Destinations
Are you blowing big bucks driving to your favorite hike? Use these gas-mileage-boosting tips so you can get to more trailheads for less money.
Bears in the lower 48 have rebounded from decades of declining populations and shrinking habitat. Also improving: your chance of seeing a bruin in the wild. By Ted Alvarez
Grizzlies vanished from North Cascades National Park five decades ago. Or did they? Our scout joins the search for Washington's elusive mountain ghosts. By Ted Alvarez
For 40 years, BACKPACKER readers have explored the wilderness and returned with photographic gold. But we were wowed by the entries for this contest—more than 650 of them. Check out these finalists (and this year's winner), then go to
backpacker.com/photos to submit your own images. We’ll showcase the best entries in upcoming issues.
Tromp through a Florida cypress swamp, find solitude on a Catskills peak, look for rare Carolina blooms, plus 9 more.
Snag a dozen great winter trips, including a texas Hill Country overnight, a Lake Superior snowshoe,
and a hike to Apostle islands ice caves.
Soak in a New Mexico hot spring, spot wintering bighorn sheep in the Winds, hike to a lost California oasis, and more.
In celebration of our readers, we have designed a second tour (in addition to our popular Get Out More Tour) that will launch in 2013, the GEAR and GO TOUR.
You want your kiddos to enjoy the outdoors – camping, hiking, biking, etc. – as much as you do. Northwest editor Michael Lanzas has 10 tips on how to accomplish that – and have fun along the way.
Your region's go-now guide: Visit a new hikers' hostel connected to 50 miles of trail in Maine's Bigelow Mountains, see the rare Oconee bell in South Carolina's Jocassee Gorges area, explore the world's longest mapped cave system near Louisville, and more.
Our trail scouts' top local hikes, including fire tower views in New Jersey, a New York waterfall, and more.
Traverse a primeval landscape of cypress swamp, hardwood hammocks, and pinelands.
The Granite State's crown jewel is an epicenter for alpine adventure, from peakbagging to ridgewalking to hut camping. Where to start? In the heart of the Whites, with beta from our map team. Trek across windswept plateaus, tag a handful of the range's 48 peaks above 4,000 feet, and get a taste of high-altitude tundra.
Your region's go-now guide: Explore ice caves on Wisconsin's Apostle Islands, overnight in peace in northern Missouri, and more.
Follow the footsteps of Wild West outlaws in Oklahoma, marvel at Gooseberry Fall's frozen cascades, search out arrowheads at Hot Springs National Park, and more.
Warm up for hiking season with a mellow escape to a maze of limestone plateaus.
What off season? Bundle up and reap the benefits of colder weather in these snowy playgrounds.
Your region's go-now spring guide: Scramble to Salado Indian cliff dwellings in Arizona, spot bighorn sheep in Wyoming, and more.
Our trail scouts' top local hikes: ancient Oregon volcanoes, a Nevada slot canyon, a hidden California oasis, and more.
Explore a slot canyon and soak in a warm backcountry pool in the country's first designated wilderness.
Beachside trek meets pub crawl meets castle tour on Europe's newest long trail, the 870-mile Wales Coast Path, officially opened in May 2011. We have the beta on its highlights.
Climb hiker-friendly 16,000-foot summits--and maybe nab a first ascent--on a shoestring budget, plus get an unchaperoned glimpse of Tibetan culture.
Test yourself on these wild routes.
Explore spectacular places by air, land, and sea.
Take your pick of adventures from this major ferry stop about three hours from Natales: Beach camp next to a private glacier or paddle to a gem lake.
Escape to trekking and horseback riding nirvana on Patagonia's high plains.
Explore peak-lined Chilean waters by boat or by foot—in solitude.
Explore Chile's mind-bending terrain without joining the throngs on the popular trekker circuit.
On this paddle/hike/horse adventure, you'll have glacier-chiseled fjords, sky-piercing
mountains, and best-ever camping all to yourself.
Find solitude high above Los Angeles.
Camp lake-side in Arkansas, summit 800-foot Nebraska bluffs, see Wisconsin's best foliage (alone), and dayhike near Dallas. Plus: 8 more autumn hikes.
Kentucky's Land Between The Lakes, see a South Carolina swamp (without the bugs), hike through four states in one huge day, and more.
Make a late-season hike to an aspen-dense Colorado mesa, spot bears in the Beartooths, explore gypsum dunes, and discover more fall must-hikes.
New Elite program from map partner Trimble Outdoors serves up best-in-class trip planning tools, exclusive map data, and mobile app extras.
Discover Glacier's historic lodging.
Hike our quieter insider's variation on this classic route.
Discover your own private Rockies paradise.
Go high and wild in Europe's other Alps.
Claim an eagle's roost above Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
Why should a backpacker want anything other than a tent? Michael Lanza can think of five good reasons.
Explore a new shelter system with old-school wild.
Dine lavishly in the homeland of huts.
Score iconic Kiwi scenery without lining up.
Explore the best of Yoho National Park.
Hike Yosemite's granite-rimmed loop.
Climb to a view over all of the Dolomites.
Test your courage—and your quads—this Halloween on one of these spooky cemetery trails.
Trek to the Peruvian high spot where the planet's most powerful river is born.
Maximize your winter fun with a backcountry basecamp where you can spend all day skiing or snowshoeing, and all evening lounging by the fire. These 10 huts and yurts will make you hope the snow never melts.
261 reviews and camping tips
Our favorite high-risk, high-reward adventures in North America.
Our favorite high-risk, high-reward adventures in North America.
Our favorite high-risk, high-reward adventures in North America.
Our favorite high-risk, high-reward adventures in North America.
Your region's go-now guide
Your region's go-now guide
Our trail scouts' top local hikes
Our trail scouts' top local hikes
Your region's go-now guide
Our trail scouts' top local hikes
A 160-mile stage race from the Grand Canyon’s North Rim to the highest point in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Our trail scouts' top local hikes
Our trail scouts' top local hikes
Our trail scouts' top local hikes
When 37 hardcore hikers set out to scale 10 of the Sierra's highest and remotest peaks in a single Herculean, 10-day, 154-mile push, it will be an all-pain, 54,000 feet of gain kind of adventure.
Your region's go-now guide.
Your region's go-now guide.
Your region's go-now guide.
A former Denali ranger shares her secrets for finding solitude, scoring the most coveted permits, seeing wildlife, beating the weather, and more. Follow her from-the-field advice for the ultimate trip in America's wildest park.
Yes, all wilderness is sacred. But this mystically beautiful slot canyon is holier than most.
Explore Chicago's wild places, seek out solitude, and experience three perfect days, all this summer.
Explore wilderness bounty, see fawns in Shenandoah National Park, and experience three perfect days, all this summer and all in the east.
