Seek Higher Ground: The Natural Solution To Our Urgent Flooding Crisis

With a lifetime of engagement in flooding issues and with years of research on this topic, Tim Palmer explores the legacy of flooding in America, taking a fresh look at the emerging climatic, economic, and ecological realities of our rivers and communities. Global warming is forecast to sharply intensify flooding, and this book urges that we reduce future damage in the most effective, efficient, and equitable ways possible. Published by the University of California Press, 2024.

“Brilliantly written, expertly researched, Seek Higher Ground” examines in pathbreaking ways our ongoing cataclysm in the age of climate change. Tim Palmer is the ideal author to reveal practical solutions to America’s chronic vulnerability to flooding. His heartfelt narrative is an urgent wake-up call for action.”
—Douglas Brinkley, historian and author of Silent Spring Revolution

“The most comprehensive and compelling book written on the history and challenges of floodplain management.” 
—Chad Berginnis, Executive Director, Association of State Floodplain Managers

“Tim Palmer brings together crucial issues of flooding as no one has done before. This account is gripping to read and essential to understand as we face a world altered by a warming climate.”
—Philip Garone, author of The Fall and Rise of the Wetlands of California’s Great Central Valley

“Warm air holds more water vapor than cold—so we can expect flooding to keep increasing, which means we should pay close attention to the lessons in this book. Too much water is going to be as big a challenge for our earth as too little; now is the time to act.”
—Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature

“A story I could not put down. I recommend it to all who are affected when streams and rivers rise, to all who work in this challenging field, and to all who end up paying for the floods that are destined to increase as the climate crisis unfolds—and that includes every one of us.”
—Brian Richter, cofounder of The Nature Conservancy’s Global Water Program and author of Chasing Water 

See a short film about this important and timely 2024 book: Seek Higher Ground: the Natural Solution to our Urgent Flooding Crisis

Order here

Youghiogheny: Appalachian River

Tim Palmer has deep roots along the Youghiogheny River! This revised edition of his classic river biography includes a new introduction and epilogue exploring how the Yough has changed since this celebrated book first came out. Published by the University of Pittsburgh Press, 2023.

“Tim Palmer brilliantly illuminates one of our most beloved rivers and parks. Thank you, Tim, for this excellent contribution to the literature of Pennsylvania.”
—Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

“No one captures the magic of flowing water better than Tim Palmer. This revealing update of Youghiogheny leads us through timeless vistas and ever-shifting cultures.”
—Tom Horton environmental reporter, Baltimore Sun

“Paddlers cherish the Youghiogheny, and its story is crucial to understanding one of the most important places in our lives. This book will enrich your time on these waters as nothing else can do.”
—Ed Gertler, author of Keystone Canoeing and other paddling guides

“Lyrical and informative, this classic account is essential to understanding the Youghiogheny River and the environment of our region.”
—Paul Wiegman, Senior Naturalist, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

“The stories told here offer indispensable lessons found nowhere else. A perfect day for me would be to join Tim Palmer on the Youghiogheny, and reading this book is the next best thing.”
—Eric Harder, Mountain Watershed Association 

“The finest book ever written about a Pennsylvania River.” 
—The Patriot-News, Harrisburg 

America's Great Mountain Trails: 100 highcountry hikes of a lifetime

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL OUTDOOR BOOK AWARD
FOREWARD INDIE AWARD, Finalist

With stunning photography and an inspiring text, this book showcases the possibilities for finding beauty and adventure in mountains across America. Published by Rizzoli, 2019.

"Tim Palmer has set a whole new standard for guidebooks to the natural world." His tips about where to go are backed by intimate knowledge of nature and woven into a photo book of dazzling proportions. I'm adding it to my set of the finest guides to America's outdoors."
—John Muir Laws, author of The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada

"I know the value of a book that not only tells us what we need to know for a safe and memorable mountain trip, but also one that inspires us and lures us to go to places that offer incomparable rewards. Tim's book does all that and more."
—Nettie Pardue, Executive Director of Outward Bound California and ultrarunner

America's Great River Journeys: 50 canoe, kayak, and raft adventures

WINNER FOREWARD INDIE SILVER AWARD

With Tim Palmer's beautiful photography and informative text, this book celebrates the adventure of river travel, showcasing the best places for canoeing, kayaking, and rafting along 7,000 miles of our nation's most spectacular waterways. Published by Rizzoli, 2018.

