This official guide (from the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail) takes you to its beautiful day hikes. It showcases everything from scenic mountain vistas to surprising escapes in the Piedmont region and the wonders of coastal plain pocosins. Its helpful features include 40 hikes carefully chosen for hikers of all experience levels, a hike finder to identify hikes for birding, waterfalls, history and universal accessibility and turn-by-turn guidance and points of interest for each hike.

There are also full-color maps and photographs and information about a trail’s history and ongoing development. Edited by Jim Grode, the book is a Southern Gateways Guide, from the UNC Press series.

Paperback, 248 pages, $24; e-book $18.99. 800-848-6224