Weekends

How To Slideshow: Fit A Week's Gear In A Weekend Pack

Don't own a massive pack for your big annual adventure? Here's how to make it all fit.

Gear Review: Fishpond San Juan Vertical Chest Pack

A great backcountry chest pack for anglers

Rip & Go: Five Mountain Loop - Adirondack High Peaks, NY

Trek to the trail-free summits of Macomb, Hough, and The Dixes

Rip & Go: Paintbrush-Cascade Canyons Loop - Grand Teton National Park

Climb through bear country to a campsite with views of The Grand.

Rip & Go: Spider Glacier - Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA

Stroll through wildflower-filled meadows to a frozen slice of the Cascade Range.

Stateside Adventures: Closer Than You Think

A veteran traveler discovers a world of adventure in his backyard.

Thoreau Slept Here: The Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail

Maine's newly minted Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail tracks the famous naturalist's 1800s expeditions. Good news: It's still wild.

Little Big Houses: Three-Season, Double-Occupancy Shelters

At right around two pounds per person, these three-season, double-occupancy shelters do everything but weigh you down.

The Works: Snowshoe the Sierra

Pick your own path to an empty 14er.

Life List: Raft And Hike The Grand Canyon

Explore hidden gorges and spy rarely seen wonders on this three-week raft trip designed specifically for hikers.

Paddle Nebraska's Niobrara River

A two-day paddle through high plains prairie amid buffalo, whooping cranes, and elk.

Quick Fix: Big Bend National Park

Scout for gold–and desert views–amid this Texas park's spray of late-fall foliage.

Diagnosis of Disaster

Experts dissect the missteps in five recent hiking tragedies

America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes - Mist Trail, Half Dome, CA

Swallowed by Sierra scenery

America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes - Abrams Falls, Great Smoky Mtns., TN

Drowning in beauty

America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes - Buckskin Gulch, UT

Gambling in the slots

America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes - Kalalau Trail, Kauai, HI

Killer coastline

America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes - Huckleberry Mtn., Apgar Range, MT

Fatten griz for winter

America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes - The Maze, UT

Lost in the labyrinth

Thru-Hike The Roadless Sierra

Thru-hike the most remote miles in California's range of light

Canyon Connections: Link Grand Canyon To Zion

Trek empty terrain all the way from the Grand Canyon to Zion.

Mt. Adams: Solitude On Ice

Test your self-arrest skills on Mt. Adams's 12,276-foot fractured glacier.

Washington Paddling: Operation Orca

See one of the sea's keenest hunters as you paddle San Juan Island.

Bear Patrol in Glacier

Traverse the wildest part of the lower 48's last great grizzly hideaway.

Alaskan Labyrinth: Bushwacking in Denali

Beat your own path through Denali National Park's confounding and little-traveled Wyoming Hills.

Highpoint Montana

Get vertical on a tricky class IV route to the top of Granite peak.

Hiking Hip Deep in Florida's Swamps

Get your feet (and more) wet on the Florida Trail's best section.

Rocky Mountain (Extra) High: Lightning On The Colorado Trail

Dodge high wattage on the newest stretch of the Colorado Trail.

Cold War: A Winter Traverse of New Hampshire's Presidential Range

Got guts? Good. Now learn what skills you'll need to bag America's Little Everest—a traverse of New Hampshire's Presidential Range in Winter.

Above & Beyond

The world's tallest tree towers above a secret location deep within the lush, tangled backcountry of Redwood National Park. Determined to find this giant, our correspondent discovers something more incredible than he ever imagined.

Freshen Up with Fresh Fruits and Veggies

Upgrade your trail menu–and lower your carbon footprint–with farmers' market fare.

Bus Hiking: Don't Pay at the Pump

Gas prices are soaring. Glaciers are melting. What's a conscientious hiker to do? Take the bus, says Dan Koeppel, who did just that to escape downtown L.A.

The Works: Hike Vermont's Long Trail

Sample the best section of the country's first thru-hike.

Secrets Of Saguaro National Park

The name doesn't say it all: Arizona's premier cactus preserve conceals a cool mountain escape.

Adventure Weekends: Luxury Hiking and Camping

We've got a selection of cozy shelters and trail-side restaurants from Washington to Maine. Check out these hikes in the Rockies, the Northeast, and the Northwest.

Top 3 CCC Trails

The Civilian Conservation Corps is turning 75—so celebrate right by hiking its classics.

Go Long In Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands

On this 70-miler, see rhododendrons by day and hike light by staying in shelters at night.

Backpack Wyoming's Medicine Bow Mountains

Explore big skies and pristine lakes in the Medicine Bows.

Track Caribou in the Salmo-Priest Wilderness

Glimpse these rare mammals in Idaho's Salmo-Priest Wilderness.

Trip Finder: Waterfall Hikes

Nine ways to get your cascade fix from Tennessee to Montana.

Top 3 Fire Tower Hikes

Want a backcountry room with a view? Climb these lookouts from Vermont to Washington.

Hike and Raft Oregon's Rogue River

A killer whitewater trip at the end of a stunning 40-mile canyon hike? That's the scenario on Oregon's Rogue River Trail.

Trip Finder: Ridgewalks

From the West Coast to the Rocky Mountains to New England, we've got nine epic ridgewalks just for you.

Top 3 Paddling Treks

These weekend float trips have side hikes that rival the paddling for scenery and solitude.

Thru-Hike the Tahoe Rim Trail

Spectacular lake views, granite-edged trails, and surprising solitude will make you want to go in circles on the Tahoe Rim Trail.

Where Can I Find the Quietest Campsite in America?

Shhh! Find silent shores in this isolated Boundary Waters hideaway

Return of the Natives: Paddling and Hiking Channel Islands' Lost Gem

After nearly two centuries of ecological havoc wreaked by invasive species, the gem of Channel Islands National Park is becoming a paradise again. ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Watch a video and see two photo galleries from the island.

Best Damn Weekend Ever: Vermont's Bourn Pond-Stratton Pond Loop

Hike this burly wonder to find out what inspired the Appalachian and Long Trail's founders.

Quick Fix: South Dakota's Black Hills

Learn where to bag peaks, visit hidden cold water lakes, and trek through the eroded wonder of Badlands National Park in our Black Hills primer.

Paddle and Hike Voyageurs National Park

With a thousand islands and countless passages, this little-visited treasure is a watery maze. Here's the way in–and out.

Best Damn Weekend Ever: Washington's Kaleetan Lake Loop

Only an hour from Seattle, this Cascades gem offers killer Rainier views.

Trip Finder: Wildflowers

Trek the best spring blooms from the Ozarks to the Olympics with these two, three, and four day treks.

Top 3 White Mountain Treks

No, not the famously wind-whipped peaks in New Hampshire. Explore some of the country's lesser-known Whites with these accessible spring summits in Arizona, New Mexico, and Alaska.

Quick Fix: Great Smoky Mountains NP

Check out the steepest trail, the best swimming hole, and the wildest vista in America's most popular national park.

Land of the Lost: Native American Artifacts in Utah's Range Creek

Utah's Range Creek hides the most intact Native American artifacts in the United States. Get there now–while you can still play archaeologist.

Survive This: Swarming Wasps

Forget all the rules about freezing or making yourself big. When faced with these angry beasts run for cover.

Trip Finder: Stay-Dry Spring Hikes

Stay dry on spring treks in Minnesota, New Mexico, and more.

Highpoint Texas

Traverse Guadalupe Mountains National Park to the state's airiest perch.

Backpack West Virginia's Cranberry Wilderness

Discover a slice of rare Eastern wild country in West Virginia, where Canadian taiga meets Southern forests.

Best Damn Weekend Ever: Acadia National Park

Avoid the crowds in Maine's Acadia National Park by skipping getting a jump on the season and hiking the park in the Spring. Stephen King country never looked so good.

Top 3 Trail-Building Trips

Want to boost your backcountry karma? Here are three places to hike–and give back.

3 Ways to See: The Dakotas

Think the Dakotas are just endless prairie? Get ready for climbing, backpacking, and biking of the highest order.

Top 3 Waterfall Hikes

There's a science to why we love waterfalls: When water crashes earthward, it releases negatively charged ions that--you can't make this stuff up--some researchers think can reduce anxiety. Spring is when cascades' spigots open full bore, so head off on these three beguiling treks for a dose of nature's backcountry Rx.

Make Your Own Hikes

Invent your own hike, and go where no one (well, almost no one) has gone before.