"This hefty, gorgeous tome by Tim Palmer, an ace photographer and author of 26 books, will make you yearn for the wild blue yonder."
—Forbes, April 23, 2018

"There are many good ways to see the planet, to explore, and to seek adventure, but to travel down the greatest rivers in America with Tim Palmer is among the very best. This book is the wish-list I wish I had found fifty years ago. Once you go—or simply turn these pages—you'll know that every one of these rivers is worth saving so that others might go there as well."
—Yvon Chouinard, river runner, climber, founder of Patagonia, Inc.

"I've been guiding river trips and running my own outfitting company for 20 years, and can say with confidence that Tim Palmer is uniquely qualified to write about America’s best river journeys. His motivation for getting out on rivers is irresistibly infectious, and his descriptions of these 50 outings are the ultimate resource for anybody wanting to see or travel on our country’s waterways. Read Tim's book and then go!"
—Zach Collier, river explorer and owner/outfitter, Northwest Rafting Company 

"Tim Palmer's narratives and photos capture the allure of free-flowing water and illuminate the importance of rivers in our lives. There's nothing quite like a river trip if you're searching for adventure, connection with friends and family, and discovering the very best of America's natural treasures. Sign me up for any one of the fifty magnificent journeys that Tim so well describes."
—Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers

"In this book, Tim Palmer brings the allure and enchantment of rivers to everyone. Most of us grow to love only the places we know, and so this heartfelt chronicle is essential beyond its extremely successful mission of guiding people to the best river trips in America. By introducing us to these special places, Tim also guides us toward longterm stewardship that's essential for all our flowing waters."
—Mark Singleton, Executive Director, American Whitewater

Featured in USA Today

See Tim's essay about this book on American Rivers' blog

A Field Guide to Rivers of the Rocky Mountains

A true river lover's reference that profiles 70 favorite rivers in four Western states with tips about where to see, hike, fish, and explore by boat, with maps and gorgeous photos to whet your appetite for exploration and adventure. Published by Falcon Guides, 2021. 

"Brilliant—as Tim's work always is—this book reminds us that our world, even in crisis, offers endless wonders of beauty and life."
—David James Duncan, author of The River Why and River Teeth

"As a conservation advocate, guide, and river ranger for 20 years, I can tell you that Tim Palmer is a guide to be trusted. He knows these rivers with all the charms they offer and threats they face. This guidebook is going with me, everywhere."
—Bill Sedivy, river ranger, paddler, and former director of Idaho Rivers United

"Field Guide to Rivers of the Rocky Mountains is an encyclopedia of essentials for paddling and streamside hiking, but far more than that with rich back-story, natural history, and luminous photos."
—Al Kesselheim, author of The Wilderness Paddler's Handbook and Let Them Paddle

"Whether you’re a seasoned river rat or new to the culture, this book is a must-have companion for your glove box and dry box as you explore the incomparable rivers of the Rocky Mountain West."
—Mike Fiebig, American Rivers' Director of River Protection in Colorado, raft guide and kayaker.

Twilight of the Hemlocks and Beeches

WINNER OF ANSEL ADAMS AWARD

With this elegy in photos and heartfelt text, Tim Palmer documents the magnificence and beauty of these graceful trees of the Eastern Forest before they succumb to the ravages of exotic insects and pathogens. Published by Penn State University Press, 2018.

“Palmer’s prose is as vivid and beautiful as his photographs. Both capture and hold for future generations a little of what we are losing in our shady, magical beech and hemlock groves. This bittersweet celebration and elegy is not to be missed by anyone who loves nature.”
—Ted Williams, environmental journalist

“Two of America’s great trees are being crippled, leaving our forested landscape poised for transformation. The photos in this volume capture the majesty and singular role of the eastern hemlock and American beech in settings across their range, while the insightful text offers the detailed story of their lives and our future loss.”
—David Foster, director of the Harvard Forest

"Tim Palmer’s breathtaking photography perfectly captures the magic of Pennsylvania’s state tree, whether seen during a walk through an ancient grove or meandering along many streambanks and waterways in the commonwealth. His images and prose will inspire us all to work on building resilience for adaptation to the impacts of climate change and to do what we can to save these majestic trees.”
—Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Wild and Scenic Rivers: An American Legacy

INDIEFAB NATURE BOOK OF THE YEAR, Finalist

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of America's Wild and Scenic Rivers program, this stunning photo book recounts the history of our nation's premiere initiative for protecting cherished waterways and arrays the breathtaking splendor of these streams. Published by Oregon State University Press, 2017.

