50 True Tales From Our Great National Parks
Stephanie Pearson is a National Geographic Explorer and a contributing editor to Outside. She is the author of “100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A.,” “100 Great American Parks,” and a beautifully illustrated children’s book “50 True Tales From Our Great National Parks.”
Pearson earned a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, then began her career at Outside, where she was on the editorial staff for 13 years. Her freelance assignments have included reporting from Mount Everest Base Camp, meditating with Tibetan Buddhist Scholar Robert Thurman in Bhutan, and producing an online science curriculum while traveling through Australia and Latin America with National Geographic Explorer Dan Buettner and his team.
Pearson has received six Lowell Thomas Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation including the 2023 Gold Award for Travel Journalist of the Year. Her work has also been anthologized in “The Best American Travel Writing” series. For the past few years she’s been preoccupied with exploring the mysterious body of fresh water in her own backyard, Lake Superior.
Contact StephanieStephanie Pearson is a National Geographic Explorer and a contributing editor to Outside. She is the author of “100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A.,” “100 Great American Parks,” and a beautifully illustrated children’s book “50 True Tales From Our Great National Parks.”
Pearson earned a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, then began her career at Outside, where she was on the editorial staff for 13 years. Her freelance assignments have included reporting from Mount Everest Base Camp, meditating with Tibetan Buddhist Scholar Robert Thurman in Bhutan, and producing an online science curriculum while traveling through Australia and Latin America with National Geographic Explorer Dan Buettner and his team.
Pearson has received six Lowell Thomas Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation including the 2023 Gold Award for Travel Journalist of the Year. Her work has also been anthologized in “The Best American Travel Writing” series. For the past few years she’s been preoccupied with exploring the mysterious body of fresh water in her own backyard, Lake Superior.
Contact StephanieFeatured Work
100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A
I am excited to announce the publication of 100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A., available everywhere on April 7, 2026!
This is my second book for National Geographic. It’s a sequel to Kate Siber’s best-selling 100 Hikes of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Scenic Trails and focuses on the best trails, day hikes, and pilgrimage treks across the United States.
Complemented by stunning National Geographic photography, each hike includes information on trail length and elevation, skill level, and the best places to stop and soak it all in. Plus, I offer recommendations on how to plan, where to stay, what wildlife you might see, plus alternative routes.
In addition to incredible hiking, my greatest joy in researching and writing this book came from meeting so many people across the country who are passionate about creating and maintaining their backyard trails despite the many threats they face, including overuse, funding cuts, and increasingly powerful storms. They continue to do the hard work of keeping up these extraordinary footpaths, which allows the rest of us to relax and enjoy the peace and beauty that they provide.
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