Quick Fix: Death Valley National Park

Badlands, peaks, wildflowers: Catch the best of the California desert with this trio of hikes.

Quick Fix: Death Valley National Park

North America's Highest Sandbox: Great Sand Dunes National Park

The most exotic hike in the United States is smack in the middle of the country: Welcome to Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Green Guide

In honor of Earth Day, we bring you the first industry-wide survey on which gear manufacturers are positively impacting the environment, plus much more.

Your Weeklong Dream Trip

Your Next Big Peak

Your Longest Dayhike Ever

Perfect Day: Saguaro National Park

Many people think exploring this 91,440-acre desert park is all about dodging the tall, spiny cacti that earned the place its name. But Southern Arizona Hiking Club guide Steve Singkofer knows better. His favorite 20.3-mile route - including a 4,500-foot climb - reaches overlooks of Tucson and far beyond.

ESCALANTE: A Complete Adventure Guide

When Utahans really wants to disappear, they head to the magnificent canyons of Grand Staircase-Escalante.

Time 2 Go: Hike With Birds

Whether you've got hours or weeks, here's where to go for the birds.

Survive This: Caught in an Avalanche

When you're trekking into a backcountry bowl, avalanches are almost always a threat. Learn how to protect yourself when the worst happens.

Survive This: Trapped by a Rock

When a scramble turns to a nightmare learn how to help yourself.

Packing List: Toilet Kit

Stay sanitary, and for your travel companion's sake, pack what's on this list.

Reader-Submitted Gorp Recipes

The trail-staple GORP gets a face lift with these reader-submitted recipes

How to Organize a Backpack

By loading your backpack properly you protect your gear and prevent back issues--plus it's easy to find the gear you need.

Pretrip Planning

A successful hike often starts with a bit of research.

Best Damn Weekend Ever: Kayak a Superior Archipelago

Try this black diamond, three-day kayak trip that navigates Lake Superior's piney islands.

60-Minute Fixes: Pittsburgh

Hike, paddle, or ride in America's favorite steel town.

Backpacker Adventure Guide: Weminuche Wilderness

Try a stunning new hike–or two thrilling classics–in the Colorado Rockies' top spot for big backpacking adventures.

3 Ways to See North Georgia

By foot, kayak, or on top of a Boulder, North Georgia has plenty of outside activities.

Perfect Day: Gila Wilderness, New Mexico

Take a winter hike to the steaming pools of Melanie Hot Springs in Gila Wilderness, New Mexico.

Find a Hiking Partner

Keen on birds, peak bagging, or wildflowers? Here's how to join hikers who share your passions.

Top 3 Easy Canyoneering Hikes

If you've always dreamed of descending into the center of the earth, try one of these creekbed hikes.

60 Minute Fixes: Boise

Idaho's capital offers hiking, kayaking, and climbing close to downtown

365 Days of Adventure

Traverse the Yukon Territory's Tombstone Range, sea kayak Baja, trek Torres del Paine, Patagnoia–all in 2008. Plus, monthly adventures closer to home.

Trip Doctor: How Can I Get My Spouse to Go Hiking With Me?

Pretty pictures and promises of a trade might get unenthusiastic spouses out the door.

Plan the Perfect Trip

Smart ways to foolproof your next hike.

Where Can I Find the Site of Ansel's Legendary Yosemite Photo

Museum curator Glenn Crosby tracks down Ansel Adams' famous shot

4 Top Daypacks

Load haulers for light and fast adventures

Top 3 Winter Hut Treks

Trek into the wilderness but sleep in comfort with these hut treks

Maritime Alps: Plan it

If the February '08 Backpacker article "Magnifique" inspired you to take a hut trip to France's Maritime Alps, here are ten lodging options.

The Appalachian Trail's Kittatinny Ridge

Hike this trail to find peace, stress relief and a tonic to cure your daily routine.

The Continental Divide Trail's Rocky Mountain National Park

The best overall weekend hike you'll find on the CDT.

The Appalachian Trail's George Washington National Forest

Find spectacular views and deep solitude on this weekend hike.

60 Minute Fixes: Atlanta Adventures

Hiking, climbing, and fishing in this New South boomtown.

3 Ways To See: Yellowstone

Pick your poison with three epic adventures in Yellowstone: camping, canoeing, and ski touring

Weekend Adventures: Big Tree Hikes

Get ready to feel puny--and profoundly grateful--on three hikes through ancient forests.

Best Damn Weekend Ever: Hike & Paddle the Benton MacKaye

Link two classic Southern rivers on a trek along the newly completed Benton MacKaye Trail in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Adventure Weekend: Hike Big Sur, California

Scratch the picturesque postcard surface of Big Sur...and there's far more than you imagined, including hot springs and high-rise trails.

Epicenter: The Scene In Monson, Maine

Jump off into the North Woods' best wilderness

A Hiker's Guide To Surfing and Snorkeling

Use your backpacking skills at the best surfing, climbing, trail running, and even paragliding spots

Secrets of Yosemite National Park

Sneak in the side door for a private viewing of the finest in California's High Sierra real estate.

Utah: Choprock Canyon, Escalante River

Enjoy a slickrock playground of your very own

Boundary Waters

Get lost in the land o' lakes with 3 quiet, crowd-free trails

Go Fish

If you can't hook a monster in one of these fishing holes, you better hang up your rod.

Missouri, Current River and Ozark Trail

Hike and canoe through the pristine springs of Missouri's Ozarks.

Washington: Grand Valley, Olympic National Park

On this trip you'll find everything from alpine meadows to ancient rainforests

New Hampshire: The Great Gulf Wilderness

Here is your chance to tag six summits in only 3 days.

Massachusetts, High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary

Beantowners love the sights the High Ledges area has to offer.

Maryland, Blackwater River

Dinosaur Valley State Park

This Texas park holds true to its name with some of the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world.

The Fiery Furnace, Arches National Park

Some of Arches' best sites come in short hikes.

Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park

Come to Acadia and you'll earn your lobster.

Ouachita Trail, Talimena State Park

Here's a lush and hilly Arkansas oasis snuggled in an area known for being flat and dry.

Arizona, McDowell Sonoran Preserve

If you are in search of southwestern wildlife, this is the place to be.

Virginia, White Oak Canyon, Shenandoah National Park

Waterfalls abound on this great 8.2 mile loop.

Cloudland Canyon State Park

A thousand-foot-deep gorge is the centerpiece of this tri-state park.

Beach Trail

This Indiana Dunes trail offers visitors views of the lake, the Chicago skyline, wildflowers and some of the tallest trees in the region.

Mt. Jefferson, Presidential Range

Scenic ridges and some high White Mountain peaks abound on this great hike.

Balloon Dome, Ansel Adams Wilderness

Don't let well-known Sierra neighbors like Yosemite overshadow this stunning wilderness.

Ricketts Glen State Park

This favorite Pennsylvania destination of our editors is filled with old trees, shale cliffs, wildlife and stunning wildflowers.

New York, Indian Head Mountain, Catskills

Abandon the Big Apple for a visit to this great wilderness.

Spray Park, Mt. Rainier National Park

You'll never get a bad view of Rainier's glacier-clad slopes.

Oregon, Silver Falls State Park

The beauty of this hike comes alive with the rain.

Proud Lake Recreation Area

Michigan's Proud Lake has many flavors of wilderness to offer.

Colorado: West Elk Range

Spring comes earlier to this mountain paradise.

Handies Peak, San Juan Mountains

This summit will put you high above what many consider to be Colorado's finest mountain range.

Glacier Gorge, Rocky Mountain National Park

Giant cliffs and numerous waterfalls are among the stunning sites that can be viewed along this Colorado hike.

Table Mountain, Teton Range

This summit offers the finest view anywhere of the Grand and surrouding peaks.

Iceberg Lake, Glacier National Park

Some of the most classic glacier scenery is offered to all visitors of this national park.

Hike Idaho's Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

River rats wait years to ride the wild Selway River. Hikers can taste its raw beauty right now.

Three Quiet Grand Canyon Hikes

You'd never guess it: Three quiet trails in such a busy, beautiful place.

Wisconsin, Devil's Lake State Park

Hike to see arty rock sculptures left by the last Ice Age into the Wisconsin rock.

North Carolina's Hungry Forests

Visit Croatan National Forest, a place so wild it has more flesh-eating plants than people.

Hike Missouri's Bruford Mountain Trail

This wild Ozark gem is close to St. Louis, but still waiting to be discovered.

Bonus dayhike: Missouri's Cuivre River State Park

Hike through the limestone caves, sinkholes, and springs of Missouri's Cuivre River State Park.