"With his book about our Wild and Scenic Rivers, Tim Palmer has made a great contribution to America. Having been directly involved in this program, I'm grateful that the legacy of all who have worked to protect these rivers will be known and appreciated."
—President Jimmy Carter

"There is magic in rivers and in the camera and pen of Tim Palmer. Read this book to understand how and why moving water has become a key component of our environmental ethic."
—Roderick Frazier Nash, Professor Emeritus, University of California Santa Barbara and author of Wilderness and the American Mind

"Tim Palmer has created a glorious book of photos, but Wild and Scenic Rivers is far more than that. Read it from cover to cover! All who shoulder responsibility for administering our wild and scenic rivers will find this narrative not just useful and entertaining, but also essential to what we do. "
—Chris Brown, former Director, Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers, U.S Forest Service 

"Through a lifetime of passionate connection with the allure of moving water, Tim Palmer has achieved a rare and fluid eloquence in his words as well as his images. His tribute to the enduring vitality of rivers recognizes the absolute importance of protecting them through the exercise of good sense and sound stewardship, the rewards that rivers invariably return to all who invest in their protection, and perhaps most important of all, the rapture that the wild water can instill in each of us when we open our hearts to its ever-surging flood tide of beauty."
—Kevin Fedarko, author of The Emerald Mile

"Tim Palmer’s enchanting photographs and engaging story-telling remind me why saving free-flowing rivers from harm is essential. Read Tim's book to be inspired!"
—Rebecca Wodder, former President and CEO, American Rivers

Rivers of Oregon

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS AWARD, Finalist

Showcasing the beauty, the life, and the magic of Oregon's remarkable array of waterways, this photo book by award-winning photographer Tim Palmer captures the intrinsic qualities of the state's rivers with exquisite images and an illuminating text. Published by Oregon State University Press, 2016.

"Tim Palmer stalks riverine light, flow and foliage the way a good predator stalks its prey. No one I know, my river-addicted self included, has given more constant witness to what rivers have to give."
—David James Duncan, author of The River Why

"Tim Palmer's gorgeous new Rivers of Oregon makes me want to live forever, so that I can float every riffle and eddy of every stream. His photographs are spectacular, his prose enticing, his love for the rivers intense. And the rivers themselves? Deep and beautiful and redeeming, the source of life itself."
—Kathleen Dean Moore, author of Great Tide Rising

See excerpted photos featured in an Oregonian "gallery" here.

Listen to Tim talk about Rivers of Oregon on JPR's Jefferson Exchange.

America's Great National Forests, Wildernesses and Grasslands

with photos and chapter introductions by Tim Palmer, essays by Char Miller, Foreward by Bill McKibben 

In this stunning volume, award-winning photographer Tim Palmer has teamed up with award-winning historian Char Miller to create an unparalleled portrait of our nation's remarkable National Forest estate. Featuring photos from 120 national forests from Alaska to Puerto Rico. Published by Rizzoli, 2016

"Every page is a wonder...a treasure trove of photographs and conservation-infused prose for the ages."
—Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History, Rice University

"If you are passionate about our national forests and grasslands, then this book is for you."
—Tom Tidwell, Chief, U.S. Forest Service

"Char Miller's fascinating narrative, accompanied by Tim Palmer's stunning images from national forests across the country, invite a new generation of Americans to discover for themselves the beauty and serenity of these magnificent public lands."
—Al Sample, President, Pinchot Institute

Field Guide to Oregon Rivers

Second edition, updated and with select new photos in 2024!

