After a long, hot (and smoky) summer, the crisp, cool mornings and extended evenings of the Wood River Valley fall offer the perfect climate to get out and hike. The coming weeks are the ideal time to catch the changing leaves (see sidebar), and if there’s one thing this area has in abundance, it’s hiking trails. From three-day-long treks in the Sawtooths to lunchtime strolls around the White Clouds Golf Course in Sun valley, there’s a whole lot of something for everyone here. But for those new to the valley, or stuck in a hiking rut, here are some great options on where to go to get the skinny on the wide variety of hiking trails in the area.

During the past few years, a cornucopia of hiking books have hit the area’s bookstores and sporting goods shops, following in the footsteps of the grande dames of local hiking guidebooks, Margaret Fuller with her “Trails of the Sawtooth and White Cloud Mountains” (first published in 1979, last updated in 2011) and Gloria Moore with her “Day Hiking Near Sun Valley.” Moore’s handy green binder, first published in 1987 and updated in 1997, is still in print, though there are no plans to update it.

The newest addition to the hiking library is Matt Leidecker’s “Exploring the Sawtooths: A Comprehensive Guide”. The follow-up to his 2010 book “Exploring Sun Valley–A Comprehensive Guide to the Boulder, Pioneer and Smoky Mountains,” “Exploring the Sawtooths” was published last month. Printed on synthetic waterproof and tear-proof YUPO paper, this guidebook is a hardy companion out on the trail. From detailed color topographical maps and trail descriptions to historical and geographical information, plus a handy full-color wildflower guide, this compact book packs a heavyweight punch.

Each hike comes with a map on the facing page, directions to the trailhead and a detailed description of the route.