A guide to no man’s land

Vast on every scale, Death Valley National Park’s 3.3 million acres form an incredibly complex and forbidding landscape. Perhaps for this reason there has never been an accessible introductory guide to this hauntingly beautiful “backside” of California.

Now, with its characteristic flair and style, Cachuma Press has produced an ideal visitor’s guide to the park and surrounding desert.

Full of maps and astonishing photographs, this book provides an excellent overview of the region’s geology, plants, animals and history as a prelude to the primary contribution -- an immensely readable site-by-site description of the park’s natural treasures, complete with detailed access information and tips. It’s an invitation that’s hard to resist.

-- David Lukas