I’ve recently rediscovered a genre of books that I had completely forgotten about for years- books about adventure in the great outdoors. As a kid, this was a genre that I devoured, with books like Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell and Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George. All of these books still sit on my bookshelf today.

But as I grew older, these types of adventure stories grew few and far between. Why? Who knows, but I’ve realized that I’m missing out. In the past year or so I’ve been picking up every outdoor adventure book I can get my hands on, and my “to read” list is getting longer and longer. It’s a genre that really speaks to my imaginative inner adventurer and I can’t get enough.

Are you looking for some new reads about the great outdoors?

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Here are 6 Must Read Books If You Love Adventure in the Great Outdoors

Grandma Gatewood’s Walk
Ben Montgomery

I loved this story about Emma Gatewood, who simply left home one day without telling anyone and then procceded to hike the Appalachian Trail. At the age of 67. She did this in 1955, when the trail was still fairly new and not nearly as well developed as it is today.

 

A Stranger in the Woods
Michael Finkel

“In 1986, a shy and intelligent twenty-year-old named Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the forest. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later, when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death.”

This was a 5 star read for me. If you haven’t read it yet, you should.

 

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
Cheryl Strayed

The story of a woman who makes the impulsive decision to hike the PCT with no experience, after her life falls apart. It’s an incredible journey to follow along as Cheryl finds herself on the trail.

 

The Simple Wild
K. A. Tucker

Unlike the other books on this list, this one is fiction. It’s the story of a woman returning home to Alaska to meet her dying father. She reconnects with the wild Alaska land and meets a rugged bush pilot. It’s an easy, fun read that’s full of adventure and it’s also a great beach read.

 

A Walk in the Woods
Bill Bryson

This book was actually the first hiking book I picked up and I found it fascinating. It’s the adventures of two inexperienced, older men hiking the Appalachian Trail and I’m sure you can imagine the mishaps and mistakes that happen along the way.

 

Becoming Odyssa
Jennifer Pharr Davis

Another book about hiking the Appalachian trail, this one wasn’t my favourite but it was still a worthwhile story. Jennifer hikes the trail solo after finishing college and it’s a great story of self-discovery.

 

Outdoor Adventure Stories on my TBR List

The list of outdoor adventure books on my TBR is getting loonng. Here’s a few I am really looking forward to:

The Middle of Somewhere by Sonja Yoerg
The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs by Tristan Gooley
Girl In the Woods by Aspen Matis
Lands of Lost Borders by Kate Harris

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I often post about my 101 challenge and my outdoor adventure with the kids with the hashtags #101in1001 #101adventures or #asimplesomething.  You can join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.  Or, you can follow me on Bloglovin or subscribe via e-mail to be alerted to each new post!