Utah: Best backpacking books?

Try doing an amazon search for Michael R. Kelsey:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=michael%20r.%20kelsey&sprefix=michael+r.+ke%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Amichael%20r.%20kelsey

He has written some extraordinarily interesting and dense guides to areas in the Colorado Plateau. For a long time I have been telling people this is how guides should be written. Unfortunately, to find people capable of writing them this way is probably very difficult. Personally I enjoy reading them just for all the information, even if I don't go to a particular spot. Details on routes and ideas for places to go – yes. But also archeology, geology, history, natural history…etc. The are not coffee table books. There are loads of picture, but instead of glossy color photos of some stereotypical spot you are more like to get tons of B&W historical picture. In short stuff that has dept.

I have the Canyonlands NP, Green River Guide, and the one on the Henry Mountains. Get one and check it out, and if you like the style you will be all set for any areas he has covered.

Unfortunately no book specifically on Zion, unless he has some of those those trips in his non-technical canyons book. But for SE Utah he is awesome.

Steve Allen's Canyoneering 1, 2, and 3 are the best guidebooks for anywhere, though none of them really cover SW Utah. Kelsey's books are good for beta for experienced hikers but many have gotten trouble trying to follow his books too closely. Think of them as a resource for general ideas for possibility of canyon entries/exits, etc.

My recommendation is look at maps on hillmap/google earth/your favorite map site for loop possibilities and look for beta online. In general guidebooks kinda suck with a few exceptions. Others might have more info for resources around Zion.

Backcountrypost.com has nice folks and lots of trip reports from the area.

" Think of them as a resource for general ideas for possibility of canyon entries/exits, etc. "

That is very true – the Kelsy books are not really for hand-holding, and you may loose some focused precision there. Still, even if you get detailed info on a route from a good source that is more focused (and boring) than Kelsey you need to be prepared to be somewhat self-sufficient with the navigation in that area – regardless. I like the Allen books as well. They work – they are just so…conventional.

The Allen books are works of art. It takes lots of miles following his routes to appreciate the work put in. By comparison, Kelsey is a hack. He hikes a ton and has an enormous range of experience, but his books are hastily put together and often sloppy on details. Two opposite ends of the spectrum w/r/t reliability.

The best backcountry Zion beta I'm aware of is Bo Beck's website, http://www.zionnational-park.com. If you want to do technical stuff Tom Jones' book on Zion is worth getting, but it's almost entirely day stuff.

Thanks for the info posted, I too am looking for more info. Question, I'm doing the narrows top to bottom on May 15, my second time. I've done the subway. I'm looking for an amazing overnighter BP spot or car camping spot for the next day within an hour drive from Zion, any recommendations? Looking for some photography locations.

Thanks!

If you want to car camp, drive up and stay at Lava Point. The views from the rim are ridiculous. Ditto for Strawberry Point up near Navajo Lake. If you want an easy overnight, you could do an out and back on the Virgin River Rim trail up near Navajo Lake. All of these options are up above 9k and might be cold at night.

The Bryce area is a bit more than an hour away, and has many nice overnighter options.