Books About the Outdoors

Books of Indigenous Knowledge Canada's Indigenous Peoples have millennia of deep, accumulated knowledge and understanding of the natural world and the ways to best interact and commune with it that have been passed down through generations.

Kevin Callan Books Kevin Callan's canoe guides are some of the best written, most informative guides for routes throughout the province of Ontario. He's penned over 15 books about canoeing and camping.

Mors Kochanski Books Learn from the books of veteran wilderness survival instructor and the godfather of bushcraft, Mors Kochanski.

Lars Fält Books Read books by Lars Fält, the elder statesman of Swedish bushcraft, outdoors and survival training, and learn Outdoors the Scandinavian Way.

Ray Mears Books Ray Mears' books are impeccably written and laid out - definitive works in the art of bushcraft.

Ray Goodwin Books Ray has paddled on 4 continents & was the first person to complete circumnavigation of Wales and an unsupported crossing of the Irish Sea. His book "Canoeing" details many facets and techniques for safe and effective canoe and water travel.

Blacksmithing Books Books on the art of blacksmithing including forging projects and information on practices and techniques. A must read for anyone interested in forging and blacksmithing.

Canadian Canoe Guides Going Canoeing in Canada? Need maps? How to books? Route suggestions? We've got canoe route books by Kevin Callan and others to get you out there.

Classic Outdoor Books Some outdoor books are so well written, exhaustive and well loved, they truly are outdoor classics, and would do well on any outdoor person’s bookshelf - be they novice, or seasoned expert.

Canadian Field Guides The Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co. carries field guides specific to Canada and Ontario. These field guides include: Mushrooms, Wild Edibles, Fish, Trees, Mammals, Wild Berries, Weather and more.

First Aid Guides First aid emergency guides are invaluable for any outdoors person or activities - be they hikers, canoeists, campers or hunters.

Once Around Algonquin - An Epic Canoe JourneyKevin Callan's Once Around Algonquin is an entertaining and exciting tale of misadventure on Algonquin Park's legendarily tough "Meanest Link" - a 420km route made up of 55 lakes, 6 rivers, and over 100 portages totalling 68km in Ontario, Canada. In addition to tales of bloodthirsty mosquitos, stolen whiskey, moose pee in the campsite and an unexpected paddle through Huntsville's famed bathtub race, Callan also details the park's history and evolution, interweaving stories from this bromance adventure tale - all with Callan's strong storytelling, and trademark humour that shares insights into some of the challenges and rewards of canoe tripping for both the novice as well as the seasoned pro.

Halton HikesHalton Hikes details 37 hiking loops in Halton Region (west/northwest of Toronto) Ontario including portions of the Bruce Trail, as well as municipal trails and conservation areas along the Niagara Escarpment in Oakville, Burlington, and up through Campbellville, Milton, Acton, Georgetown in to Rockwood, Eden Mills, Erin and more.

Waterloo, Wellington & Guelph HikesWaterloo, Wellington & Guelph Hikes offers 35 loop hiking routes in the Waterloo, Wellington & Guelph areas, including the Cambridge, Kitchener, Woowich, St.Jacobs, Elora, Erin, Fergus, Elmira and Rockwood areas. Ranging in length from 2.4 to 22 km, these loop hike routes in Waterloo, Wellington & Guelph include detailed colour maps, colour photos of landmarks, and local history and lore along the way.

Get Outside Children's BookGet Outside is an illustrated hardcover book to teach and inspire your little wild ones about the ABC's of the great outdoors, and all the wonderful ways it can be enjoyed.

British Columbia Nature GuideLearn to identify 406 species that call British Columbia's diverse landscape home, with the British Columbia Nature Guide. With colour illustrations, range map, and cross references of each species.

Spirit Animals - The Wisdom of NatureSpirit Animals - The Wisdom of Nature is a timeless book authored by award winning and acclaimed Aboriginal writer Wayne Arthurson. In this book he dives into the world of spirit animals to showcase the intrinsic link between the spirituality of Canada's Native peoples and how it was formed by observing the natural world around them.

Kevin Callan's Wilderness PleasuresDo you love camping except for “that one part” (portaging, bugs, bad weather, second-rate food, sleeping bags, rocks, uphill hikes, downhill tumbles, tippy canoes, or, let’s face it, life without a toilet)? With his trademark mix of comic tales and expertise, veteran guide Kevin Callan reveals the secrets to smooth paddling and pleasure-filled camping. Topics include choosing the right trip, camping companion harmony, best camping gadgets and clothing, sleeping softly on hard ground, traveling light but eating well, bush martinis, close encounters of the wildlife kind, skinny-dipping, and how to make love in a canoe.

