Get the Inside Scoop on What the Best of the Black Hills Has to Offer
The Best of the Black Hills is Available now!
After writing visitor guidebooks to four major national parks, author Alan Leftridge wanted to turn his spotlight on the Black Hills.
“The region is so rich in history, culture, public lands, and outdoor recreation,” Leftridge says, “it’s a natural fit for our guidebook series.”
Leftridge, a former national park ranger, loves sharing his passion for exploring with other people.
“Seeing the excitement and enthusiasm on a visitor’s face is its own reward,” he says. “They arrive asking ‘what is there to see and do?’ and you can see the anticipation build as you describe the natural wonders awaiting them. It’s the best part of the job.”
Leftridge’s own enthusiasm is infectious as he shares it in The Best of the Black Hills ($19.95, Farcountry Press, 2017).
“The Black Hills are a landscape of superlatives,” Leftridge says. “Amazing scenery, beautiful wildflower displays, bison and elk, and seemingly endless opportunities to hike, bike, horseback ride, go boating and fishing, and immerse yourself in Old West history and Native American cultures. It’s easy to share my excitement for such a spectacular place.”
The book describes the best day hikes, bike rides, scenic drives, campgrounds, places to see flora and fauna, historic and cultural sites, and much more. There are sections on the best activities for kids and the best way to spend a rainy (or snow) day. More than 160 color photographs and locator maps help build anticipation for each adventure. Destinations span the region, from Badlands National Park and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site to Deadwood, Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Wind and Jewel Caves, and Devils Tower National Monument.
Check out The Best of the Black Hills on Amazon by clicking here!
The Best of the Black Hills (ISBN: 978-1-56037-691-0, $19.95, Farcountry Press, 2017) is available at local bookstores and gift shops, through online retailers, or from Farcountry Press at 1.800.821.3874, www.farcountrypress.com.
About the Author
Alan Leftridge has served as a seasonal naturalist in Yellowstone National Park and a wilderness ranger in the Mission Mountains Wilderness. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Central Missouri, a secondary teaching credential from the University of Montana, and a Ph.D. in science education and cultural geography at Kansas State University. His career has included teaching high school science in West Yellowstone, science courses at Miami University, and environmental studies at Humboldt State University. The Best of the Black Hills is his seventh book with Farcountry Press; his other titles are The Best of Yellowstone National Park, The Best of Rocky Mountain National Park, The Best of Olympic National Park, The Best of Glacier National Park, Glacier Day Hikes, and Going to Glacier.