Bonus Dayhike: British Columbia's Garibaldi Lake

This gorgeous alpine lake hike sports huge glacier views just an hour outside of Vancouver.

Secrets Hikes Of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Can a place that sees 9 million visitors a year really have any surprises? You bet. We found three hikes full of unexpected history, scenery, and solitude.

The Wild List: A Guide To The Best Outdoor Spots

A definitive guide to the hottest, sweetest, looniest, and most colorful spots in the great outdoors.

This Winter, Book A Yurt

Stay cozy this winter by bedding down in a heated cabin or yurt.

Powder Hungry? Hike These Snowshoe Trails

Bust out of winter doldrums on one of these stellar snowshoe routes.

Hike The Hidden Trails of Rocky Mountain National Park

Here's a detailed hiking planner that will take you to the hidden corners of Colorado's most scenic park.

Best Dayhikes In America

With strong legs and an ambitious plan, you can see more wild country in 12 hours than some backpackers see in a week, and still make it home in time for dinner.

Best Waterfall Hikes

Learn the weird science behind our addiction to waterfalls, and the location of the best trails in North America.

Climbing The Wind River Range: Haystack Mountain

Haystack Mountain offers a sweet climb in Wyoming's remote Wind River Range.

Climbing Jasper National Park: Mount Sarbach

Jasper National Park, Alberta

Climbing The Sierras: Banner Peak

Try climbing the standout Banner Peak, just around the corner from Mammoth Lakes.

Climbing Yoho National Park: Mount Carnarvon

Yoho National Park, British Columbia

Climbing Yosemite: Mount Conness

Tuolomne Meadows monarch Mount Conness has been a classic Yosemite climb for years -- and for good reason.

Climbing Yosemite: Matthes Crest

Matthes Crest features superb climbing deep in Yosemite's backcountry.

Hike Through Washington's Blue Mountains

City life got you down? Head for the quiet hills of southeastern Washington, where the air is clean, the water clear, and bighorn sheep outnumber hikers.

Hiking Montana's Lonely Mountains

Hidden deep in Montana's high country lies the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, a seldom-visited range of cool forests and skyscraping peaks.

Wolves And Water: Arizona's Blue Range

With an abundance of wolves and water--two rarities in the desert--Arizona's remote Blue Range may be the Southwest's best kept secret.

Out Of Sight: Hiking Michigan's Trap Hills

In Michigan's Trap Hills, you'll find space to wonder and wonder, and quiet rock outcrops with panoramas so wide you'll be blinking in disbelief.

Hike Nevada's Sagebrush Oasis

Hiding in the arid plains of Nevada you'll find a cool refuge from the desert heat and room to let your imagination soar.

Hiking The Mahoosuc Range

The short but stunning Mahoosuc Range has major-league attractions, like the toughest mile on the Appalachian Trail and conditions that discourage the faint of heart.

Climbing Wyoming's Wind River Range: Pingora

This spire deep in Wyoming's Wind River Range serves as the climbing pinnacle of the Cirque of the Towers.

A Hermit's Heaven: Arizona's Wabayuma Peak Wilderness

If you've never heard of Arizona's 40,000-acre Wabayuma Peak Wilderness, take heart--most people haven't. That's why the silence is deafening.

Wander Along The Wild Olympic Coast

A trip along Washington's Olympic Coast is one whale of a day at the beach.

Death Valley Warmed Over

Time spent in California's Death Valley can be a life-enhancing experience.

Ply A Backwoods Water Trail In The Boundary Waters

In Minnesota's Boundary Waters, thousands of blue routes await those willing to dip a paddle.

Desert Miracle: Hiking Arizona's San Pedro River

Shady hiking and cool waters make the San Pedro River an oasis for desert trekkers.

Explore Utah's Paria River Slot Canyon

In the Paria River canyon, adventure and breathtaking views await around every narrow bend.

Hike Through The Grand Canyon's Geologic History

A trek from rim to river reveals the Grand Canyon's ancient, storied history.

Walk Through The Pacific Crest Trail's Alpine Wonderland

Follow the Pacific Crest Trail through Washington's volcano country and discover the high life.

Wild As A Feral Hog On Mississippi's Black Creek Trail

You'll have a hard time keeping track of all the critters along Mississippi's Black Creek Trail.

Hike Florida's Prairie On The Myakka Trail

Hike the Myakka Trail for a glimpse of the Sunshine State's wild and grassy past.

Best Backpacking In Nevada

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Nevada.

Best Backpacking In New Hampshire

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in New Hampshire.

Best Backpacking In Tennessee

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Tennessee.

Best Backpacking In Connecticut

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Connecticut.

Best Backpacking In Wyoming

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Wyoming.

Best Backpacking In Colorado

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Colorado.

Best Backpacking In Georgia

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Georgia.

Best Backpacking In Alaska

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Alaska.

Best Backpacking In Pennsylvania

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Pennsylvania.

Best Backpacking In Missouri

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Missouri.

Best Backpacking In Washington

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Washington.

Top 5 Fossil Trails

With fossils present in all states (although New England tends to be fossil poor), you can get a glimpse of the past almost anywhere you backpack.

Best Backpacking In Massachussetts

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Massachusetts.

Best Backpacking In Nebraska

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Nebraska.

Best Backpacking In Louisiana

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Louisiana.

Best Backpacking In Maryland

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Maryland.

Best Backpacking In New Jersey

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in New Jersey.

Best Backpacking In New York

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in New York.

Best Backpacking In Michigan

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Michigan.

Best Backpacking In Idaho

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Idaho.

Best Backpacking In Utah

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Utah.

Best Backpacking In Texas

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Texas.

Best Backpacking In Maine

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Maine.

Best Backpacking In Indiana

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Indiana.

Best Backpacking In Illinois

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Illinois.

Best Backpacking In Kansas

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Kansas.

Best Backpacking In Kentucky

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Kentucky.

Best Backpacking In Delaware

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Delaware.

Best Backpacking In Hawaii

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Hawaii.

Best Backpacking In Mississippi

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Mississippi.

Best Backpacking In Arkansas

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Arkansas.

Best Backpacking In Minnesota

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Minnesota.

Best Backpacking In North Carolina

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in North Carolina.

Best Backpacking In Oregon

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Oregon.

Best Backpacking In Alabama

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Alabama.

Best Backpacking In Florida

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Florida.

Best Backpacking In West Virginia

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in West Virginia.

Best Backpacking In California

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in California.

Set In Stone: Finding Fossils On The Trail

You could be walking on an ancient seabed or a swamp where dinosaurs played. Look closely and you'll see history in the rocks.

Best Backpacking In Wisconsin

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Wisconsin.

Best Backpacking In South Dakota

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in South Dakota.

Best Backpacking In North Dakota

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in North Dakota.

Best Backpacking In Ohio

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Ohio.

Best Backpacking In Montana

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Montana.

Best Backpacking In New Mexico

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in New Mexico.

Best Backpacking In Vermont

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Vermont.

Best Backpacking In Iowa

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Iowa.

Best Backpacking In Virginia

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Virginia.

Best Backpacking In Oklahoma

Best Backpacking In Arizona

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Arizona.

The Best Backpacking In America

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in America.

Best Backpacking In Rhode Island

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Rhode Island.

Best Backpacking In South Carolina

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in South Carolina.

Hiking North Dakota's Badlands

You won't have a lot of company in North Dakota's badlands, which is why hiking the Maah Daah Hey Trail is so good.

Take Your Family Outdoors

Camping with kids can plant a wild seed in them that will grow as they do-but only if you get them Out There.

Healing The Badlands

How can we conserve South Dakota's Badlands?

HIking British Columbia's Savage Coast

Hike a rugged, historically rich trail for 21 miles along a nearly deserted island off British Columbia's coast.

Hiking Idaho's White Cloud Mountains

Head to the White Cloud Mountains for a crowd-free taste of Idaho high country.

Wild Island Hiking

Hear wild horses thunder through camp. Look for wolf tracks in the mud or eagles' nests in the cliffs high above. Cast off the workaday world and go hike an island paradise.

Backpacking On Maine's Wild Cutler Coast

Thanks to the Cutler Coast Public Reserve, Maine's rocky, wild coastline is now open to backpackers who like solitude as much as scenery.

Loomis State Forest: Hike Washington's Cascade Secret

Hike to the edge of the Cascade Range in this forgotten corner of the Washington wilderness.