Explore high points, see astronomical rarity and experience three perfect days, all this summer and all in the west.
Explore the west coast in a whole new way with these five summer hikes.
Experience the east in a new way this summer with hikes that each offer a special glimpse of what the east coast has to offer.
Looking to relax this summer? These central hikes offer beautiful lakes, great views, and a breath of fresh air.
Tour glacial valleys and navigate to off-trail lakes and waterfalls on this six-day circuit.
Hike cross-country to explore this secluded chain of hanging lakes.
Scramble up a 12.7-mile sneak route to the park's highest peak.
Our map team scouted more than 500 miles of trails and cross-country routes to bring you a summer's worth of escapes in the Rockies.
Jump-start your hiking season on these spring-ready trips from around the country.
Contributing editor Tracy Ross talks about the aftermath of publishing her abuse memoir, The Source of All Things, which originated as a BACKPACKER feature story and is now available in paperback.
Well, maybe 105. But who's counting? Contributing editor John Harlin defies conventional wisdom with a 1,400-mile circumnavigation of this mountainous kingdom.
Don't have time to hike all 1,200 miles of the Pacific Northwest Trail? No worries: Our scout pinpointed the finest two-week stretch.
Hiker heaven, redefined, is a month-long hike/paddle/camp in Adventureland.
See the Himalayan giants--and cross three passes more than 17,000 feet high--on this off-the-radar route through the Khumbu region.
Every hike is a pilgrimage, but this new path from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee is holier than most. Literally following in His footsteps, the 40-mile route immerses hikers in biblical history.
We've taken the best trips on backpacker.com and made them even better. Check out updated, interactive PRO trips and PRO bundles on GPS Trails. Use your Android or iPhone to discover these premium guides, or map your own adventures and share them with your friends.
We've teamed up with map partner myTopo to create custom, pre-planned adventures printed on waterproof topo paper. No need to buy and carry multiple maps. Bonus: PRO Maps sync with your handheld GPS, your smartphone, or your tablet for a complete in-field mapping experience. Our archive is over 100 maps strong and growing.
On Wednesday night, reggae-hip-hop-fusion artist Michael Franti was recording a new track for his follow-up to the hit album "The Sound of Sunshine." On Thursday night, he rocks The Depot at Outdoor Retailer in a concert presented by Wolverine. BACKPACKER's Jonathan Dorn and Anthony Cerretani spoke to Franti right before the show about how the outdoors influences his music, lifestyle, and clothing line.
From Nepal to New Zealand, we have stories and tips to help you plan the perfect 'life list' backpacking trek abroad.
Backpacker magazine has teamed up with
AvidTrips–the leading travel platform that connects travelers directly to local tour guide operators–to create three awe-inspiring expeditions exclusively for Backpacker readers. Our Backpacker Expeditions will challenge your outdoor fortitude and indulge your passion for discovery
Escape time as you glide through an endless chain of connected lakes.
Hit four technical summits in the birthplace of North American mountaineering.
Link two gorgeous cabins by scrambling through craggy alpine country.
Routefind across precipitous ridges to an ice-filled lake.
Empty of people, that is. Because the 3,000 miles of wilderness that stretch from Newfoundland's fjordlike coastal cliffs to British Columbia's rainforest and skyscraping peaks are brimming with every type of mountain, water, and wildlife adventure a card-carrying backpacker could want—crowds not included. Our Rocky Mountain Field Editor spent two months exploring places we've never covered to assemble our most extensive guide to Canadian backcountry yet.
More than 150 of you entered our contest to become a BACKPACKER field scout. Meet the winners here, starting with Colleen Contrisciane-Lewis, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. She earned the all-expenses-paid grand prize: an assignment to hike—and report on—her dream trip. Read about her 85-mile, weeklong transect of Glacier National Park on the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail.
Iconic scenery bolstered by serious solitude? Get them both on this weeklong traverse.
Tackle the Northeast's most remote wilds for bears, moose, and berries.
Visit a glacier with millions of extinct grasshoppers entombed in its ice.
Hike through a towering redwood forest on this easy-access overnighter.
Hike cross-country to a pocket of dreamy lakeside camps on the John Muir Trail.
Looking for a mellow weekend with swimming options? We have you covered.
Backpack to a local ranger's favorite mountain getaway.
Upgrade your winter fun at these 8 beginner-friendly, expert-ready spots.
After a season of backcountry skiing, hiking, and climbing everywhere from the Rockies to the Andes, we took the year's best winter gear for a final shakedown in Iceland's remote Glacier Fjords. What we found: awesome ice-carved terrain and the sweetest boat-in camping and skiing on earth.
Hit the trail with your kids on these family-friendly hikes all over the country.
Tell us about your dream destination and why it fits in the pages of Backpacker Magazine...and we may just send you there.
Get more hiking, gear, and wildlife-spotting advice from our map contributors—and see our full survey results.
Rock-hop and wade your way down a wild sandstone corridor.
Ski (or snowshoe) hut-to-hut in the East's wildest preserve.
Score quiet views of the southern Virginia highlands on this lush loop.
Camp next to forest lakes and rock-hop across clear streams.
Ten trails. Ten unmatched miles each. Get maximum bang for each boot step on hikes that our most-traveled contributors call their all-time favorites.
Circle an upland swamp rich with views, solitude, and wild edibles.
Hike a high escarpment above a northern forest and Lake Superior.
Cooler days mean fewer crowds and bugs—and riots of leafy color. Here are 38 fall-weekend classics near you.
Climb through towering evergreens to in-your-face Cascade views.
Journey through America's most accessible wilderness in search of untouched places, and you might just find peace of mind to match the lakes and hills.
Cross deep, vine-laced forests to bluff-top views over rivers and prairie.
Trace the watery divide between the Carolinas.
Cross the northeast's wildest moose country beneath fall's fiery canopy.
We've picked the top 10 miles of North America's 10 most memorable hikes. Find your way to wilderness nirvana with these map and planning guides.
Climb to an expansive view of green rollers that inspired two long trails.
Climb to a wonderland of tundra, rugged peaks, and dreamy lakes.
America’s leading advocate of wilderness silence shows the way to Mt. Rainier National Park’s quietest corner. Plus: 9 more campsites with life-list listening.
Discover hidden wonders in a cave-riddled wilderness.
Discover a pocket of wildlife beyond Yellowstone's borders.
Cross ancient lava fields on a lake-filled weekend.
Walk deliberately into woods filled with waterfalls and stone walls.
Warren Doyle has hiked the Appalachian Trail 16 times, and he has a no-fee plan guaranteed to help others complete the 2,180-mile trek. The hardest part? Hiking with Warren Doyle.