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL OUTDOOR BOOK AWARD

INDIEFAB Adventure Book of the Year

OREGON BOOK AWARD, Finalist

An unprecedented reference that profiles Oregon's waterways, covering 120 rivers with notes about nature and fish, prospects for conservation, and essential tips about where to see each river, to hike along the shores, to fish, and to explore by canoe, kayak, and raft. Published by Oregon State University Press, 2014.

Click here for a short film about Tim and this book.

"This rare gem of a book is an excellent combination of art and science. Descriptions of ecology and natural history are accurately and eloquently written for students, scientists, and all readers. Tim Palmer's field guide is my new 'life list' for Oregon rivers, featuring many waterways that I've still not discovered even after 40 years of studying these streams."
—Stan Gregory, Distinguished Professor of Fisheries, Oregon State University

"Here is an essential tool for anyone who paddles, fishes, explores, and wants to understand the natural history of our rivers and the challenges they face. Thanks to Tim Palmer, we now have the field guide that Oregon's rivers deserve."
—John DeVoe, Executive Director, WaterWatch of Oregon

"Tim's much-needed book will get you to the best places to paddle, hike, fish, and explore. This excellent guide will inform and motivate every reader to enjoy rivers and work for their protection."
—Thomas O'Keefe, Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director, American Whitewater

California Glaciers

Through words and brilliant photographs, Tim Palmer presents both the raw power and stunning beauty of these luminous icescapes and the irreversible effects of climate change. This is an elegiac tribute to a fading landscape we should never forget.

“Califonia’s glaciers are unforgettable to anyone who has had the rare opportunity to climb to the edge of the ice and beyond. With his eye for nature and a sense of adventure, Tim Palmer presents a remarkable vision of those heights. His words and photos will motivate you to care deeply about what threatens that fragile wilderness and all that lies below it.”
—Yvon Chouinard, owner and founder of Patagonia Inc.

“If you want one book about glaciers in California, this is it. Relating his enthralling adventures climbing what is left of these amazing glaciers, Tim Palmer shows us remarkable photos of scenes that will soon disappear.”                                                 
—Lester R. Brown, president of Earth Policy Institute

“A great adventure, with a sobering and powerful conclusion.”
—Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature

“Tim Palmer vividly captures the experience and challenge of exploring glaciers as well as our attraction to their cold fascinating details. His photographs are beautiful and he provides captivating historical and cultural descriptions to better appreciate these icy landscapes.”      
—Andrew Fountain, director of Alpine Glacier Studies, Department of Geology, Portland State University

Field Guide to California Rivers

Loaded with practical tips on where to hike, fish, canoe, kayak, and raft, this handy guide to California rivers offers an interpretive approach that reveals natural history while featuring 150 streams. Published in Spring 2012 as part of the University of California Press's esteemed natural history field guide series.

"Tim Palmer invites us on a journey of California as told by rivers. There is a wealth of knowledge about rivers and their natural history in these pages, but there also runs a deeper current of love for these flowing waters and a fervent hope that we will become better stewards of these resources."
—Jack C. Williams, Senior Scientist, Trout Unlimited

"This beautifully illustrated and thoroughly researched guide gives you specific details you need to know to fully appreciate California's rivers—where to go, when to visit, and what treasures to look for. This guide will change the way we see the state and will lead readers on some great adventures."
—John Muir Laws, author of Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada

"Tim Palmer's guide offers a terrific addition to any paddler's bookshelf, and it gives us the information and inspiration we need to go see, experience, and know these great places tht are the doorstep of every Californian."
—Charlie Center, white water kayaker and co-creator of the film, "The Last Descent"

Rivers of California

With 175 spectacular photos and five eloquent chapters, this book guides readers through California's magnificent rivers estate. Published by Heyday Books, Fall 2010. For more about the book and even a video canoe trip, check out this link.