Tips For Camping With Kids

Nuggets of knowledge from those who have brought their youngsters into the backcountry.

Tahoe Rim Trail: A Heavenly Hike

Twenty years of hard work near Tahoe yields a 150-mile path so high, you'll breathe "angel air."

Hiking North Carolina's Valley River Mountains

Sniff the rhododendrons and enjoy hiking the Valley Rim Trail in North Carolina's Valley River Mountains.

Hiking With Wisconsin's Wolves

Feeling people-shy? Follow Wisconsin's wolves to this lonely section of the Ice Age Trail.

Utah's Best Wildflower Blooms

Follow the hummingbirds in the Mt. Naomi Wilderness to the best high-country wildflower show in all of Utah.

Hiking Oregon's Bull Of The Woods Wilderness

If overpowering stillness is your thing, try the old-growth forests in Oregon's Bull of the Woods Wilderness.

Prairie Hiking: Wide-Open Spaces

It's the easiest hiking on Earth, and you get to sleep with buffalo, listen to coyotes sing, and bask in quiet so deep you can hear the grasslands growing. Welcome to the prairie.

Raptors Rule Wisconsin's Turtle-Flambeau Waterway

Paddle Wisconsin's Turtle-Flambeau waterway, watch the aerial show, and lay claim to your own island.

Mountains: The World At Your Feet

High above the trees you'll find the hike of your dreams: a ridgeline trail where your only companion is an occasional mountain goat.

Skills For The Upwardly Mobile

Everything you need to know about hiking in the high country, from talus hopping to finding the right gear to dealing with wind and glaciers.

Hot Hikes After A Wildfire

Seven places where you can walk through a whole new landscape, plus opportunities to help rebuild charred trails.

Hiking Washington's Elwha Trail Rainforest

Washington's Elwha Trail is a rain-forest classic: green, primeval, spongy soft, and wonderfully wet.

Splendor Hiking The High Sierra

Take the finest mountains in the world, add high-country meadows, glacial valleys, alpine lakes, pine-and-hemlock forests, and what do you have? A recipe for backcountry bliss.

Hike Higher In Colorado's Collegiate Peaks

Hike into the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness and you'll enjoy Colorado's best summer school.

Prayers Answered In Virginia's Priest Wilderness

In Virginia, a miracle occurs and hikers get some new wilderness, thanks to The Priest.

Hiking Utah's Hayduke Trail

You won't find Utah's 725-mile rogue route on any map. But thanks to two passionate Utah hikers, you'll soon be able to search it out with your boots.

Make The Big Jump

Are you a dayhiker who's ready for an all-nighter? A weekender longing to try a 5-day trek? Or are you ready for a thru-hike? Regardless of your skill level, here's the information you'll need to go that extra mile.

Backpacking Colorado's Elk Mountains

When it pours, good rain gear and a great sense of humor help you find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Albuquerque's Magic Mountain

Albuquerque's backyard wilderness lets hikers perform a disappearing trick.

Backpacking Tennessee's Cumberland Trail

If you're a backpacking purist, Tennessee's new Cumberland Trail was made for you.

Discover California's Point Reyes National Seashore

In Point Reyes National Seashore, you'll find peace and quiet in the heart of California's earthquake zone.

Hiking Minnesota's Jay Cooke State Park

Can't wait for the snow to melt? Get warmed up at Minnesota's Jay Cooke State Park.

Hiking Dreams Really Do Come True

Easily said and done, when you have a constant reminder at bedtime.

Just Go

Sometimes, despite all the commitments and obligations, you know what you have to do.

Organize Your Backpacking Trip

Meet Jamie and Joe, who need help with everything from planning to packing to eating well. Enter our team of experts, with a few simple tricks designed to turn them-and you!-into well-oiled backpacking machines.

Arkansas' Waterfall Paradise

If you're a fan of waterfalls, then Arkansas's Richland Creek Wilderness is your dream trip.

Hiking Arizona's Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness

Arizona's Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness is so incredible, you'll want to tell the whole world.

Oregon's Badlands: Only The Lonely

You'd better like your own company, because that's all you'll have in Oregon's Badlands Wilderness Study Area.

Florida's Big Cypress: Wade This Way

In Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve, you'll walk on water -- almost.

Sonoran Desert: The Big Empty

Ed Abbey said the Sonoran Desert "leaves a golden glow on the mind," which is one of many good reasons why this cactus-spiked paradise should be the next national park.

Washington's Wonderland Trail

Mind-bending views, close-up wildlife encounters.

Hiking The Continental DivideTrail

Can you tackle our readers' favorite long trail? Test your hiking mettle against the Continental Divide Trail.

Utah's Grand Gulch: Along Ancient Trails

Cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, ancient pottery -- Utah's Grand Gulch is thick with history.

California's Chumash Wilderness: Spritual Salvation

The condors know all about Chumash Wilderness, but luckily, the masses in Los Angeles don't.

Washington's Olympic Coast

It's the longest stretch of virgin coastline left in the Lower 48. But that's just one of many reasons to hike it.

Hiking Minnesota's Superior Hiking Trail

A whale of a Minnesota trail beside a Great Lake.

Hiking Vermont's Long Trail

The challenge of Vermont's Long Trail will cure what ails you.

Colorado Trail

If any long trail is likely to induce a headache, it's the Colorado Trail.

North Carolina/Georgia's Bartram Trail

Take along your plant guidebooks for this flora-filled treasure.

Hiking California's John Muir Trail

This magnificent trail travels through three California parks while showcasing the natural wonders Muir worked to preserve.

Hiking The Pacific Crest Trail

Everything you'd want in a long trail.

Oklahoma/Arkansas's Ouachita Trail

The little-known Ouachita Trail ranked third among the long trails for solitude.

Ozarks: Ridge Runner Trail

You may have the Ozarks' wildlife-rich Ridge Runner Trail to yourself, but that doesn't mean you're alone.

Hiking The Appalachian Trail

The famed peaks of the Appalachian chain entice some 2,500 people to attempt the thru-hike each year.

Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail: Land Of Cool Cliffs

Carved limestone cliffs add even more to love on Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail.

Giant Sequoia National Monument

How do you protect the largest trees on Earth? Don't harm them in the first place.

Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument

In the 1800s, cowboys didn't think much of the Grand Canyon's Parashant National Monument. Luckily, times and attitudes have changed.

Alabama's Conecuh Trail: Southern Comfort

For Deep South scenery, try Alabama's Conecuh Trail, where the gopher frogs and armadillos outnumber the people.

North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The best trips are littered with mistakes, frustration, and, if a river called the "Little Misery" runs through it, boot-sucking mud.

National Parks: Best Solitude

More than ever, these empty parks offer medicine for the soul.

National Parks: Best Overall Park

Glacier National Park possesses scenery that'll suck the breath out of your lungs, quiet so intense you'll wonder if your ears still work, and enough wildlife to make a zookeeper drool with envy.

Giving Thanks At Washington's Jackson Wilderness

The best way to honor a wilderness-minded senator is to hike the Jackson Wilderness.

National Parks: Best Wildlife

Where the words "wild" and "life" take on new meaning

Adirondacks High Peaks: Timing Is Everything

When leaves turn the colors on a painter's palette, head to the Adirondack's High Peaks Wilderness.

Hiking With Michigan's Elk Herd

What's good for elk is good for backpackers on Michigan's High Country Pathway.

Vermont's Many-Faced Long Trail

If land has a personality, then Vermont's 270-mile Long Trail is one moody, unpredictable way to hike through New England.

All Quiet In Colorado's Indian Peaks

When summer ends, crowd-free hiking begins in Colorado's Indian Peaks.

The "Perfect" Trip

Out of mistakes, miscues, and unexpected turns in the trail, we find the perfect trip.

A Hiker In Mt. Rainier's Wonderland

Sure, you can summit Mt. Rainier, but the real treasure isn't on top. It's the Wonderland Trail down below.

Wyoming's Absaroka: Wild At Heart

If you think the last truly wild, unexplored land is in Canada or Alaska, you haven't been to Wyoming's Absaroka range.

Hiking Montana's Cabinet Mountains

The French-Canadian trappers are long gone, but the grizzlies and waterfalls remain in this alpine nirvana.

Hiking Washington's Kettle River Mountains

Washington's gentle "forgotten mountains" -- The Kettle River Range -- are ignored by those in a hurry to reach the Cascades.

Ellicott Rock Wilderness: Rock And Stroll

History is carved in stone in this wild and scenic southern river corridor in North Carolina and Georgia.