BACKPACKER and CLIMBING have teamed up to bring you a one-stop resource for scaling the best treks and technical climbs in the country.
Cross elk-filled woods and bighorn- busy flats on this park's quiet side.
Venture off SoCal's coast for long beaches, hidden canyons, and sea life.
Glide through back-to-back lakes on a classic North Country canoe trip.
When you're planning a weekend outing, you don't want good, you want the best. Well, here's perfect. These hikes tour the deepest backcountry, best
views, and quietest wilderness areas in every state.
Discover surprising solitude and endless vistas on an easy-access multiday trip between rim and river.
Rule #1 when planning a hike through this iconic park: Let your ambition match the scenery.
On a climb from the Hoh River's silty riffles to high-country glacier views, pass through a moss-hung rainforest that might be the lushest place in America.
Wade through wildflowers, listen to wolves, and escape the crowded trade routes in this secluded corner of the park.
Enjoy this legendary park (without the legendary crowds) on a four-day trip through the Clark Range.
A forgotten explorer's route leads to off-trail, high-peak adventure and bona fide solitude.
The prognosis for naming new sanctuaries looks grim. Is our best strategy to vote a few misfits off the island?
Seven great books and the outdoor places to enjoy them
Hike these long trails in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Kansas, and Oklahoma, and head south to Texas to see Horned Lizards.
Hike these long trails in North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida, and paddle three days in the Everglades backcountry.
Enjoy soaring views from open ridges on this easy-access overnight.
Escape Skyline Drive to discover secret summits and hidden valleys.
Ramble along a wide river to quiet, old-growth hollows.
We're down to the last two weeks of our five-week Tough Guy Challenge. Are you still hanging in there?
Your life-list only starts with the top 10 parks. Our favorite hikes from the next 40 will fill it with glacier-edge paddling, desert-oasis exploring, and more.
For guaranteed solitude in the park's southwest reaches, explore this quiet loop during the off-season.
Denali isn’t just for experts. These guinea pigs will prove it. Probably.
Can you ever really have too much of a good thing? Once you've seen the biggest tree, largest glacier, and deepest canyon, nothing else compares.
Watch your step on Utah' Highline Trail. The nonstop views and rampant wildlife are distractingly spectacular. Plus: Gaze away on 9 more elevated hikes.
Week three of our five-week challenge will have you navigating obstacles and increasing mileage.
Climb across mesas and up canyon walls to a cave full of pictographs.
Discover real wilderness just two hours from Portland.
Hike these long trails in Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and Colorado, and raft an eight-mile section of the Arkansas River.
Hike these long trails in Washington, Oregon, and California, and climb to a 10,064-foot peak in Angeles National Forest.
Come for the sheer, glaciated peaks, but be mesmerized by rain-fed waterfalls that pour down on all sides.
Discover a private paradise by crossing the park’s convoluted Waterpocket Fold.
This remote chasm boasts big views, craggy mountains, abundant wildlife, and staggering solitude.
See scores of stunning images from the Grand Canyon, Denali, Yosemite, and more.
For sheltered scenery high above the trees, there's no better place than a fire tower. Try one of these editor-approved hikes to backcountry rooms with a view.
Hike Denver's lost wilderness, a twofer of peaks in Idaho, lava tubes in New Mexico, Zion's sneak route, and Bozeman's trout-filled lake.
Does God love camping? A new church movement foot-soldiered by wilderness-loving young people could transform the way conservative Christians perceive and protect the environment. We hit the trail with the new green evangelicals.
Make one simple resolution–to hike more in 2011–and we guarantee you'll lose that spare tire around the middle. Here's the proof, the plan, and the inspiration.
Peakbag in the White Mountains—without lugging in water.
Hike through a wild water park in Enchanted Valley.
Notch the best northern lights show in the Lower 48.
Witness a river of slush flow through Yosemite Valley.
See shooting stars from a five-star backcountry observatory.
Hit Idaho's Owyhee River just right, and you get one of the West's best paddles to yourself.
See these colorful flutters fuel up for the long flight to Mexico.
Hit the leaf jackpot on these classic footpaths.
Soar with the world's largest migration.
Wait for El Nino and cruise through mesmerizing fields of seldom-seen desert blossoms.
Ascend Rocky Top in Tennessee; spot herons and Pelicans in a Florida bayou.
Discover east Texas's longleaf pine forest; see the Boundary Waters on foot.
Hike through three ecological zones in east Texas's carnivore country.
The only thing better than enjoying the life-list scenery in the country's premier national parks? Getting that same scenery, minus the crowds. Find it in these 10 backcountry hotspots, along with no-hassle permits, choice campsites aplenty, and solitude to match the world-class terrain.
See California dunes, Nevada red-rock canyons, Alaska's deep forest, quiet Oregon Coast, and Washington's Cascade lakes.
Paddle to shoreline solitude, then perch on dunes above the Atlantic Ocean in Maryland's Assateague Island National Seashore.
Track beneath waterfalls and icicle-hung trees to a soothing soak.
From the iPad to the iPhone and Android, check out these BACKPACKER mobile apps.
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Hike from forest floor to a rocky ridge linking twin summits in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Your favorite western hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Escape front-country crowds on a trek to the park's idyllic interior.
Climb, hike, and camp in Joshua Tree National Park.
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the west.
The undisputed local experts—you—chose the top parks, trails, campsites, and weekend getaways from Alaska to Alabama.
These six winning shots represent the best photos we saw all year from you, our readers.
Free Print & Go PDFs give you turn-by-turn trail instructions and photos embedded on a usable topo map. Also: gear checklists, driving directions, and geo-references for finding the nearest campground, restaurant, gas station, and grocery store.
Your favorite Southeast trips—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Relax in a hiker-friendly lodge at the Appalachian Trail's southern tip.
Paddle to a beach-camping paradise in the Everglades.
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the southeast.
Your favorite Southwest hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Soak up high-desert views amid the Lone Star State's tallest peaks.
Your favorite Great Plains hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Roll from dark hollows to dolomite ridges in the Ozark highlands of Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest.
Explore the wildest corner of the Great Plains.
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the Great Plains states.
Explore slots and marvel at arches in Glen Canyon.
Hike from a wildlife-choked river valley to soaring mountain views.
Hike among moose and wolves on this two-day escape to Isle Royale National Park.
Your favorite Alaska hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Your favorite Appalachians hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Your favorite Northwest hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Conquer the rocks, ridges, and ravines on the East's toughest trail.
Your favorite Northeast hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Explore Denali's top dayhikes, photo ops, and epic wildlife treks.
Follow trail-savvy locals to nine sweet spot in the Trinity Alps Wilderness.
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the Great Lakes.
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the Northeast.
Nine ways to see Vermont's Green Mountains
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the Rockies.
