes by Mark Twain

Prospero Art, Illustrations by Jan Padover

Twain's characters spring to life in this colorful deck of cards. The cards feature watercolored pen and ink drawings of many of the memorable American characters he created.

5. Mushrooms of California
A Guide to Common Edible & Poisonous Species

Text & Photos by J. Duane Sept

Covers 54 common mushrooms, 41 edible and 13 poisonous or not edible. Six illustrations and text explain mushroom identification and cautions.

6. California Road Map

Benchmark Maps

This is an ideal portable planning tool for statewide travel or adventuring throughout the Golden State. Includes large metro maps of Los Angeles area, Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento & more.

7. Redwood National and State Parks: South
5th Edition

Redwood Hikes Press

This map covers the the main body of Redwood National Park and part of Humboldt Lagoons State Park. Now printed on waterproof plastic.

8. Fishes of Northern & Central California Coast

Written & Illustrated by Val Kells

Covers 59 species—both common and rare—found inshore, nearshore, and offshore waters off the coast of California from San Luis Obispo north to the Oregon border.

9. Trails of Mt. Tamalpais, Muir Woods and Marin Headlands
Second Edition

Ben Pease

The 2019 edition of this classic guide to the Bay Area’s favorite mountain has been gently updated with accurately-mapped trails and clear bike access.

10. Birds of Central & Northern Cailfornia
A Guide to Common and Notable Species

Photos & Text by Greg R. Homel

Covers 109 species. Covers many types of birds, habitats, seasons, and field identification.

11. Alice in Wonderland Playing Cards

Created by Jan Padover & Rick Ellis
with the original John Tenniel illustrations

Every card features a quote from Lewis Carroll's original Alice in Wonderland tale or his companion book, Through the Looking-Glass, with the full-color artwork of famous English illustrator Sir John Tenniel as featured in the classic original edition.

12. Highway 395
Carson City to Lone Pine

Benchmark Maps

Detailed road map of the most dramatic section of this Eastern Sierra highway shows all roads, campgrounds, parks and national forests, most trailheads, more.

13. California Rocks
A Guide to Gems, Minerals, and Crystals

David Trexler

Covers sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks, plus many categories of minerals.

14. Toker Playing Cards
Every Card a Work of High Art

Prospero Art

Now that pot is legal in California and Colorado, and decriminalized in many other states, it’s time to celebrate/mock (choose one) High Culture. Do so with the colorful and high camp Toker Playing Cards. They have illustrations on every card that tokers and non-tokers alike will find amusing, with some images downright hilarious.

15. Nutcracker Ballet Playing Cards

Prospero Art

The cards feature evocative portraits of all the major Nutcracker characters: Fritz, Drosselmeyer, the Mouse King, the Snow Queen, the Snow King, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Dew Drop Queen, the Dancing Bear, and the other colorful characters from Tchaikovsky's most memorable ballet.

16. Sibley’s Birds of the California Coast

Written & Illustrated by David Allen Sibley

Covers 56 waterbirds: shorebirds, gulls, terns, wading birds, ducks, geese, swans, loons, and more.

17. Tidepools of the California Coast

Text & Illustrations by 
Val Kells

Illustrations and descriptions of the plants, invertebrates, fishes, and birds found in tidepools from the Oregon border south to Santa Barbara.

18. Wildflowers of the Sierra Nevada
A Guide to Common Native Species

Text & Photos by Steven Hartman

Covers 107 of the most prevalent Sierra species. Arranged by color, each listing includes common and scientific name, size and description of flower, plant, leaf, and months of bloom.

19. Jane Austen Playing Cards

Prospero Art

These attractive cards, evocative of Austen’s times, have one suit dedicated to each of her most famous works: hearts have images and quotes from Pride and Prejudice, clubs portray Emma, diamonds show Sense and Sensibility, and and spades represent Persuasion.

20. Night Sky Guide

Dr. Rick Feinberg

Includes four seasonal night sky charts, showing all major constellations, asterisms, nebula, and other objects visible with the naked eye. Includes “pointers” to orient the beginner skygazer.