Robbers Cave: A Bandit's Oasis In Oklahoma

Follow Jesse James's footprints to a land of shady valleys and cool, clear lakes.

New York's Long Path: Winning The Rat Race

Even when you're trapped in the nation's most crowded metropolis, backwoods relief is only a short hike down a Long Path.

Indiana's Shades State Park

Rare stands of virgin hardwood and creekside camping beckon sunburned hikers.

New York's Tongue Range

Are you antsy? Need to get away? Try New York's Tongue Range.

Wyoming's Medicine Bow: A Cure For Hikers

Wyoming's Medicine Bow National Forest is just what the hiker ordered.

Icebergs In Oregon: Chambers Lakes

Chambers Lakes are too cold for swimming, but a great place to watch 'bergs drift by.

Grand Teton's High Adventure Trail

Some people head to Wyoming to summit the Tetons. But outdoor legend Paul Petzoldt had a better idea: Create a route for foot travelers along the spine of the great range.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California

Myths and cactus in California: A life-filled land of sand and mountains.

California's Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park

In the shadow of magnificent Mt. Shasta lies a relic of ancient times.

Hoover Wilderness, California

Lay claim to your own California mountain valley and bask in utter solitude.

Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado

A primordial oasis of rivers, bighorn sheep, and canyons.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Roads end in Arizona with tall tales, natural gardens, cacti forests, and shoe scorpions.

Biking The Colorado Trail

Mountain vistas: the ups and downs of a mountain-biking/hiking paradise.

Arizona's Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness

Cool your feet and warm your brow in this Arizona desert wilderness.

Alabama's Talladega National Forest

A high point offering a year-round getaway for lovers of southern wildlife, lush forests, and redeye bass.

Hiking Henry W. Coe State Park, California

California's second largest park has an impressive trail system.

Santa Catalina Island, California

Porpoises escort you to a rugged island where buffalo really do roam.

Kentucky's Red River Gorge

Gorgeous gorge: Where the arches outnumber the footprints.

Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park

Hike up and down oak- and hickory-covered ridgetops, or explore underground.

Wisconsin's Brule River State Forest

Wisconsin's Brule River has great rivers galore -- just don't lose your uncle's canoe.

Boulder River Wilderness, Washington

Majestic peaks rise in all directions in Washington's Boulder River Wilderness -- elegant, jagged, draped in snow.

Bruneau River, Idaho

Raft or hike this desert paradise's secretive canyons -- but don't pass up the hot springs.

West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest

Classic eastern mountain scenery along West Virginia's skyline pathway.

Maryland's Big Savage Mountain

Heavy forests and the roar of whitewater wait in this section of the Appalachian Mountains.

Kentucky And Tennessee's Land Between the Lakes

Hike from Kentucky to Tennessee along an inland peninsula.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

A watery paradise, a hiker's secret.

Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Oklahoma

Western prairie meets eastern forest in the land of healing waters.

Georgia's Providence Canyon State Park

A slice of Utah canyon in the heart of Dixie.

Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

Just beyond the neon and greenbacks of Vegas lies a priceless wilderness gem.

Tiffany Wildlife Area, Wisconsin

A water-lover's Wisconsin wonderland with forests, prairies, and the occasional eagle.

Hoosier National Forest

A hiker's oasis in the hills and valleys of the Midwest.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

A big Midwestern sandpile turned into an otherworldly escape by pounding surf and forests.

Michigan's Nordhouse Dunes

Sunny beaches, cool forests, and a birder's paradise along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Seven Devils of Hells Canyon

Where you'll share the mountain with curious goats and mysteries of the past.

Cache River State Natural Area

Not your laid-back summer holiday -- canoeing and hiking galore.

Florida's Oklawaha River

Take a lazy cruise through exotic scenery, where monkeys swing and eagles soar.

Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve

In Big Cypress' land of exotic plants and lurking alligators, swamps aren't such bad places after all.

Maine's Bigelow Preserve

Follow the Appalachian Trail to new heights in the rugged New England high country.

Rock Island State Park

Too small to get much attention and a pain in the neck to reach: The perfect Wisconsin escape.

Massachusetts' Monroe State Forest

Tucked away in a New England corner is an old-growth paradise.

Illinois' Shawnee National Forest

Exploring hills and "hollers" in the Land of Lincoln.

Wolf River, Tennesee

Once an impassable, swampy "ghost river," now a paddler's dream.

Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio

Lose yourself in the past on part of the Buckeye, America's longest loop trail.

Michigan's Sylvania Wilderness

Hike up and down oak- and hickory-covered ridgetops, or explore underground.

Louisiana's Kisatchie Hills Wilderness

There's more to the Louisiana's deep South than swamps and Cajun food.

Olympic National Park, Washington

Olympic National Park is pristine and isolated -- rare commodities these days.

North Carolina's Southern Nantahala Wilderness Area

A rugged land of sweet-smelling wildflowers, bald mountains, and stone Indians.

Delaware Water Gap, New Jersey & Pennsylvania

A peaceful rest stop in the shadow of the nation's largest city.

New York's Catskill Park

Old, haunted New York mountains, thick with legend.

Indian Cave State Park, Nebraska

Where you can look down on soaring eagles and feel the power of the Missouri River.

Tennessee: Savage Gulf State Natural Area

Waterfalls and swimming holes aplenty.

Texas' Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Hike or climb this pristine pink-granite wonderland just outside Austin.

Pennsylvania: Roaring Run Natural Area

A precious backcountry jewel amid the hardwood forests.

North Carolina's Bear Island

Hike with sea turtles, watch the dolphins play, and share the beach with ghost crabs.

Texas' Hill Country State Natural Area

It's amazing what nature can do with pasture a decade after the cows go home.

South Carolina's Edisto River

Not much company along this stretch of Deep South blackwater -- and that's just fine.

North Carolina's Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Trade your flip-flops for hiking boots and explore a seaside trail.

Virginia's False Cape State Park

Near-complete isolation just a few miles from Virginia Beach.

North Carolina's Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area

Wind through what remains of a lost Carolina world.

Skiing Utah's Tushar Mountains

Strap on the skis and glide across wind-sculpted snow into alpine solitude.

Illinois' Vermilion River, Kickapoo State Park

A pristine prairie river winds through a sea of corn and beans in the shadow of Chicago.

Horseshoe Canyon, Canyonlands National Park

Where the shadows on the sandstone offer lessons from the past and there's not a soul to be found.

Cloudland Canyon State Park

Utah: The White Rim, Canyonlands

A bit of nerve opens up the stunning canyonlands made famous by Wile E. Coyote.

Kayaking Lake Powell's Glen Canyon

The hidden side of a watery Utah playground.

Bisti Wilderness, New Mexico

Watch for ghosts among the mushroom-shaped rocks in this weird, lovely landscape.

Pine Barrens, New Jersey

Wooded trails, tea-colored waters -- and the Jersey Devil.

El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico

Frozen fire shaped by cataclysmic forces and the footsteps of the ancient ones.

Niobrara National Scenic River, Nebraska

The current carries you through the Great Plains, where buffalo, elk -- and snapping turtles -- roam.

New York's Five Ponds Wilderness

Echoes of the ice age resonate throughout this Adirondack wilderness.

Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine State Forest

If you're a fan of eskers, moraines, kettles, and kames, Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine State Forest is the right place for you.

South Taconic Mountains, Connecticut

Connecticut's South Taconic Mountains have bald peaks, deep, forested gorges, and trees as old as the Mayflower.

Colorado: Gibson Lake, Pike National Forest

Tiny Gibson Lake will take you out of Denver in a hurry with its big-wilderness feel and smirking brook trout.

California's Ishi Wilderness

Ishi Wilderness trails run through stream-carved canyons, past stunning vistas, back to gold rush days.

Lake Pillsbury, Mendocino National Forest, California

Hiking and backpacking at its finest, through pastoral grasslands and forests of pine and fur.

California's Smith River National Recreation Area

You're as likely to bump into Sasquatch as another human.

Desolation Wilderness, Eldorado National Forest

Behind the forbidding name lies California's glacier-polished playground.

Polar Bears: Big, White... And Harmless?

If you run into the big white bears, should you be scared?

Short Hikes On The Pacific Northwest Trail

Only have a short time to tackle the Pacific Northwest Trail? Our guide will give you the best the PNT has to offer.

Splendor In New Mexico's Mills Canyon

Mills Canyon is a hidden treasure where you can bushwhack through history.

Ansel Adams Wilderness: Witness To Magic

With the click of a shutter, Ansel Adams captured the beauty and soul of wild places and showed us that in nature, there is magic.

