Afoot in the South

More than 500 miles from east to west, and with a landscape that rises from sea level to over a mile in altitude, North Carolina is a naturalist's dream. The 18 walks presented here are among the best the state has to offer. From the massive Canadian hemlocks and yellow poplars in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest to the peat-rich pocosins at Jones Lake State Park, from the feisty gray squirrels in Duke Forest to the ghost crabs and loggerhead turtles on Bear Island, this guide presents a well-rounded sampling for those who want to learn about and enjoy North Carolina's natural areas. With its attention to natural and cultural history and its hard facts for walkers on the trail, it is designed for armchair travelers and outdoorsmen alike.