I love living in the North Country and knowing that I have access to thousands of acres of wilderness, trails, lakes and rivers -- even if I rarely have the time to enjoy them. I do, however, have an occasional day off, sometimes just a few hours, and I'm grateful for a handful of guides that have pointed me in the right direction.

Those hardy hikers and climbers out there already know the classic area guides (such as the Adirondack Mountain Club's numerous books). But I'm going to focus on those guidebooks that are perfect if you only have a few hours, or if you're not exactly a power hiker.

The writing/hiking team of Michael Carpenter and Roger Fulton have produced several great guides for the time-challenged and/or pleasure hiker. As they write in their introduction to "25 Short Hikes and Interesting Walks in the Lake George Region," "This book is for people who, like to walk but don't like to sweat; don't have a lot of time to take a day-long hike; don't know the area well enough to find the outdoors." The books are designed like reporter's notebooks, spiral bound at the top, with some photos, easy to follow directions (including GPS readings) and a log to record the experience. There's everything from Buck Mountain to a walking tour of Glens Falls.

We recently enjoyed the Hudson River Recreation area, a logging road alongside a rocky waterfall that, had I been a bit braver, I might have tried to slide down. I was content to walk along the trail and enjoy a spectacular summer day.

Other books in the series include "25 Short Hikes and Walks in the Saratoga Springs Region," "25 Interesting Historical Sites to Explore in the Lake George Region," and, for those of you who prefer to be out on the water this time of year, "25 Flatwater Kayak/Canoe Trips in the Lake George Region."

OK, Mike and Roger, now I just need a snowshoe guide and a cycling guide and my collection will be complete.

Speaking of cycling, for both the casual day-tripper and the serious cyclist, there's "25 Bicycle Tours in the Adirondacks." (What is it with the number 25?) This is written by Bill McKibben, his wife, Sue Halpern, and friends, Mitchell Hay and Barbara Lemmel. The directions and maps are clear and useful, as are the descriptions of the routes. You can use this book for a gentle afternoon ride or for a serious bike trek.

These guides are also perfect if you've got small children. They won't interfere with naptime, limited attention spans, and won't be too strenuous for short legs. "Kids on the Trail: Hiking with Children in the Adirondacks" by Rose Rivezzi and David Trithart is a good introduction for both parents and kids. The information about each hike is comprehensive and accurate, and some of the very handy tips at the beginning of the book make worthwhile reading before heading out.

Along that note, I also like "Short Treks in the Adirondacks and Beyond" by Dennis Aprill. These hikes can easily be adapted for families. It's a short book with some notable hikes throughout the Adirondack region.

As I sit at my desk writing this review, my mind is already on the next hike I want to take. Northwest Bay, anyone?

Susan Fox is co-owner of Red Fox Books in downtown Glens Falls.