21. Mendocino Coast Recreation Map

GeoGraphics Maps & Photos

This great new map by longtime Mendo coast resident Rixanne Wehren provides extensive information about the wide range of recreational activities on the Mendocino coast.

22. Common Bees of Western North America

Olivia Messinger Carril & Joseph S Wilson

Handy guide illustrating the amazing diversity of bee species in the West. Includes descriptions and illustrations.

23. Sibley’s Common Trees of California

Written & Illustrated by David Allen Sibley

Covers 47 of the most common native and introduced tree species, including descriptions, size, range, and illustrations of bark, leaves, blossoms, and fruits and berries.

24. Monterey Bay Map
Coastal California Series

Bluewater Maps

Beautiful new map spans the coastline from the town of Pescadero in the north to Andrew Molera State Park in the south.

25. Garden & Flowers Playing Cards
54 Vintage Seed Packets & Catalogue Illustrations

Prospero Art

Colorful deck features illustrations from late 19th century-early 20th century American seed packets and catalogs.

26. Sibley’s Raptors of Western North America

Written & Illustrated by David Allen Sibley

Covers 28 raptors: hawks, falcons, eagles, vultures, and kites. Each entry includes descriptive caption, size, range map, seasonal occurrence, and multiple illustrations.

27. Lake Tahoe & Tahoe Rim Trail Recreation Map

Tom Harrison

Covers the entire Tahoe Basin and adjacent lands, including entire Tahoe Rim Trail.

28. Marine Mammals of the Northern & Central California Coast

Written & Illustrated by Pieter Folks

Descriptions of Humpback, Fin, Gray, Blue, and Minke Whales. Other nearshore species included: Sea Lions, Sea Otter, Dolphins, and the Harbor Seal.

29. Bay Area Trail Map: Oakland Hills and Pleasanton Ridge
2nd Edition

Redwood Hikes Press

Map covers the central section of the East Bay hills and is currently the only comprehensive trail map of this region. Includes Redwood Regional Park, Anthony Chabot RP, Lake Chabot RP, Las Trampas, the EBMUD watershed, and more.

30. Bay Area Trail Map: Berkeley Hills and Carquinez Strait
2nd Edition

Redwood Hikes Press

The only comprehensive trail map of this parks- and trails-rich area in the Berkeley Hills and northern Contra Costa County

31. Trails of Santa Cruz
Fourth Edition

Ben Pease

This handsome and easy-to-read map includes beaches from Davenport to Aptos, plus expanded trails at Wilder Ranch, H. Cowell Redwoods, Forest of Nisene Marks, and UCSC.

32. Sibley’s Hummingbirds of North America

Written & Illustrated by David Allen Sibley

Includes all 18 species of hummingbirds found in North America, with captions, detailed range maps, both in-flight and perched illustrations with call-outs.

33. Fika/Swedish Pastries Playing Cards

by Prospero Art; art by Jan Padover

In Sweden, fika is a term for the coffee ritual that includes the pastries and sweets that are typically served with the beverage.

34. Mendocino Coast Map
Coastal California Series

Bluewater Maps

The Mendocino Coast map covers the coastline from Shelter Cove just across the Humboldt County line in the north to Gualala beside the Sonoma County line in the south, plus inland areas such as the 101 corridor and Round Valley.

35. Sonoma-Marin Coast Map
Coastal California Series

Bluewater Maps

This map covers not only Sonoma and Marin Counties, but also the western half of Napa County and the southern portion of Lake County as well as about two-thirds of San Francisco, the north half of SF Bay and the urban East Bay from Oakland north.

36. Yosemite National Park Map

Tom Harrison

Covers the entire vast, justly famous park plus adjacent areas.

37. Trails of Northeast Marin County, 2nd ed.

Ben Pease

This handsome, easy-to-read map shows trails for hiking,bicycling and equestrians in China Camp State Park, Olompali State Park, 17 Marin Open Space Preserves, four county parks, the Big Rock Ridge Area of Marin Open Space District, and more. Text describes trails, parks, areas open to dogs, and public transit available.

38. Mendocino/Lake Counties Map
Clear Lake/Fort Bragg/Ukiah

GM Johnson Maps

Road and street map covers both counties, along with detail maps of various sizes covering local cities and towns.