"Like no other book, Rivers of California illuminates the beauty and wonder of rivers...This irresistible collection of photos and text celebrates what we at Friends of the River love, and it will entice Californians to better care for our rivers."
—Paul Tebbel, Executive Director, Friends of the River

"Tim Palmer looks at California's rivers with an artist's eye. This book is a delight."
—Tom Knudson, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, Sacramento Bee

 "In this grand tour of California's rivers, Tim Palmer captures the beauty of our flowing waters and makes the most compelling case for conservation that I have seen. This spectacular book should be read and appreciated by all--residents and visitors, politicians and scientists alike."
—Peter Moyle, Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, U.C.-Davis

Trees and Forests of America

With 200 beautiful color photos and an informative text, this impressive book is an unprecedented celebration of America's wild forests. Published by Harry N. Abrams, Fall 2008.

"In this one spectacular volume, Tim Palmer has brought the natural magnificence, ecological workings, and essential utility of forests to our attention like never before. He reveals what everyone needs to know about this vitally important part of the American landscape."
—Mike Dombeck, Former Chief, U.S. Forest Service 
 
"Tim Palmer has long articulated what so many of us feel about rivers.  Now, with his eloquent words and stunning photography, he has done the same with forests. Restoration of earth’s forests to ecological health is barely underway, but this grand book provides precisely the kind  of inspiration that will make  it succeed."
—Ted Williams, Editor-at-Large, Audubon

"Tim Palmer brings trees and forests to life for us, touching our hearts, minds and spirits."  
—David Suzuki, author of Tree: A Life Story

Luminous Mountains: The Sierra Nevada of California

 In Luminous Mountains, Tim Palmer offers an evocative portrait of the whole Sierra Nevada range. The book features 140 color photos and eight essays that inform and inspire. Published by Heyday Books in 2008.

"His prose is passionate, his photography exhilarating... His writing is crisp, descriptive, and ardent."
—The Sacramento Bee

"Luminous Mountains is a beautiful tribute to California's famed mountain region. Tim Palmer embodies the spirit of the Sierra Nevada, and one can't help but be inspired by his passion and dedication to the Sierra."
—Yvon Chouinard, owner and founder of Patagonia 

"In their craggy immensity, the Sierra Peaks illuminate Tim Palmer's glorious photos and canny text as they do the mind of anybody lucky enough to follow in his adventurous footsteps. What a luminous treasure indeed these mountains are, and how lucky we are to have Tim Palmer tracking for us their wild profiles and the heartbreaking loveliness of their rivers!"
—Ernest Callenbach, author of Ecotopia

Rivers of America

Rivers flow with peace and with power, they nourish all creatures, and they inspire us with their exquisite beauty. Rivers of America captures the magic of rivers with 200 stunning images and four evocative essays. Published by Harry N. Abrams in 2006.

"From the apex of a life given to moving water, Tim Palmer has bequeathed a gift to the generations. In these images a billion trees have gathered on America's shorelines and the very mountains have parted to honor the rivers sliding by. Sit down in the quiet, throw open your blinds, and be grateful. Here are the shining prayer wheels that sculpt and prism our continent and give it, and all of us, life." 
—David James Duncan, author of My Story as Told by Water and The River Why

"This book is a remarkable celebration of America. In photographs and in words, Tim Palmer has captured the magic and value of rivers as nobody has ever done, and as nobody is ever likely to do again."
—Don Elder, President, River Network 

California Wild

California Wild features 130 color photos and nine essays, organized by regions of the state, about the importance of California's wildlands. Photos by Tim and also by Terry Donnelly and Mary Liz Austin. Published by Voyaguer/ MBI in 2004.

WINNER OF THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BOOK AWARD for the best American book on nature and the environment

"California Wild movingly documents the natural beauty of California. May it inspire us all to work together to protect remaining wild lands before it is too late."
—Barbara Boxer, U.S. Senator, California

Oregon: Preserving the Beauty and Spirit of Our Land 

Oregon: Preserving the Beauty and Spirit of Our Land features a text by Tim Palmer that guides readers through Oregon's extraordinary and diverse landscape. Photos by Terry Donnelly and Mary Liz Austin. Published by Voyaguer/ MBI in 2003.

"A wonderful book chock-full of magnificent photos of Oregon with a sparking text that adds to the fun and beauty. This one is a must! "
—Salem Statesman Journal

Pacific High: Adventures in the Coast Ranges from Baja to Alaska  

FINALIST FOR THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BOOK AWARD

Pacific High tells the story of a 9-month road-trip exploring the extraordinary mountains that rise from North America's western edge. A fun and adventure-filled read. Published by Island Press in 2002. 