Wind Rivers Reunion

In the Wind Rivers range, you can hike for days without seeing another soul, which is why it brings a pair of brothers back again and again.

Washington's Juniper Dunes: Not So High, But Dry

In a region known for soggy times, Juniper Dunes is a warm sandbox where you can dry out.

California's Trinity Alps: Dr. Seuss Hiked Here

Observe the uncanny resemblance between the good doctor's famous Truffula Trees and a field of fuzz-topped flowers 5 miles up Long Canyon.

Apostle Islands: Lake Superior's Icy Magic

Wisconsin: Explore 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland shoreline where strings of cliffs and caves are bejeweled in ice.

Wisconsin's Rock Island: Camp Moonbeam

Combine a full harvest moon with a remote island trail for the greatest show on Earth.

The Otters Of Michigan's Sylvania Wilderness

You'll emerge from a forested hallway into a wilderness playroom, and there before you will be skidmarks in the snow.

Boating With Bald Eagles

The typical Delaware River float trip offers the opportunity to spy more bald eagles than people.

Snowbirds Of Okefenokee Swamp

The Purple Trail through Chase Prairie or the Green or Red Trails through Floyd's Prairie are good routes for viewing Sandhill cranes.

Arizona's Sky Islands: Harmonic Convergence

Arizona: Every year millions of ladybugs head to Arizona and coat trees, rocks, and brush like a layer of living paint.

Colorado's San Juans Wildflower Explosion

The majestic San Juan Mountain range is often called America's Switzerland. -- and the wildflowers match.

Staying Cool In Missouri's Caves

In Whites Creek Cave you can explore in nature's own cooling system, and observe its grateful inhabitants.

Arkansas' Buffalo National River

Arkansas Buffalo National River features challenging trails and a river-laced wilderness.

Stargazing In New Mexico's White Sands

The lunarlike landscape and dark skies of this preserve make White Sands one of the best places for star watching.

Maine's Frisky Season For Moose

Even if you don't see a moose, you'll hear the bulls' low grunts echoing off the hillside.

Eye To Eye With Raptors

Eyeball to beak with impressively taloned hawks in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest.

New Hampshire: Pop Goes The Forest

You can spend days exploring the Dry River Valley forest without seeing another soul, even if it sounds like you're being chased by a well-armed militia.

Tennessee: Ice As Art

In winter, the glasslike menagerie of icicles in the Cumberland Plateau will send a chill down your spine.

Maryland's Savage River State Forest

hen it comes to sheer ability to alter a landscape and shock the human senses, you can't beat the May blooms of a mountain laurel thicket.

Running With Mustangs In Montana's Pryor Mountains

Montana: The Pryor Mountains harbor the nation's last free-roaming wild mustangs, not to mention wilderness that is as wild as the horses.

New Hampshire's Chorus Of Loons

A chaotic chorus of loon calls penetrate the darkness, the warbling sounds echoing off the wooded hills around the New Hampshire lake.

Virginia's Berrypicking Paradise

When hiking on Virginia's high, exposed heath balds in late summer, leave gorp and other snacks at home.

Pennsylvania's Mid State Trail: Bears And Blueberries

Pennsylvania: You'll get wet and you may even stand in line behind a black bear or two.

Big Cypress: Woodpeckers And Old Growth

Consider trying to spot a red-cockaded wood-pecker in Florida's Big Cypress Preserve a form of treasure hunting.

Muddy Love In Shenandoah

All along the 23-mile Shenandoah Mountain trail and in the forested areas throughout the Appalachian Mountains, vernal pools are rich aquatic breeding grounds.

Virginia's Crest Zone: Basking In Moonshine

Pine Mountain and Wilson Ridge command high-country vistas stretching across rock-strewn meadows.

When Pennsylvania Elks Bugle, Love Is In The Air

The ungodly wailing that sometimes drifts through the dark woods is only an animal.

Maine's Seals In The Surf

Maine's seal pups are usually born in May, making early summer an ideal time to witness the youngsters learning to swim and fish.

Pretty As A Picture

The blaze of fall color in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is unequaled.

Kenucky's Land Of Painted Leaves

"October is the month for painted leaves," Thoreau mused. He could have been talking about Kentucky's Red River Gorge.

Birds In Utah's Canyonlands

Life in the high desert in autumn is sweeter and more irresistible than any place on Earth.

Big Bend Birding In Texas

The best bird window coincides with the best hiking season in the Chihuahuan Desert.

Joshua Tree's Bloomin' Good Hike

California: Journey through a desert to bear witness to some of the loveliest wildflowers you'll ever see.

Aspen's Avalanche Of Gold

No color in nature comes close to matching the heart-stirring golden aspen found in the Rockies in autumn.

Oregon's Volcanoes In Full Bloom

Vast meadows of wildflowers sprawl across the ridgetops and valley bottoms of the Three Sisters.

Splendor In Vermont's Green Mountains

Enjoy Vermont's autumn colors while you can -- they disappear all too quickly, and the Green Mountains recover their namesake hue in the spring.

New York's Shower Of Color

Have your camera ready near dusk, when sunlight warms the landscape with intense color.

Treasure In San Francisco's Backyard

More than 200 preserves, parks, and other protected wildlands lie within 40 miles of San Francisco, exceeding Yosemite National Park in size, biodiversity, and visitation.

The Smokies: Backwoods-Style

Here's your insider's guide to The Great Smokies, probably the epitome of a true backpacker's national park.

Ohio's Shawnee Backpack Trail

When the footpath is named the Backpack Trail, you know what to do.

Alabama's Cheaha Wilderness: A Southern Secret

The little-known Cheaha Wilderness Area is the gateway to Alabama's largest trail system.

Texas' Guadalupe Range

If you think west Texas is nothing but tumbleweeds and cattle, you haven't walked 62 miles across one of the world's most famous geological formations.

Hike All Year

Okay, so the weather stinks and so does the hiking. Change both by heading down the road to where the sun shines and the trail beckons.

Oregon's Steens Mountain: An Airborne Oasis

Steens looks like your average mountain, but hike up high and you'll find a hidden paradise.

Colorado's Lizard Head Wilderness

Besides being home to a mythical reptile, Colorado's Lizard Head Wilderness is the site of some great hiking.

Lion's Tale Trail: Explore With Your Fingertips

Trail goers can experience a whole new world by hiking Virginia's newly renovated Lion's Tale Trail.

Snowshoeing New York's Five Ponds

When the rest of the East is bare, snowshoers can find plenty of powder in New York's Five Ponds Wilderness.

Holiday On Arkansas' Ouachita River

Let the masses shop till they drop: On Arkansas's Ouachita River the pace is slow and easy.

Earthquakes in California's Fish Valley

When hiking California's Fish Valley, don't forget to pack your Richter scale.

Penokee Mountains: The Alps Of Wisconsin

What they've lost in height, the Penokee Mountains make up for in big views and solitude.

Whispering Pine Trail, Missouri

Relax and sniff the azaleas among Missouri's Whispering Pines.

Twelve Toughest Trails

Twelve trails that'll chew you up, spit you out, and have you begging for more.

Great Smokies Showcase: Maddron Bald

In a park full of natural wonder, the route to Maddron Bald hits the high points.

Soar In Colorado's Eagles Nest Wilderness

Gain a raptor's-eye view of the world in Colorado's Eagles Nest Wilderness.

Oregon's Tillamook Forest: A Craggy Option

Everyone's heard of the Cascades, but no one seems to know about Tillamook State Forest.

The Faces Of Fall

If you think autumn is simply a time to rake leaves, then you need to read our guide to the best of the fall season.

Arkansas's Butterfield Trail

Once a bumpy stagecoache route, Arkansas's Butterfield Trail now jostles hikers.

Wild As It Ever Was

For almost half a century, California's rugged Ishi Wilderness hid "the last wild Indian." Even today, it is a place that can keep a secret.

California's Cucamonga Wilderness

As ice-cream makers in Los Angeles once knew, the Cucamonga Wilderness is the essence of cool.

Arizona's Galiuro Mountains

Don't expect the red-carpet treatment in Arizona's Galiuro Mountains, just wilderness on its own terms.

New York's Catskill Escarpment Trail

Where artists once found inspiration, the Catskills' Escarpment Trail now challenges hikers.

The Best U.S. Summits: Top Of The World

Who needs Everest when you can have these eight summits, all hikeable, all close to home, no sherpas or yaks required.