Weather of OntarioHere in Ontario, the weather can range from mild and wet in the south, to hot and humid in Toronto, to heavy flurries and cold in the north. Join acclaimed Ontario meteorologist Phil ''The Forecaster'' Chadwick as he explores this ever-fascinating subject.

Mors Kochanski - The Grand SyllabusMors Kochanski's new book The Grand Syllabus is an “all inclusive” syllabus of topics taught by Mors Kochanski at the University level, in his Extended Summer and Winter Courses, and in his Survival Instructor Trainee Program. Designed for the instructor or serious student, it is an excellent companion text to Mors' now classic "Bushcraft" for those looking to expand on their skill set.

Birds of CanadaA full colour, definitive guide book for the almost 500 bird species that call Canada home - ranging from warblers, to loons, to eagles to pelicans - all in one easier to use guide.

Spirit AnimalsOur Aboriginal Elders tell of a time when animals and humans could speak to each other. When humans became too greedy and killed more animals than they needed for food, the Creator changed that relationship to protect the animals. So the Creator made a Spirit Animal to represent each one and granted them gifts they could give to people.

Hamilton and Area HikesThe Hamilton area is home to over 100 waterfalls, and Hamilton and Area Hikes takes you to over 20 of them, and also includes loop hike routes in Stoney Creek, Dundas Valley, Paris, Grand River, Brantford, Cootes Paradise and Oshweken amongst others - with route lengths from 2.5 to 23.5 km in the Hamilton area and Brant County.

Dufferin HikesSet north of Peel and Caledon Regions, north west of the city of Toronto, Dufferin Region offers excellent hiking opportunities in and around Orangeville, Shelburne, Mono, in the Hockley Valley, and at Mono Cliffs. Dufferin Hikes outlines 32 loop hikes ranging in length from 2.2 to 21 km long, with detailed maps, colour photos and local history and lore.

One Mans WildernessIn 1973 (long before YouTube and the current crop of imitators) Sam Keith wrote a tribute to Dick Proenneke using Dick's daily journals as source material. Proenneke was the original "back to the land" inspiration - he spent many years living on his own, forging his own path, and making his mark on the lands of Twin Lakes Alaska, and outdoor culture as a whole.

Waterfalls of OntarioA guide to exploring Ontario's most beautiful waterfalls. With GPS coordinates, and accurate driving directions for each fall, this book will not only guide you there but dig deep into features with colour photographs, history, geography, and waterfall characteristics.

125 Nature Hot Spots in OntarioNewly revised, 125 Nature Hot Spots in Ontario has been organized by region, and features 15 new destinations to explore. The guide gives you an inside look to the amazing natural range that Ontario has to offer, from the warbler capital of North America, to soaring clifftops, the oldest rock on earth, and the province's tallest white pine.

Collingwood the Blue Mountains & Beaver Valley HikesCollingwood Hikes details 35 hiking loops in the Collingwood region of Southern Ontario including Blue Mountain & the Beaver Valley. Visit serene trails along Metcalfe Rock, Pinnacle Rock, Freedom Rock and Old Baldy to discover beautiful crevices, caves, and canyons.

Mushrooms of Western CanadaThe Guide to Mushrooms of Western Canada is a very comprehensive field guide covering the western side of North America from Alaska to northern California, and Saskatchewan and Montana to the Pacific Coast. This excellent field guide Includes scientific descriptions along with full colour illustrations exploring 550 species.

Edible & Medicinal Plants of the RockiesThe Edible and Medical Plants of the Rockies depicts over 300 species of common trees, shrubs, flowers, ferns, mosses and lichens and information on locating, harvesting, processing these plants that have been used by people from ancient times to the present from this unique alpine environment. This guide is 272 pages with more than 700 full colour photographs and illustrations.

Alberta Nature Guide The Alberta Nature Guide covers the vast diversity of flora and fauna found in all corners of the province of Alberta. With colour illustrations, range map, and cross references of each species to help you to identify 411 species that call Alberta home.

Alpine Plants of British Columbia, Alberta & Northwest North AmericaDiscover the beautiful species of the fragile alpine ecosystem of British Columbia, Alberta & Northwest North America. Two of Canada’s most respected nature writers, Mackinnon and Pojar, have written a guide for over 500 species found in the alpine slopes and meadows of western Canada.