Your favorite Rockies hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Like peaks, lakes, and wildflowers? You'll love this Rockies classic in White River National Forest.
Trek through grizzly terrain in Glacier National Park.
Discover a hidden basin filled with wildlife, lakes, and granite peaks.
Cross the west edge of the Chugach for glaciers, bears, and wildflowers.
The undisputed local experts—you—choose the top parks, trails, campsites, and weekend getaways in the Northwest.
The undisputed local experts—you—choose the top parks, trails, campsites, and weekend getaways in Alaska.
From routes to food to post-hike brewski, we've got your weekend backpacking plans dialed. This week, we've got three killer adventures in Kings Canyon, Shenandoah, and the Grand Canyon. Ready? Read. Rip. Go!
We traveled to Fjordland and discovered that nothing compares to skiing glacier-clad mountains above deep-water fjords. Plus: 20 winter adventures, from California to New York.
Find the best skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and winter camping trips in the U.S.
Get backcountry spoils--snorkel-deep pow on remote Rockies peaks--with frontcountry comforts (warm fire and hot toddies, anyone?) in this famed hut system. More than 350 miles of trails wind through prime winter terrain, connecting the 31 full-service cabins.
Few places serve up fierce, unpredictable winter weather quite like Mt. Washington, the 6,288-foot capstone of New Hampshire's White Mountains. Battle hurricane-force winds--and 20-plus feet of annual snowfall--while tackling the East's best mountaineering, or choose from hundreds of miles of snowy trails for a lower elevation romp.
Towering 7,000-plus feet above Jackson Hole, the Tetons wrest more than 30 feet of snow from passing storms and pile it thick on road-accessible slopes.
The granddaddy of the Cascades looms above Seattle like a great white beacon for snow junkies. The mountain's 25 major glaciers hold enough ice to bury Manhattan 150 feet deep, and some of the planet's highest recorded snowfalls guarantee powder for all. Paradise, the park's winter epicenter, has year-round road access.
Traverse a Glacier: On Norway's west coast, ancient ice scapes offer an otherworldly adventure.
Explore the Adirondack's valleys.
Explore resurrected sandstone slots.
Go from rainforest to glaciers.
Feeling small among the world's tallest trees.
Go high and wide in Wyoming's untamed range.
Immerse yourself in Minnesota's liquid wilderness.
Traverse the first long trail in Vermont.
Hike to a natural day spa.
See the Rockies' most iconic mountains.
Watch a waterfall cascade from the sky.
Tackle an epic adventure in the far north.
Circumnavigate the West's most majestic mountain.
Aim upward for majestic views over an ancient canyon.
Trek a desert landscape under a purple sun.
Find private valleys, mountain passes, and riverside campsites.
Ascend a remote summit pyramid far away from civilization.
Skirt lakes to soaring ’Daks views.
Find deep solitude where the continent crashes into a frigid ocean.
Hike through waterfall spray to a rarely summited grassy bald.
Rise from the desert floor to an airy, see-all perch.
Hike lake to lake through bear central in Glacier National Park.
We've covered 245,591 miles of trails in our 37-year history. Here are our 20 all-time favorite trips, plus—shocking!—20 routes we never covered.
Hike along bluffs and fern forests in total solitude on Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Sluice through towering walls of sandstone in Utah's Zion National Park.
Bag a little-known triple crown in New England's northern woods.
Weave around grassy meadows and mirror lakes.
Backpack a knee-trembling route through an active geothermal zone.
Snag views of swaying prairie grass stretching to the horizon.
Traverse rolling hills to star-gazing meadows.
Forge your own route through the Rockies' most rugged corner.
Thru-hike America's most revered long trail: the Appalachian Trail.
Pick your pilgrimage through the backcountry Holy Land: Mt Eielson Loop or Kesugi Ridge.
Track through dense forests ringing with bugling.
Brave thick forest to reach rugged twin summits.
Tag a team of the East's most challenging peaks in the White Mountains.
Hike a forested, fire-scarred trail between two iconic pools.
Emerge from crane-crossed coastal grasslands to pristine beaches.
Plumb the wild depths of the Big Ditch.
Traverse the nation's most photogenic range on the Teton Crest Trail.
Step for scenery-packed step, nothing else compares to the John Muir Trail.
After sifting through scores of submissions, we've chosen a reader who will be an official BACKPACKER field scout.
Take the scenic--and sporting--route to New York's highest summit.
See North America's deepest river gorge, the west's most violent mating Display, and the Southeast's last longleaf pines.
Walk beneath trees that predate the Revolutionary War.
Witness bighorn rams' skull-bashing attempts to win a date.
Hike into North America's deepest river gorge--a canyon that could hold five stacked Sears Towers.
Cast a fly to land lunker brown trout.
Explore Gushing, Rain-fed waterfalls.
Rains summon salmon and slugs.
Make the best of fall storms on trails that improve with soggy weather.
Cross the Olympic Range on a forgotten explorers' path.
Trek along–and in–the Gila River.
See bears, gorges, and waterfalls on this 77-mile South Carolina hike.
This 39-mile Alaska hike offers big scenery without a bush plane.
Climb high (really!) in the Midwest.
Traverse a seldom-hiked national park.
Tackle Vancouver Island’s wild coast.
Go straight to the top in the Range of Light.
Cross Nevada's loftiest range in 6-7 days.
A 59-mile "long trail" through Pennsylvania.
Ten point-to-point treks with the payoffs of a thru-hike, but hikeable in a week.
Ramble through brilliant red and yellow fall foliage.
Descend to the Ditch's primitive core on a three-day loop.
Hike in the spray of waterfalls deep in the heart of black bear country.
Our free guide to the 20 best international hikes ever written about in the pages of BACKPACKER.
BACKPACKER's
Life List: The International Edition is a free guide to the 20 best international hikes ever written about in the pages of Backpacker.
The best hikes near Knoxville, TN.
The best hikes near Spokane.
The best hikes near Portland.
The best hikes near Anchorage.
The best hikes near Boise.
The best hikes near Portland, ME.
The best hikes near Rochester.
The best hikes near Burlington.
The best hikes near Philly.
The best hikes near Manchester.
The best hikes near Boston.
The best hikes near Pittsburgh.
The best hikes near Albany.
The best hikes near New York, as selected by the Big Apple's best hiking clubs.
Reach great granite heights on Katahdin's next-door neighbor.
Have rocky ridges and sparkling alpine lakes all to yourself.
Discover the inner sanctum of California's second largest wilderness.
True tales from the front lines--and behind the scenes--of America's national parks.
Video footage & backcountry skills tips from Backpacker's winter ski testing in Norway & Colorado.
On a thru-hike of the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail, two brothers get some perspective - on America's largest alpine lake, and each other.