 "In Pacific High, Tim Palmer brings the long overlooked, overdeveloped, and overlogged Pacific Coast Ranges into brilliant focus. With a naturalist's eye and a poet's heart. Palmer pays passionate attention to the wonders that remain among these coastal mountains, and he conveys an acute sense of what has been lost. I can think of no better guide for this desert-to-tundra journey --or a landscape more suited to Palmer's skills as a writer."
—Tim McNulty, author of Washington's Wild Rivers and Olympic National Park: A Natural History
              
"Tim Palmer knows how to travel. He packed his van and drove, hiked, climbed, skied, thrashed, canoed, ferried, and flew the Pacific Coast Ranges from Baja California to Kodiak Island, Alaska. Well informed to begin with, he missed no opportunity to learn more intimate truths from the people and places he met. All readers, including those of us who have made our homes in the sundown mountains of North America, can learn from his account, which is as varied and lively as this long, restless, spirited landscape itself." 
 —John Daniel, author of The Trail Home and Winter Creek: One Writer's Natural History

The Heart of America: Our Landscape, Our Future

WINNER OF THE INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS BOOK AWARD

The Heart of America takes readers on a panoramic landscape-by-landscape journey across the United States-from forests and mountains to rivers, grasslands, deserts, and seashores. A superb and entertaining introduction to the ecological workings and major issues affecting each landscape type. Published by Island Press in 1999. 

 "It's the truest State of the Union address anyone ever gave."
—Bill McKibben, author of Maybe One and The End of Nature

"Tim Palmer is among the brightest stars in the firmament of environmental writers today. The Heart of America: Our Landscape, Our Future should be required reading for citizens who care deeply about the mountains, forests, grasslands, deserts, rivers, lakes and wetlands, and seashore that encompass America the beautiful. Tim's hopeful book provides thoughtful and useful ideas for how these great landscapes can be protected and restored in the decades ahead." 
—John Sawhill, President and CEO, The Nature Conservancy

"For many years, Tim Palmer's books have reminded us that ours is a natural resource legacy too valuable to squander. The Heart of America will not let you down. It is both tribute and testament. Tribute to the wonder of the natural world we call home--testament to the urgency of conserving and restoring the lands and waters that sustain us."
—Mike Dombeck, Chief, USDA Forest Service

"No matter what your political point-of-view may be about our impact on the environment, Tim Palmer's book makes provocative reading. In a wealth of sensory details, Palmer captures the immense diversity and majesty of the American landscape. As we face the new millennium, Palmer urges us to appreciate what we have and warns against squandering the very environment that sustains and enriches our lives." 
—Mark Udall, U.S. Representative, Colorado

The Columbia

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL OUTDOOR BOOK AWARD

The Columbia explores the Northwest's greatest river from its mountain headwaters in Canada to its stormy mouth at the Pacific. Palmer offers a vivid portrait of this crucial river and watershed and addresses major issues facing the river today. Published by The Mountaineers in 1997.

"An insightful vision for the future…a great read for activists and armchair explorers alike."
—Peter DeFazio, U.S. Representative, Oregon

Lifelines: The Case for River Conservation

Lifelines is a key book for anyone who loves rivers or who has become involved with river conservation. Palmer deftly explains why rivers are so important for all of life and inspires everyone who cares to adopt their home river. First published by Island Press in 1994, Lifelines was updated with new chapters and published in a 2nd edition by Roman and Littlefield in 2004.  

"Add it to the shelf of the most important environmental books of our time." 
—Roderick Nash, author of Wilderness and the American Mind and The Big Drops

"At long last! With Palmer's Lifelines any river-saver or other environmental activist has at his  or her fingertips a concise, easy-to-understand set of arguments on why the work we do is so important to nature, to society, and to our future."
—Kevin J. Coyle, President, American Rivers

Endangered Rivers and the Conservation Movement 

Endangered Rivers recounts the exciting and inspiring history of the movement that arose to protect America's rivers from dams and pollution--from John Muir's dam fight at Hetch Hetchy to those of the modern era. First published by the University of California Press in 1984, Endangered Rivers was updated with new chapters and published in a 2nd edition by Roman and Littlefield in 2004.  

