Kim Heacox books

Kim Heacox is an Alaska-based author and photographer who writes about national parks, wilderness conservation, and life in America's last frontier.

Anthologies

Title Published Buy on Amazon
America’s Wildlife Hideaways 1989 Buy
Exploring the Great Rivers of North America 1999 Buy

Non-Fiction

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Denali Road Guide 1986 Buy
Boating in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve 1987 Buy
Bush Pilots of Alaska 1989 Buy
Hidden Worlds of Wildlife 1990 Buy
Alaska’s National Parks 1990 Buy
Iditarod Spirit 1991 Buy
America’s Hidden Treasures: Exploring Our Little-Known National Parks 1992 N/A
The Pacific: Hawaii & Alaska 1995 Buy
Visions of A Wild America: Pioneers of Preservation 1996 Buy
Portrait of Alaskas Inside Passage 1997 Buy
Antarctica: The Last Continent 1998 Buy
In Denali 1998 Buy
Alaska Light 1998 Buy
Shackleton: The Antarctic Challenge 1999 Buy
Seasons of Alaska 2001 Buy
An American Idea: The Making of the National Parks 2001 Buy
The Only Kayak: A Journey into the Heart of Alaska 2005 Buy
Restless Ice: A Polar Odyssey 2007 Buy
John Muir and the Ice That Started a Fire: 2014 Buy
Rhythm of the Wild 2015 Buy
National Geographic The National Parks: An Illustrated History 2015 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Caribou Crossing 2001 Buy
Jimmy Bluefeather 2015 Buy
On Heaven’s Hill 2023 Buy

Kim Heacox has spent decades writing about wild places, particularly Alaska and the American national park system. Based in Gustavus, a small town near Glacier Bay National Park, he writes from direct experience as a former park ranger, photographer, and resident of one of America’s most remote communities. His non-fiction books combine natural history, conservation advocacy, and personal narrative.

His most acclaimed work is The Only Kayak, a memoir about his years paddling and living in Glacier Bay that explores what it means to commit to a life in the wilderness. John Muir and the Ice That Started a Fire examines how Muir’s travels in Alaska changed both the man and the future of American conservation. Rhythm of the Wild looks at the relationship between people and nature in Denali National Park. Heacox has also written guidebooks, photo books, and an illustrated history of the National Parks for National Geographic.

On the fiction side, Heacox has published three novels. Jimmy Bluefeather, his 2015 debut novel, follows a Tlingit elder on a canoe journey through Southeast Alaska. On Heaven’s Hill, published in 2023, is also set in Alaska. His fiction carries the same deep knowledge of landscape and community that runs through his non-fiction work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Kim Heacox written?

Kim Heacox has written 26 books across three series.

What was Kim Heacox's first book?

Kim Heacox’s first book is Denali Road Guide, published in 1986.

What is Kim Heacox best known for?

Heacox is best known for his books about Alaska and the American national parks, particularly The Only Kayak, a memoir about his life in Glacier Bay, and John Muir and the Ice That Started a Fire, which examines how Muir’s exploration of Alaska influenced the conservation movement.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive commissions for purchases made through links on this site.

Privacy Policy