Indiana's Hiker's Sandbox

Play out your Lawrence of Suburbia fantasies at Indiana Dunes.

Mokelumne Wilderness Loop, CA

Where 100 unknown Sierra miles wait.

Nevada's East Humboldt Wilderness

Way up in Nevada's East Humboldt Wilderness, finding solitude and water are sure bets.

Washington's Supreme William O. Douglas Wilderness

The William O. Douglas Wilderness is a monument worthy of a great man.

BLM Hiking: Land of Opportunity

If you look beyond the occasional cow, you'll find the BLM has lots of ruggedly beautiful land to offer. No mining, no oil rigs, just lots of solitude.

Tennessee/Georgia's Big Frog Wilderness

Why choose between breezy peaks and cool streams when you can have both at Big Frog Wilderness?

Wisconsin River: Going With The Flow

The ambling Wisconsin River has only one speed: full-out relaxed.

Wapack Trail, NH

A Thoreauvian classic hike in New Hampshire.

Pinup Perfect: Sawtooth Wilderness, Idaho

While Sawtooth Lake grabs the limelight, behind the scenes lie crowd-free peace and splendor.

Kentucky's Cumberland Falls

Kentucky's Cumberland Falls provide spectacular waterworks, day or night.

Arkansas: Caney Creek Wilderness

An Ozark oasis loaded with wildlife and fall colors.

Riga Plateau, Appalachian Trail

Get spectacular Appalachian Trail mountain views without much effort on the Riga Plateau.

Utah' s Coyote Gulch

Go through the looking glass in Utah's canyon country.

Texas: Lost Maples State Natural Area

Texas' Lost Maples has beautiful desert vistas -- and mountain lions.

Landscapes of the Soul: Canada's Arctic

Like your first love, you never forget your initial visit to the Arctic.

Wisconsin's Governor Knowles State Forest

Escape from the urban at Wisconsin's Governor Knowles State Forest.

New Mexico's Latir Peak Wilderness

Hikers often overlook the the quiet meadows, wildflowers, and mountaintops of New Mexico's Latir Wilderness. Their loss is your gain.

Colorado's Flat Tops Wilderness

Wyoming: Best Of The Bighorns

Here's how to find the best of Wyoming's expansive Bighorn range.

Weminuche Wilderness: Top Of The Rockies

Highest, biggest, wildest: Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness is a land of superlatives.

A New Utah Adventure

Never heard of Utah's George Washington Hayduke Route, have you? That's because it's brand new.

Missouri Ozarks' Berryman Trail

Get away from the Ozarks crowd on the Berryman Trail.

New York's Dix Mountain

These quiet summits feature the best views of New York's high Adirondacks.

Editor's Choice: Wisconsin's Apostle Islands

Lake Superior's best coast lies on Wisconsin's Apostle Islands.

Editor's Choice: Bowman Lake, Glacier National Park

Bears electrify an already incredible experience at Glacier National Park's Bowman Lake.

Texas' Palo Duro Canyon

The colorful walls of Palo Duro Canyon will delight hikers with masterpiece washes of color.

North Carolina's Mountains To Sea Trail

It's not complete, but North Carolina's Mountains To Sea trail rivals Inman's journey in "Cold Mountain."

Yellow River State Forest

Think Iowa is nothing but flat? You haven't visited the Yellow River State Forest.

California's Trinity Alps

Secret scrambles and lakes abound in this northern California wilderness.

Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness

A hidden spot in Washington's popular Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Colorado's South San Juan Wilderness

Crowd-free, rocky mountain highs -- you'll find this and more in Colorado's South San Juan Wilderness.

Pennsylvania's Hickory Creek Wilderness

Hickory Creek Wilderness in the Allegheny National Forest remains a great hiking destination all year -- even in winter.

Georgia's Cumberland Island

Cumberland Island's south shore provides remarkably pristine beaches and mossy forests.

New Hampshire's Carter Dome

A hike up New Hampshire's Carter Dome has it all -- mountains, forests, water, views, solitude, and even a little challenge.

North Carolina's Joyce Kilmer Wilderness

The most old-growth forest in the east resides in North Carolina's Joyce Kilmer Wilderness.

Buffalo National River Trail, Arkansas

Visit Arkansas' Buffalo National River Trail, where the huckleberries are plentiful and the views are wondrous.

Santa Catalina Island

Find a new kind of California beach on the undeveloped shores of Santa Catalina Island.

Editor's Choice: Columbia River Gorge

Waterfalls and wonder: Both are plentiful in Oregon's Columbia River Gorge.

Nevada's Mt. Moriah Wilderness

Great Basin's Mt. Moriah is a big mountain of solitude.

Utah's Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness

Wilderness worthy enough to inspire any classical landscape painter.

Caprock Canyons State Park

History and landscape meet at Caprock Canyos State Park.

Texas' Big Slough Wilderness

Texas' Big Slough is as wet as the Big Bend is dry.

Ohio's River Ramble

The Marietta Unit provides some of the greatest river trails in Ohio.

Michigan Riding and Hiking Trail

Break the long Michigan winter with a lengthy hike on Michigan's Riding and Hiking Trail.

California's Redwood National Park

Walk among giants in Redwood National Park.

Beech Creek Natural Area

Oklahoma's own Tennessee awaits intrepid hikers.

Arkansas' Huckleberry Trail

Like to start your hikes up high? Then Arkansas Huckleberry Trail is for you.

Virginia's Three Ridges

Hike this gorgeous, mountainous section of Virginia's Appalachian Trail.

Pennsylvania's Thunder Swamp Trail

Hiking through wetlands in Pennsylvania? Believe it.

Arizona's Mt. Baldy Wilderness

Luckily, Aldo Leopold's prediction about Mt. Baldy didn't come true -- these Arizona forests are just as verdant as always.

South Dakota: Black Hills Gold

History and nature intertwine when you hike South Dakota's stunning Black Hills.

Oklahoma's Charons Gardens Wilderness

The bare rocks of Oklahoma's Charons Gardens will haunt and delight hikers.

Arkansas' Petit Jean Mountain State Park

Boy Scouts paved an excellent trail in this Ozark gem.

New Mexico's White Mountain Wilderness

High, cool peaks rise over 7,000 feet above the desert flats in New Mexico's White Mountain Wilderness.

North Carolina's Gregory Bald

Great Smoky's Gregory Bald features an amazing crown of wild azaleas.

California's Great Western Divide

Can you find solitude in Sequoia National Park? You can if you go off trail.

Long Trail Haute Route

Burnt Rock Mountain provides great views along Vermont's Long Trail.

Maine's Saddleback Range Traverse

Get above treeline in Maine's wild Saddleback Range.

California's Carson-Iceberg Wilderness

Dark, volcanic mountains soaring along the Pacific Crest make for a forbidding wilderness perfect for U.S. Marines in training -- or solitude-seeking hikers.

Olympic National Park's Grand Valley Loop

The best way to see all Olympic has to offer is on the grand Valley Loop.

Colorado's James Peak

James Peak is a gem just 50 miles west of Denver.

Washington's North Cascade's Copper Ridge Loop

Hike this crown of North Cascades National Park, Washington.

Hoosier High Country's Uplifting Experience

You won't get a nosebleed on the Knobstone Trail, but you will get a taste of Hoosier high country.

Bay Area Spring Flings

Three Bay Area hikes that'll quickly make winter a distant memory

New Mexico's Pecos Wilderness

In New Mexico's Pecos Wilderness, it's just you and the bighorn sheep looking down on the world.

Pennsylvania's Michaux State Forest

With all of the trail options in Pennsylvania's Michaux State Forest, it's hard to pick just one.

Alaska's Tordrillo Mountains: High, Wild, and Unknown

The Tordrillo Mountains are so rugged, you'd swear you're the first human to set foot there.

Winter Hiking For Beginners

Extend the hiking season at these three destinations, all perfect for winter newbies.

Minnesota's Wild River State Park

Stomp and glide at Wild River State Park, where no snow monsters are allowed.

Zaleski State Forest Backpack Trail, Ohio

An Ohio trail that reclaimed land from the ore era.

Soar To New Hampshire's Pilot Range

When the White Mountains' hot spots get too hot, there's always the Pilot Range.

Everglades: Hike Florida's River Of Grass

You don't need a canoe to reach some of the Everglades' best beachfront campsites.

A Trail Of True Grit

The Ouachita Mountains sheltered outlaws and gave John Wayne something to crow about. But it's not until you hike the 223-mile Ouachita Trail that you realize this country is the stuff of legend.

