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There are several paths that branch out along life's highways. Friends Elle Colquitt and Jon Livengood hope a few of yours are dirt, just like theirs.

The two East Tennesseans have just coauthored their second book in the Mini Adventure Series. The first guidebook takes us along rural back roads, some in our own backyard. Now comes the real dirt.

This installment, “Off Road Trails,” gives hikers and bikers a comprehensive guidebook to 31 trail systems that run from the Tri-Cities to Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville. The new release, Colquitt said, is meant to be a resource for those who want to hike, bike or run the trail systems in Tennessee.

“Off Road Trails” is a spiral-bound, full color, 138-page resource that includes descriptions of the 31 trail systems, fold-out topography maps, suggested routes, lots of photographs and list of other bike links. It is now on the shelves at local bookstores, including Hastings and retails for $28.99.

Colquitt said while she considered herself a great resource for the first book, “Bicycling Routes” along county roads, it was Livengood this time who really took the reins. Livengood has roots that run deep in the mountain biking world, beginning in the early 1990s when he started riding mountain bikes while attending the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He got involved in racing and even competing in cross country, 12-hour and 100 mile races. He won the Tennessee State Series many times.

The “Bicycling Routes” book in the series turned out to be a popular guide around here, where there are lots of biking enthusiasts who traverse these scenic back roads. Colquitt and Livengood took it into a second printing. They are hoping there is the same type of market for this second book.

The trails in and around Knoxville that are featured in this one include Concord Park, IC King Park, Norris Dam State Park, Norris Watershed, Big South Fork, Fall Creek Falls State Park and Haw Ridge Park. There are easy-to-understand directions on how to reach the main trails and detailed descriptions on things to see in the area. Parking tips, condition of roadbeds and other essential information is right there.

“I learned a lot from doing the first book and ironed out some of the wrinkles,” Colquitt said. She drew the icons for this one and has tweaked the Web site: www.miniadventureseries.com.

Soon, it's on to the next big Adventure.