Explore waterfall-filled Gorges with fossils preserved in the shale walls.
Climb a fourteener for a view across the continental divide.
Hike streamside near pacific northwest greenery and caribbean-blue eddies.
Enjoy solitude and fixed-rope scrambling on the East's highest mountain.
What makes a backpacker a backpacker? It's not the garage full of gear or piles of guidebooks--it's the experiences, from thru-hiking a long trail to pushing your personal envelope to inspiring a child's love of wilderness. Here we present BACKPACKER's new Life List: 10 experiences to add to your tick-listnow--and the key skills you need to nail them.
Experience the thrill of being a pioneer: Trek to a remote corner of the globe.
The roof of the world is open to everyone, and your personal Mt. Everest is waiting.
Coming face to face with the biggest predator in North America might just alter your worldview.
Stand alone atop Washington's Glacier Peak--a summit that others rarely see, let alone climb.
Walking a high ridge with countless views and no people is the stuff of dreams. Make it real in Olympic National Park's Bailey Range.
See a week's worth of scenery in 24 hours, and redefine your idea of what's possible.
World-class scenery, luxe camping, and easy paddling await your family on the Green River in Canyonlands. Your kids will remember this forever.
Get a taste of the vertical alpine world--no experience required.
A lifetime of weekend trips is like trying to live on appetizers. Get real sustenance with a two-week trek through the best of the Sierras on California's John Muir Trail.
The moon is full on Monday, July 26. Get out this weekend to explore open meadows and ridgelines at night.
Need instant inspiration? Download these BACKPACKER destination photos–Switzerland, Grand Canyon, & John Muir Wilderness–and get lost.
See snaggly summits and hook trout galore on a high-alpine trek.
Contemplate the south's wild side on the trail that launched America's greatest wilderness champion.
Use our guide to make your Wales hiking adventure a reality.
Cross a sprawling preserve of broad mountains, lonely ridgelines, and lush river valleys.
Follow a long-distance trail along the once-violent, now-bucolic border between England and Wales.
The highest peak. The wildest ridges. The largest lake. Find them all in Wales's alpine heart.
Tiptoe along oceanside bluffs with views across the Irish Sea.
What crowds? Lose yourself in the Lamar Valley on this weeklong hike.
The last lonely stretch of the AT beckons from the mountains of western Maine.
Score wildlife sightings daily, choice views hourly--and at least one juicy burger--on this weeklong circuit.
Explore a granite wonderland, cross two little-used passes, and score High Sierra solitude on this point-to-point hike.
Pack an extra memory card for what is, mile-for-mile, the most photogenic hike in the Southwest.
Dive into the heart of the Lower 48's wildest park.
Ever dreamed of exploring another planet? Hike here.
Trek to shoreline campsites through woodlands rife with moose, birds, and wolves.
Walk from lush rainforest to wide-open glacier views on this 43-mile sneak route.
Surprise: This park's busy corridor trails offer a fast track to a private slice of heaven.
Climb from sublime desert to pine forests and peaks with 100-mile views.
Rise above the crowds and earn solo views of elk, wildflowers, and summit sunsets.
The only problem with cancer survivors and rockers joining forces for a fund-raising concert on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro? It's hard to cheer when you can't breathe.
Don't be fooled by the cozy pubs and low elevations. The birthplace of mountaineering overflows with challenges, from rugged peaks to history-laden coastal treks.
Go big with these expedition trip planning tips.
Whether you're looking for Coastal, Canyon, Peak, Forest, or Urban hikes, we have those. Plus some paddling (Water) trips for good measure.
Hike amongst the trees in these Washington, California, and Vermont hikes.
Hike high points on Mt. Rainier, Mt. Washington, and Mt. Whitney.
Marvel at Mother Nature on these canyon hikes in Utah and North Carolina.
Hug the coastline in these Michigan, California, and British Columbia hikes.
Hit the water, and see plenty of wildlife and scenic views, on these paddling trips in Alaska, Florida, and Minnesota.
Looking for animals? This Minnesota paddle is a sure bet.
See the Everglades by boat on this 23 mile trip.
Paddle along Glacier Bay's dynamic shores.
Hike Canada's Pacific Coast harbor on this British Columbia trail.
Hike Lake Superior's shoreline in this 12+ mile hike.
This 26-mile trek along California's coast should have been a highway...except it was too riddled with cliffs to build on.
This picturesque Utah hike features natural arches and ancient petroglyphs.
Head to Asheville, North Carolina for this beautiful gorge loop.
Hike, swim, and scramble in this 16-mile slot canyon route.
If you don't mind the potential of extreme weather and wind, Mt. Washington is your hike.
Check out the Mountaineer's Route of Mt. Whitney if you're looking for a challenge.
This challenging climb on Mt. Rainier gains almost 2,000 feet per mile.
If you think you missed the age of exploration and discovery, you haven't tried the latest mapping tools. Join our tech scout as he learns how to hike like a cartographer--and sees the wilderness in an entirely new way.
See giant sequoias, including General Sherman, on this great family hike.
This Olympic National Park trail features serious elevation gain and switchbacks galore.
This 15-mile section of the Long Trail traces the spine of Vermont's Green Mountains.
This 5.3 mile sunset tour of Vegas takes in all the sights and sounds.
If you don't mind the crowds, hiking Manhattan is urban hiking at its finest.
Hike Disney's Magic Kingdom with the family.
We know. You've always wanted to hike a long trail. Lucky for you, we've got the comprehensive guides to make your dreams a reality. Check out the best sections and dayhikes along the AT, PCT and CDT. PLUS: See how four hikers beat the recession...by hiking through it.
From Georgia to Oregon, spring blossoms are finally pushing through the winter frost. That means it's time to clear the cobwebs out of the boot soles and bag your first hike of the spring. Here's our exclusive guide to the best spring dayhikes around the country from east, middle, and west.
Three treks to life-list phenomena from Death Valley to Colorado.
Hit the trail, then hit the oh-so-soft mattress at one of these hiker-friendly lodges.
Plan your perfect Alaskan trip–from a budget-friendly weekend to an entry-level expedition–with field reports from Steve Howe.
Are wilderness webcams good for the backcountry–or bad for privacy?
On a remote Arctic peak, a father and his teenager encounter the hardest of all human challenges.
Imagine an Alaskan paradise with trout bigger than your leg, bears, and caribou traipsing by camp, and no people–except your good friends. This place exists, we just can't tell you where it is.
Witness the effects of climate change on a challenging trek in the Delta Mountains.
Easy routefinding and life-list sights make this thru-hike a must for Alaska novices.
Hike to a private paradise deep in the Talkeetna Mountains.
Hike a classic in Kenai Fjords–and escape the crowds by making it an overnight.
