Campfire Stories Collection

Celebrating America's Public Lands and Long Trails

Campfire Stories Books - Volume I & II

campfire stories books

Our national parks are beautiful and unique places, often serving as an introduction to the outdoors and inspiring an appreciation for nature and wilderness. Similarly, stories and storytelling can serve as an introduction to other places and foster a powerful emotional connection to nature. Campfire Stories brings together tales about our national parks; some are by well-known writers such as John Muir, Bill Bryson, and Terry Tempest Williams, while others are from pioneer diaries or have been passed down through generations of indigenous peoples.

Co-editors Dave Kyu and Ilyssa Kyu spent six months traveling and researching the stories collected here. They gathered the best materials from public libraries, historical societies, arts and cultural organizations, museums, research centers, and national park archives. Park rangers, historians, artists, curators, educators, and local residents all offered guidance and suggestions. The goal was to discover entertaining, diverse, and engaging writings that reflect each park’s essence—as well as just fun to share.

Campfire Stories focuses on these six iconic national parks:

Acadia National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Rocky Mountain National ParkK
Yellowstone National Park
Yosemite National Park
Zion National Park

Campfire Stories: Volume II focuses on these seven iconic national parks and scenic trails:

Everglades National Park
Glacier National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Olympic National Park
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail

Campfire Stories Decks

The Campfire Stories Deck is a collection of 50 cards with storytelling prompts to help people of all ages find engaging and meaningful ways to connect with family and friends.

campfire stories deck

The Campfire Stories Deck--for Kids! is an easy storytelling game full of cute characters and intriguing scenarios. To play, young players pick one card from each set and then use the prompts to make up a story.

campfire stories deck kids

Tales & Travel Companions

Ignite a sense of wonder and discover a deeper appreciation of place through storytelling.

Expanding on the bestselling Campfire Stories volumes, which feature shareable tales from our national parks, this new series from Ilyssa and Dave Kyu immerses readers in the storytelling endemic to America’s beloved natural spaces, offering unique tours through diverse histories, lore, and landscapes.

Each collection also includes:

Local recommendations for outdoor exploration, select cultural activities, camping options, gateway towns, and more
"How to Visit Well" and "Community Resources" sections offer tips on sustainable travel while highlighting cultural, Indigenous, and conservation organizations

Coming Fall 2025: The Redwood Coast, The San Juan Islands, Santa Fe & Taos