Katahdin In One Day

For some, reaching Maine's Mt. Katahdin is the end of a life-altering 2,100-mile pilgrimage. For others it's a lark. We captured the extremes, and a little bit of everything in between, one day atop Maine's "greatest mountain."

Winter Utah: Canyon Solitude

Think slickrock in July and your throat clenches, your skin shrivels, and parched bones rattle in your subconscious. But in winter, the snow sends the tourists and dry desert demons packing, and the frosted wonderland is all yours.

Afoot In Arizona's Apache Country

In the fortress-like Mazatzal Wilderness, you can barricade yourself in solitude.

Canada's Appalachian Trail

Who says the Appalachian Trail has to stop in Maine? Certainly not some plucky Canadians, who're extending the long-trail concept 600 more miles into their homeland.

Canada: The Land Of Plenty

Looking for a really wild time? Grab your passport and head to Canada, where the mountains are big, the views stretch beyond your imagination, and you can't fling a moose pellet without hitting some kind of wildlife.

New England's Metacomet-Monadnock Trail

Panoramic ridge-hiking through New England.

Juan Of A Kind: Vancouver's Juan de Fuca Marine Trail

Vancouver's Juan de Fuca Marine Trail offers the best of both worlds in a challenging and surprising 29-mile ramble.

A Walk In Oregon's Volcanic Park

Hiking through Oregon's Jefferson Park puts you in the heart of what was once some pretty hot country.

Utah's Lonely Deseret Peak Wilderness

Deseret Peak Wilderness has everything the popular Wasatch Range does, except the crowds.

Sheer Beauty: North Carolina's Linville Gorge

Drop off the lip of Linville Gorge into a world of rock escarpments, deep forests, and whitewater.

Wisconsin's Blue Hills

Thank the Ice Age for the challenging hiking and incredible views you'll find in the Blue Hills.

California's Land Of "Thoughtful" Giants

Redwood Meadow's massive trees and wild countryside have changed little since Muir passed through 100 years ago.

Theodore Roosevelt's Badlands

Theodore Roosevelt ventured into the North Dakota Badlands an East Coast city Boy. After the land got through with him, he had the fortitude to run a nation and the insight to preserve more wildlands than anyone in history.

Colorado's Willow Creek Trail

Hike like a conquistador through Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Elk On Pennsylvania's Quehanna Trail

There are plenty of Bambi's brethren along the Quehanna Trail-if you know where to look.

Not Exactly Roughing It On Idaho's Salmon River Trail

The Middle Fork of the Salmon River Trail is a 100-mile-long backpacker's dream that comes complete with muscle-soothing waters and the occasional glass of wine with your four-course dinner.

Washington's Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness

You'll find North Cascades beauty minus the rain in Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness.

West Virginia Mountain Hobnobbing

Birds and deer are your only companions on this stretch of the Allegheny Trail.

Yosemite: Treasure Of The Sierra

Forget what CNN and Your Daily News say about Yosemite's crowds and crime and traffic. the "treasure of the Sierra" is still a golden place for backpackers to escape.

Mt. Charleston Loop Trail, Nevada

Keep your cool on Nevada's Mt. Charleston Loop Trail.

New Hampshire's Baldface Range

Baldface Range's icy swimming holes and heights will get any hiker worked up.

Hiker's Paradise: New Zealand

If you like stunning mountains, challenging trails, breathtaking scenery and warm temperatures in winter, New Zealand is your ticket to paradise. Just watch out for the thieving parrots.

Life's Great (Continental) Divide

The Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park is a place of reckoning and, given its trackless nature, a place of choices. To a young man who came of age here, it offers perspective on paths not taken.

South Carolina's Blue Ridge Scene Stealer

The 76-mile Foothills Trail takes in all of the Blue Ridge's scenic wonders.

Michigan's Manistee River Trail

Two trails, same river, two different worlds.

Washington's Olympic Coast

Washington's rocky, log-strewn shore is no place for beach bums.

Colorado's West Elk Wilderness

There's elbow room to spare in this lofty hiker's haven.

Nine Wilderness Hero Hikes

Nine hikes as big as the hearts of their namesake wilderness visionaries.

Utah's High Uintas Wilderness

Head south to find the quiet side of the King.

Mt. Rainier National Park

A small taste of Washington's mighty mountain.

Lassen Volcanic National Park

All the park is a stage for nature's steamy performance in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Minnesota's Superior Hiking Trail

Great lake views in Minnesota's land of moose and wolves.

Glacier Peak Wilderness

Tundra hiking in the shadow of Washington's ice-cloaked behemoth.

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Hiking Wisconsin's glacier-carved trail will set you back 12,000 years.

California's Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness

The best wildlife stronghold in California.

California's Dardanelles

Wondrous lava formations in the Sierra's granite kingdom.

Colorado's Rawah Wilderness

A high country stunner that defines Colorado wilderness.

California's Sespe Wilderness

A roadless wonder in California's Los Padres Wilderness.

Oregon's Columbia Wilderness Area

Waterfalls and old growth in this gorge-ous Oregon hideaway.

Sangre De Cristo Wilderness

If the beauty of the Colorado Sangres doesn't leave you breathless, the altitude will.

Virginia's Massanutten Range

The 50-mile-long Massanutten range in Virginia may be D.C.'s top-secret hiking getaway.

Desert Rat's Delight In Arizona

The East Cactus Plain Wilderness brims with life and solitude. Just don't forget the water.

Black Forest Trail, PA

A 42-mile loop through America's version of the Black Forest.

Snowshoe Camping, Northwest-Style

When temps warm but the going's still snowy, strap on snowshoes to reach Washington's hidden camping gems.

Illinois' Trail Of Two Rivers

On its way from the Ohio to the Mississippi, Illinois' new River to River Trail takes you through a surprisingly wild side of the Corn Belt.

Bear Mountain: NYC's Urban Antidote

Harriman/Bear Mountain State Park is only an hour from Manhattan, but you'll feel like you're worlds away.

International Hikes: The World Awaits

Grab your passport and follow these 25 hikes where wild winds Blow, strange animals roam, and even the alpenglow adds to the adventure.

North Carolina's Uwharrie Mountains

The ancient Uwharries have baffled geologists, but hikers know a good thing when they see it.

Lone Star Hiking Trail, Texas

Smooth and easy hiking deep in the heart of Texas.

Big Sur's Redwood Trees

If the redwoods don't wow you, there's always the world-class California coastline.

New Hampshire's Kinsman Ridge Trail

Thrills and views by the minute on the Kinsman Ridge Trail.

Colorado's Heavenly Holy Cross Wilderness

Wilderness doesn't get much better, or higher, than Holy Cross.

Columbine Canyon Trail, New Mexico

Thirteen miles in the spectacular Sangre De Cristos.

Goat Rocks Wilderness: A Real Eye-Popper

Some say Goat Rocks Wilderness has the best scenery along the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail. Decide for yourself.

South Carolina's Blue Wall

South Carolina: A wealth of waterfalls and world-class swimming.

Missouri's Hercules Glade

Quirky geology leads to even quirkier residents at Missouri's Hercules Glades.

Algonquin Provincial Park: Where The Wild Things Are

At the edge of the world, Canada's Algonquin Provincial Park offers a window to the past.

Rocky Mountains, Defined

Exploring the wilder, uncrowded reaches of our highest national park.

Massachusetts' Mt. Greylock

A mysterious ravine, old-growth forest, and big climbs -- only at Mt. Greylock Reservation.

Heat Relief Up High

While the desert sizzles, Arizona's Kachina Peaks are cool and comfortable.

Twin Lakes Trail, Washington

Explore Washington's storied old-growth forests plus an authentic ghost town.

Duncan Ridge Trail, Georgia

Get lost on Georgia's Duncan Ridge Trail.

San Gorgonio Wilderness: 2 Miles Above L.A.

Sierra scenery at L.A.'s backdoor.

Virginia's Ramseys Draft Wilderness: Rugged And Remote

Challenge and a hint of risk are part and parcel in Ramseys Draft Wilderness.

Mt. St. Helens: The Cataclysm and Beyond

A trek through the blast zone of a restless volcano raises questions about a father's legacy and a child's future.

Utah's High Uintas: 600 Miles Of Trail

Tackling the High Uintas Wilderness from the east offers big paybacks.

Hiking Forests Primeval

Fifteen trails that'll take you from flaming maples to towering redwoods, with plenty of shimmering aspen in between.

Tennessee's Arches

Big South Fork provides Utah-quality arches in Tennessee.