Tackle an epic route through Chitistone Canyon in Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve.
Hike a historic, kid-friendly trail to wildflower meadows and fish-filled lakes.
Just minutes from town, score big scenery fast on the South Fork of Eagle River.
Bring plenty of supplies to this alpine plateau in the Chugach Mountains–you'll want to extend your stay.
See the awesome Valdez Mountains on this off-trail adventure to Point Odyssey and beyond.
Hike to an historic fire tower and camp beside secluded ponds.
Explore an unknown Nebraska wilderness for a surprising dose of rolling hills, wildlife, and solitude.
Discover the rewards of winter camping on this easy snowshoe trek.
Hit three 13,000-foot peaks in the wildest wilderness south of Glacier.
Climb to the crown of the Sangre de Cristo Range.
Explore a secret wonderland in the West Needle Mountains.
Hike high on this above-treeline route through the Weminuche Wilderness.
Hike to the heart of the Winds.
Discover Utah's best-kept secret.
Climb this iconic summit on an uncrowded sneak route.
Go high for the see-it-all hike in this iconic park.
See the best of Montana without the crowds.
Climb the high point of the Sawtooth Mountains.
Swim, climb, nap–repeat. This Sawtooths trek has it all.
At Mt. Tam you'll find wilderness solitude with Pacific views only 20 miles from San Francisco. Plus, there's a beer garden.
Trek through lush fields that thrive on just two inches of annual rainfall.
See a 365-foot cascade turned to ice at Bridal Veil Falls.
Trek to an off-the-grid bunkhouse.
Discover a desert oasis.
Hike to a hot springs and private cabin.
Hike Switzerland's Via Alpina route with the Backpacker editors in our video series.
View stunning vistas and snowy passes in these photos of Switzerland's Via Alpina route. Included: the Eiger, the Wetterhorn, and Jungfrau Glacier.
Paula Patterson learns how to share the trail–but not her tent–with the wildlife.
Finding it hard to get the whole family out for a hike? Let Danny Griffs show you the way.
Who knows the secret trails and must-do classics in every corner of the country? Our teams of regional experts, recruited from the ranks of readers like you. Here are their top hikes from coast to coast.
Mississippi river vistas, ocean-size grasslands, and guaranteed solitude.
A weekend in Glacier, a quiet 14er, and the Rockies' best hot springs.
A state high point, killer foliage, and a hike loaded with waterfalls
Crashing waterfalls, hidden lakes, and a choice Denali view highlight the 2010 Northwest Readers' Choice hikes.
Colossal trees, sweet swimming holes, and the USA's best picnic spot.
The world's prettiest shoreline, giant pines, and Yosemite's premier view.
Hike Hawaii's all-world coast to a secluded beach.
Explore lonely alpine scenery in this off-the-radar wilderness.
Trek 211 miles through hiker heaven.
Take a lightly trafficked trail into the word's biggest grove.
Bag a granite peak with big views and small crowds.
Get a highlights tour of the High Sierra backcountry.
See big water, massive trees, and tiny amphibians.
Celebrate the arrival of summer with an unrivaled circus of color.
Have a picnic on one of the Southeast's biggest balds.
Bag four scenic peaks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
See wild, historic surprises in the Sunshine State.
See a Great White North south of the Mason-Dixon.
See this deciduous pine turn electric-yellow.
Find primo lakeside camping on a rainforest-to-alpine loop.
Want guaranteed peace and quiet? Hike to two of the Lower 48's most remote alpine lakes.
Climb the Northwest's tallest nontechnical volcano.
This classic alpine loop belongs on every backpacker's tick list.
22 falls in a one day. Need we say more?
Bag New York's high point and two other big peaks.
Hike to a crowd-free view of the ocean.
Ogle fiery color in the Green Mountains.
Explore the Appalachian Trail's wildest stretch.
Scramble to the Catskills' highest peaks.
Gaze into the world's most beautiful labyrinth.
Relax in an effervescent bath far from the dayhiking crowds.
Trip through kaleidoscopic color amid high-alpine splendor.
Get big payoffs on an easy hike.
Thru-hike America's highest trail.
See the park's famed glaciers from a high mountain pass.
Explore a vast, trail-free prairie.
See the country's best light show.
Bushwhack into what very well might be the quietest spot in America.
Climb to views of the mighty Mississippi River.
Thru-hike one of the country's least-known National Scenic Trails.
Hike the River-to-River Trail over rugged ridges, through narrow canyons, and into small caves.
William G. Godlove discovers that even a short hike can last forever.
James Dammar dishes up some brotherly love on Isle Royale.
Greg Hoover shares his secrets for finding quiet on the busiest trail in the country's busiest park.
Jon Heaton and his son survive a deadly Yellowstone windstorm.
The trip would start like this, imagines Wayne Wright.
Reece Price finds himself lost and alone in the desert.
Robert DeNike demonstrates how NOT to greet a bear.
Caught between a goat and a hard place? Don't move, says Daniel Claar.
John Joy goes fist-to-nose with an invasive species.
New to hiking? Brian Simpson
has a foolproof plan for doing it all wrong.
Is the reward always equal to the effort? Uh...maybe, says this bloodied, bruised, and bandaged reader.
Meet five of BACKPACKER's most inspirational heroes–they're also readers.
Lose the leaf-peeping crowds on this quiet ramble above Virginia's loftiest canopies of color.
Explore off-trail in a wilderness with more bison than boot prints.
Don't waste winter: Tackle this cross-country canyon trek in the Lower 48's largest national park.
The all-time best. That's what every hiker wants on a national park trek, and that's what you'll get if you tackle one of these 25 trips.
Hawaii's Nakalele blowhole rivals Old Faithful. Plus: Trek to Oregon's salmon run and California's wine country.
If less people, more elk has become your mountain mantra, check the Guadalupe Mountains backcountry camping sites and trails and get that so sought after alone time.
Don't go up, go around. Rainier's Wonderland Trail loop offers the marathon hiker two weeks of backpacking bliss.
Zero in on your perfect hike, from thrilling slots to soak-awhile hot springs.
Live longer, take the North Circle Route. Glacier's highcountry views and crisp alpine air are rumored to add years to a backpacker's being.
Beat the crowds by tackling this classic dayhike by moonlight.
The Tanner Trail in the grandest of U.S. canyons is a camping classic.
Who ever said out of sight, out of mind was certainly not referring to the wealth of wildlife that are making some big noise in Thorofare Valley.
Traverse alongside delicate ecosystem, open tundra and hit nine summits on this "grand slam" of cross-country treks.
Smelling the flowers doesn't require slowing down your trek (though you might want to) through the explosion of wildflowers that cover the Great Smoky Mountains each year.