"A tremendously important addition to the literature of conservation." 
—T. H. Watkins in Orion

"A pinnacle of storytelling with a deft mix of history, painstakingly accurate research and insightful comment on the politics of conservation." 
—The Sacramento Bee

America by Rivers

In America By Rivers, Palmer takes readers on an exploration of America's river-laced landscape with informative chapters about each distinctive region of the county. Each chapter features a revealing narrative journey down the quintessential waterway of its region. Published by Island Press in 1996.

"One of the most purposeful ways of understanding America is through its rivers. No one is more suited to this task than Tim Palmer, and he has done a brilliant job."
—Tom McGuane, author of Nothing But Blue Skies

"...an encyclopedic culmination of [Palmer's] work on the rivers of America...This excellent, concise, and fact-packed book belongs in every environmental, river, and natural history collection."
—Library Journal

“A seasoned, amiable, well-fashioned tour of the nation's waterways...Palmer is one earnest, informed river rat, a guide to be trusted."
—Kirkus Reviews

Yosemite: The Promise of Wildness

WINNER OF THE DIRECTOR'S AWARD 

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

FOR THE BEST BOOK ABOUT A NATIONAL PARK 

Yosemite: The Promise of Wildness combines the photography of  William Neill with the insightful words of essayist Tim Palmer to present a unique study of Yosemite's meaning and its prospect for humankind today and for coming generations. Published by The Yosemite Association in 1994.

"A collection of remarkable pictures and text celebrating the awesome beauty of one of America's greatest national parks."
—Audubon
 
"Palmer's essays focus on the unique nature of the landscape, the enormous pressures being placed upon this national treasure, and possible approaches for balancing resource preservation and visitor accommodation....recommended for all environmental and public collections."
—Library Journal

The Wild and Scenic Rivers of America

The Wild and Scenic Rivers of America is the key book for understanding America's wild and scenic river estate. Palmer explains the background and intent of the nation's primary river-protection program and presents a thorough compendium of America's nationally protected wild and scenic rivers. Published by Island Press in 1993.

"Invaluable information on river recreation and resource conservation."
—Library Journal

California's Threatened Environment: Restoring the Dream

Tim Palmer was editor and author of 4 chapters in California's Threatened Environment, a primer for anyone seeking to understand the crucial environmental issues facing California today. Published by Island Press in 1993.

"It would be difficult to imagine a better book for realistically acquainting oneself with the endangered natural state of the state."
—San Francisco Chronicle

The Snake River: Window to the West

The Snake River explores one fascinating watershed--from intriguing headwaters in the Grand Tetons to dammed-up mouth in western Washington--as a way of understanding water and rivers throughout the West. Palmer interviews people who use, live along, and aim to conserve the Snake, and he puts a human face on crucial water issues in the arid west while offering a vision for a better future. Published by Island Press in 1991.

"Palmer's brightly written, compelling treatment of this major river system ought to commend itself to all who seek a deeper understanding of the American West."
—Charles F. Wilkinson

The Sierra Nevada: A Mountain Journey

The Sierra Nevada: A Mountain Journey explores one of America's greatest mountain ranges. Palmer's narrative offers unmatched insight to nature, outdoor adventure, and the forces of environmental change in a landscape beloved by many. Published by Island Press in 1988.

"Cool, clean, holistic. . . . exquisite poetry of light, space, and rock. The whole effect is exhilarating." 
—The Washington Post

Youghiogheny: Appalachian River

This revealing biography of America's most popular whitewater river follows the stream's fascinating path from source to mouth. Published by University of Pittsburgh Press in 1984.

 "The finest book ever written about a Pennsylvania River." 
—The Harrisburg Patriot

Stanislaus: The Struggle for a River

Filled with a cast of colorful characters, this is the riveting story of America's most controversial river conservation battle. Published by University of California Press in 1982.

"A resource preservation drama in almost theatrical form." 
—American Forests

Rivers of Pennsylvania

Rivers of Pennsylvania is Tim Palmer's first book and the only account of the grand collection of rivers in the Keystone State. Published by Penn State University Press in 1980.