Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-to-Zion Journey Through Every National Park

Loved this book. Definitely on my top non-fiction of all time list. In the aftermath of a heartbreak, CBS correspondent Conor Knighton has the crazy idea that, just maybe, what he wants to do next is visit every national park within a year. What follows is over 50 episodes that are by turns inspiring, educational, funny, sobering, healing, and eye-opening.I actually loved that this wasn't a deep dive into every park, it was more of a fly-over but with moments of insight and carefully selected (but not overwhelming) details. Honestly, this makes it a very appealing read for anyone who struggles with distraction while reading. Before one's attention has time to wander, we're on to the next park.He organizes his narratives by themes, such as Mystery, Sound, Borders, Home, and Sunset. Tying seemingly unrelated parks together this way made for fascinating reading. For instance, who would ever talk about Cuyahoga Valley, just outside Cleveland, in the same breath as Gates of the Arctic? And yet it works.And so many of the parks were ones I really had no reference point for. So it was the best kind of "I'm really learning something" reading experience, kind of like when you're a little kid learning about the seven wonders of the world for the first time. It recaptures that feeling.

This is a lovely book that vastly exceeded my expectations! We watched many of Conor Knighton’s segments on CBS Sunday Morning as he visited the National Parks, and I looked forward to reading about it.First, this book is not a guidebook to the National Parks - there are many of those, and one more would add little to those already available. Instead the book is much more personal, relating the author’s life to the places he visits. He also presents the parks, not in a chronological sequence, but by tying individual ones together through common features that stood out for him based on his visits. For examples, some chapters might be as simple as “Volcanoes” or “Trees”, but then another will be “Sound” (which touches on Great Sand Dunes and Katmai national parks - I was not even aware of the latter park).This personal approach on the author’s thoughts and recollections was, in my opinion, definitely the right choice. It also reminded me of the Martin Scorsese quote referenced at this year’s Academy Awards by South Korean Director Bong Joon-ho. “The most personal is the most creative”.One chapter in the book “People” also struck a personal chord with me. Knighton relates the story of visiting Zion NP on a family trip in July 1995, and how they didn’t finish the hike to Angel’s Landing. At the time, Knighton was the age of our sons - we also visited Zion NP, but in June 1995. We did the same hike with some of the same concerns. My sons and I finished the final portion, but my wife and daughter stopped prior to reaching the final “landing” (and the 1500 foot drop offs!).I read the book in short bursts, usually no more than two chapters at a time, so that I could enjoy Knighton’s observations at a leisurely pace. I’ve been fortunate to have visited many of the parks, and I have fond memories of those visits. I was sad when I reached the last chapter... and the journey ended.

I’m a National Park “junkie” and grew up camping with my family. Exploring every park is a dream, so reading about a young man who did it after a heartbreak and wrote about it so eloquently, with humor, antidotes, and descriptions of each park’s unique beauty, was a treat. Many themes run through the book; conservation, climate change, online dating, race, technology and being connected… they are all discussed thoughtfully, without judgement, but with refreshing candor. I loved it, but my views align very similarly. I can imagine skeptics reading it a little differently. Great book.

The writing in this book is exceptional! It made me want to go back to the parks I have seen and see all the ones I missed. There is just enough description to give you a good mental view but yet make you want to go see it. The author is a wonderful writer and I hope there are or will be more books of his to read.

I love our national parks, and I enjoy collecting travel books that explain in detail all the amazing things you can see and do when you visit the parks. This is NOT one of those books! I think that expectation is why some reviewers were disappointed, but it's right there in the title -- this is a STORY about the author's "journey" through the parks and how it impacted him. I personally appreciated this twist on the typical national parks book because it is unique, not just another book like we have all read before.As I read "Leave Only Footprints", it caused me to laugh (a lot), cry (a little), and stop to think about a number of issues that I may have never considered before. It didn't necessarily describe trails I have hiked or sights I have seen when I visited the parks, allowing me to relive those moments from my own past, but it did encourage me to think back to those visits and look at them from a different perspective. It also gave me the motivation to approach future visits to the parks with a more thoughtful and reflective attitude rather than simply seeking to achieve certain goals or check off experiences from a "must do" list.While some people have complained about the personal stories and reflections that Conor Knighton includes throughout the book, I think that's what makes it special. By the time I got to the end, I was rooting for him to find love again, and I felt like I knew him as a person and not just as an expert sharing facts with me. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys and appreciates our national parks, and as you read it, expect to be not only entertained but also inspired to look at the parks in a different way!

I am really loving this book. I love that it’s not the usual take on national parks, but has great information about each one.

If you’re looking for a detailed guide to America’s National Parks, this isn’t the book for you.However, if your looking for some uplifting content with amazing facts about nature and the history of some of the parks - pick it up!Conor Knighton’s narrative is engaging, beautiful, and funny. I read a chapter a day and I always seemed to be happier after reading. It’s definitely fuelled my excitement to go exploring and travelling to see the amazing sights he’s written about