Swap summits for sand scrambling along nearly 18 miles of quiet coastal terrain.
No crowds. No frills. No cakewalk. This hang-on-for-your-life climb is not for the meager-hearted.
Learn how to take the perfect fall foliage photo with our tutorials and slideshows.
Fly these classic hikes in 3D with our guided tours.
Haunted mountains? Vanished campers? Bloodthirsty creatures? An evil wind that lures hikers over a waterfall? We dare you to hike America's scariest trails.
True tales from BACKPACKER editors and readers
Bigfoot? He's a softy compared to the other menacing monsters lurking in the woods near you.
Lost? Murdered? When the wilderness swallows people without a trace, who's to say what happened?
Alpine views and starry skies are nice, but on these unsettling hikes you might see something really stunning.
When bodies can't be buried, do their spirits ever rest? Hike to the scene of this wreck and find out.
Go ahead and hike to this park's famous lakes and waterfalls. Just watch your step–and your back.
Be the first to thru-hike an exploratory route from Portland to the Pacific.
The Dartmouth Outing Club targets an Appalachian Trail hiking record.
What's better than hiking every weekend? Hiking every day. Here are the best big-city escapes from New York to Los Angeles. Plus: Bill Donahue explores the remote reaches of Portland's Forest Park and discovers secrets even locals don't know.
When urban trails blend with raw wilderness, the sum is much greater than the parts.
The perfect metro-area trail: close, wild, uncrowded. Here are 10 major city options.
Kayak to pocket beaches and Gulf islands at Florida's southern tip.
Cross the Stillwater Plateau to trout-rich ponds at the foot of Montana's second highest peak.
Tackle a challenging, rocky route in the shadow of America's most famous volcano.
It's not the smallest peak in the Smokies, but spend a night on its summit (no tent required), and you'll agree it's the finest.
Washington, Arkansas, and Georgia are host to these three life-list phenomena treks.
Close your eyes and hear the bullets fly: These three routes pass through
parks drenched in United States military history.
From camping with wolves to fly-fishing smarts this insider's guide has you covered.
Disappear into Yellowstone's secret northern fringe, where you'll find a rejuvenated landscape and total solitude (except for the bison and grizzlies).
In an attempt to hike the continent's wild divide, one ultrahiker does something he's never done–quit.
Hike these paths before the masses find them.
Descend into Colorado's Black Canyon and explore a park that has everything–life-list scenery, challenging terrain, a revitalized river–except hikers.
Trek 18.2 miles from the South's best view to its most famous mountain.
Connect alpine lakes and tag three summits on this wildflower- and wildlife-packed loop.
Explore a supersized wilderness that's home to Idaho's densest population of gray wolves.
Keep a group of peakbaggers safe with these field-proven tips.
Explore these redrock mysteries safely with expert tips on gear and technique.
Take a historic train to the trailhead and climb this Colorado beauty, nestled deep in the Weminuche Wilderness.
These three treks to life-list phenomena will take you to Bryce Canyon, Florida gator land, and fall foliage in the Texas desert.
Pack up your brood for a day in the outdoors with these kid-friendly trails.
From secret spots to the perfect campsites, this insider's guide has the goods on the Smokies.
A unique route linking historic homesteads yields an exciting Smokies adventure for hikers and history buffs alike.
Romero climbed Denali at 11 and has bagged five of the Seven Summits. He hopes to climb Everest in 2010, but is mountain climbing good for a growing kid?
For our 2010 Readers' Choice issue we want to know your favorite trail in America.
During a one-month August journey, BACKPACKER undertook multiple crowd-free Alaskan backpacking routes and returned with extensive photos, video, & GPS.
Trek to the trail-free summits of Macomb, Hough, and The Dixes
Climb through bear country to a campsite with views of The Grand.
Stroll through wildflower-filled meadows to a frozen slice of the Cascade Range.
Get national park-caliber scenery without crowds (or entry fees!) in these dead ringers for Great Smoky Mountains, Zion, and Yosemite.
From the best guiding service to ultimate summit routes, Washington's highest peak is still the greatest.
From the top day hike to the key skills you'll need, we'll have you ready for the Rockies in no time.
Follow a long-forgotten loop in Rocky Mountain National Park across the Continental
Divide, through moose-infested meados, and up Longs Peak via a rarely climbed
route.
Marcus Woolf explores history and wilderness during a six-day trip through the Smokies.
By crunching numbers on the thousands of lost hiker cases in the backcountry each year, Robert Koester hopes to keep you on track.
Go wireless, get dialed in, and navigate like a pro with these gadgets.
Follow our fool-proof three-stage guide to getting your kids as psyched as you are about getting outside.
Get outside earlier and faster by taking less with you. Here's how to ditch excess gear and pack light, tasty food.
Team trips will help get you outside faster than solo outings.
If you want to hit the trail before everyone, you'll need to get your gear in gear. Here's how.
A little thought and planning in the office can put you on the trail earlier than everyone else. Get started with this primer from productivity experts.
We guarantee you can triple your trail time this summer. How? Our step-by-step guide solves every challenge–work overload, gear chaos, no partner, family demands–so you can enjoy more of what you live to do every weekend: hike.
Threatened by OHVs, logging, and overgrazing a 120,000-acre proposed addition to Red Buttes Wilderness would quintuple its size and benefit the Pacific Crest Trail.
Urban sprawl and local opposition lead the threats to this 84,000-acre tract of Coronado National Forest.
A two-day, 17-mile zigzag along blueberry-lined mountain ridges will give you a dose of the 24,000-acre "Crown Jewel of the Monongahela," threatened by oil and gas drilling.
The biggest threat to his critical gap between the Weminuche and Uncompahgre Wilderness Areas? Off-highway vehicles.
Oil and gas development threaten these 65,000 acres. Float the Green River to see what's at stake.
On the Brooks Range's Arctic slop, coal mining and oil and natural gas drilling are threats to half a million caribou, and the Arctic's highest concentration of grizzlies.
Development, bureaucracy, and apathy threaten this Glacier-like mecca, home to grizzlies, fields of beargrass, and superlative alpine hiking.
Oil drilling and vacation homes threaten on of the last Chestnut tree bastions, a 5,191-acre proposed Wilderness Area in the Allegheny National Forest.
The thread to this Down East trail? Vacation homes. Passing through roughly 10 miles of private land that has yet to be protected, wilderness designation could neutralize the looming threat.
It's never been easier to help save the wilderness–no donations, no petitions, no pulaski swinging required. The only thing you have to do is go backpacking.
Climb riverside bluffs in the South's oldest national forest.
This sustainable light gives cap-wearers a viable headlamp alternative.
You know that the big-name parks draw big-time crowds. But each of those outdoor icons has a lesser-known replacement that offers some of the same classic features and epic scenery–and you get it all to yourself.
Beaches, wildlife, and prairies in Minnesota, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, North Dakota, Kansas, and Illinois make the Midwest a hiker's paradise.
From blueberry picking in New York and New Hampshire to pure solitude in New Hampshire and Maine, moose sitings in Vermont, and peaks in New York, these the hikes feature the best of the Northeast.
From canyons to rock art to waterfalls, the Southwest has an abundance of natural beauty.
Take is stunning rivers and waterfalls, killer views, and amazing wildlife in Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Texas with these hikes.
With alpine views, hot springs, wildflowers and wildlife, these hikes in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana offer the best of the Rockies.
From dawn-to-dusk epics in Utah canyons to lazy-picnic blueberry strolls in Maine–plus hikes to peaks, redwoods, hot springs, beaches, and more–here are 100 ways to spend a perfect day on the trail.
From dayhikes to weekends to weeklong hikes our Grand Canyon expert will have you ready to hit this natural wonder in no time. PLUS: Get dialed with essential skills.
The best view in the Grand Canyon can't be seen from the rim. Brave the trek to Royal Arch, hidden deep in the gorge, and your world will never look the same.
Hike across forested hills to gape at ocean vistas just one hour north of San Francisco.
Get national park scenery without the crowds on an alpine overnight with lakeside camping.
Disappear into the largest–and probably the wettest–wilderness east of the Mississippi.
This iconic summit shouldn't be rushed. Save the experience on this 33-mile trek.
Kelly Bastone hiked a long-forgotten trail through Yosemite's North Rim and documented the trek on video, in photographs, and using GPS.
Heading out for a long haul? With these backpacks, you'll have the room you need for long trail comfort.
From this year's Editors' Choice winner to the ultimate organizational wonder, these weekend packs are perfect for heading to the hills Friday to Sunday.
Heading out for the day? We have your can-do ultimate daypack. From the best bargain to the lightest on the market, these packs have everything you need.
From the most headroom to the best deal, three isn't a crowd with these tents.
All you need is a roof over your head you say? A tarp might be just what you're after.
Head to the high-country with these altitude-ready tents.
Going solo? Options abound with these 1-person tent choices.
From the most innovative to the most eco-friendly, pitch one of these 2-person tents for your home away from home.
We tested 150 boots this year, tallying enough trail miles to hike from Acadia to Denali–and back. Why? To help you find the perfect outdoor footwear.
We tested 150 boots this year, tallying enough trail miles to hike from Acadia to Denali–and back. Why? To help you find the perfect outdoor footwear.
We tested 150 boots this year, tallying enough trail miles to hike from Acadia to Denali–and back. Why? To help you find the perfect outdoor footwear.
We tested 150 boots this year, tallying enough trail miles to hike from Acadia to Denali–and back. Why? To help you find the perfect outdoor footwear.
Home improvement: The best new shelters are roomy and light, thanks to innovative pole structures that expand space and reduce weight and bulk.
How do we know this year's packs are lighter and more comfortable than ever? We spent the last 12 months lugging loads from Denali to the 'Daks to bring you the 32 best.
Explore secret Africa on an alpine wildlife safari.
See sheer-sided fjords, calving glaciers, and the northern hemisphere's largest ice sheet.
Experience the magic of the remote Himalaya.
Lose yourself in Europe's last great wilderness.
Explore a hiker's fantasy island on Tasmania's rough-and-wild long trail.
See the Andes the way Cortez did–totally wild.
Discover the best of Kiwi wilderness–north and south–with these two hikes.
Score classic Alps scenery, adventure, and hut culture without the classic crowds.
Spain's little-known Valencia region beckons the mountain-minded adventurer with dramatic topography, sun-drenched hiking and biking, and sumptuous end-of-day feasts.
A veteran traveler discovers a world of adventure in his backyard.
Start your adventure right with these tips on getting to the trailhead and keeping in contact once you get there.
Don't suffer through a poorly planned trip: Use our tips to choose a destination and create a to-do list to begin your adventure.
This tech-saavy passport sleeve protects your documents from radio wave scanners
LowePro CompuRover is the outdoor photographer's best friend.
For a rough day on the trail, wear Patagonia's stable Scramble 35 daypack.
Roll, carry, or tote around your gear with the versatile High Sierra Overpass Wheeled bag.
The North Face Base Camp Series duffel is reliable through the worst dragging, zipper-yanking and rain.
Durable and lightweight, the Granite Gear Ultraflight 115 will keep you rolling.
Trek across the roof of the Andes, mix in some trail riding–on bike and horseback–and climb a 19,000-foot volcano.
Traverse the unknown end of the Alps–by trail, canyon, and cliff face–on this demanding journey in and around Triglav National Park.
Hike, paddle, and swim narrow canyons before running class IV rapids on an inflatable boogie board.
Trek between Buddhist villages, raft Himalayan whitewater, and ride an elephant in the shadow of 8,000-meter peaks.
Float, backpack, and mountain bike Canada's wild west coast.
Happy coincidence for wildlife-loving paddlers: Canoes and woodland caribou converge like nowhere else on Earth in Ontario's Slate Islands. PLUS: See video of caribou on the move.
The Trip Doctor reveals what works better against grizzleis than buckshot.
Hike North America's deepest canyon
You guessed, it, you need to head North. Here's where you'll get the best view of the Northern Lights.
Plunge from rainforest to caldera in Hawaii's famously explosive national park
Thirty miles up the trail from Springer Mountain, Winton Porter shelters and feeds thru-hikers–and works tirelessly to slash their pack weight.
Maine's newly minted Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail tracks the famous naturalist's 1800s expeditions. Good news: It's still wild.
At right around two pounds per person, these three-season, double-occupancy shelters do everything but weigh you down.
Pick your own path to an empty 14er.
Explore hidden gorges and spy rarely seen wonders on this three-week raft trip designed specifically for hikers.
Scout for gold–and desert views–amid this Texas park's spray of late-fall foliage.
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.
You don't need a boat to see this spectacular national lakeshore. Here's how to explore the best of its bluffs and beaches by foot (and paddle).
Finding total Southwest solitude
Exploring a high, wild corner of the North Cascades
Floating a liquid maze in the Northeast's lake-riddled forests
Rambling a granite redoubt
Ready to dial up the adventure meter? Try out your digital skills–and go places most people can't–on these life-list journeys.
New features and web-based tools enable Backpacker's passionate online community to share trips, post pictures, and get the latest in gear reviews and adventure news and content.
With more features, a new look, and the most informative content this side of the trail, the new Backpacker.com is amped up with the best in adventure, gear, travel, skills, and survival on the web.
Our guide to spotting wolves on Michigan's Isle Royale.
