San Diego: Dripping Springs Trail
This 12.8-mile cardio challenge climbs 3,000 feet to sweeping vistas in Agua Tibia Wilderness. Start early with lots of water, and bring gaiters for the chaparral.
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Mocqui Canyon via Lake PowellThis 6.7-mile journey ventures deep into the ancestral home of Pueblo cliff dwellers where you'll camp in a living museum beneath long-lost, centuries-old ruins. Adirondack Park, NY: Snow MountainOpt for this lesser-hiked Adirondack summit southeast of Lake Placid and you'll be rewarded with expansive High Peaks views and a bit of easy rock scrambling. Death Valley National Park: Harry Wade Road to Stovepipe Wells CampgroundTrek over dunes, sand flats, and salt pans in the shadow of the Black and Panamint ranges on this 109-mile, multi-day excursion through southern Death Valley. |
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Vancouver, WA: The SynclineSubmitted by:Climb the grassy slopes of The Syncline trail network to enjoy a bomber descent and breathtaking overlooks above the Columbia River Gorge. LBJ National Grassland- Blue TrailSubmitted by:LBJ National Grasslands is located near the town of Decauter and North of Fort Worth, Texas. It contains a little of 20,000 acres, numerous ponds, and one large man made lake. The TADRA trail system is approximately 75 miles in length throughout the park. Santa Cruz, CA: Bonny Doon and Swanton LoopSubmitted by:Big climbs equal fast descents on this undulating 52-mile tour of redwood forests and oceanside views in Santa Cruz County. |
International Adventure TravelFrom Nepal to New Zealand, we have stories and tips to help you plan the perfect 'life list' backpacking trek abroad. 
Ansel Adams's Lost Photos?David Howard investigates the mystery of 61 black-and-white negatives that are stirring up a hornet's nest of accusations, threats, and lawsuits. 
Readers' Choice 2012: Reader Leader Contest WinnersMore than 150 of you entered our contest to become a BACKPACKER field scout. Meet the winners. |
Readers' Choice 2012: Reader Leader Contest WinnersMore than 150 of you entered our contest to become a BACKPACKER field scout. Meet the winners. 
Readers' Choice 2012: Your Neck of the Woods - Mountain West HikesScramble on red rock, camp at alpine lakes, cross a high pass, explore a trailless moonscape, and bushwhack to a peak. 
Readers' Choice 2012: Your Neck of the Woods - Northeast HikesSnag Big Apple skyline views, tackle four peaks in a day, rack up waterfalls, hike through history on the AT, and climb Vermont's highest peak. |
Share your tales of travel & adventure with our step-by-step guide. Upload trail descriptions, photos, video, and more.
Life's Short, Hike More!
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.
Secret Hikes: Appalachian Trail
The last lonely stretch of the AT beckons from the mountains of western Maine.
Secret Hikes: Glacier National Park
Score wildlife sightings daily, choice views hourly--and at least one juicy burger--on this weeklong circuit.
Secret Hikes: Grand Canyon National Park
Surprise: This park's busy corridor trails offer a fast track to a private slice of heaven.
Secret Hikes: Grand Teton National Park
Rise above the crowds and earn solo views of elk, wildflowers, and summit sunsets.
MASTER YOUR OUTDOOR EXPERTISE WITH OUR TIPS
Go Higher with Tips from Senior Editor and Professional Mountain Guide Shannon Davis
Tackle that big mountain with tips from our in-house mountain guide
Skills 101: Bushwhacking
Navigate through unruly terrain with these helpful tips
Packing for a Backcountry Ski Day
Kristin Hostetter shows you the essential gear, and how to pack it, for a day of backcountry skiing.
International Travel
From Nepal to New Zealand, we have stories and tips to help you plan the perfect 'life list' trek abroad.
Navigation Center
Learn how to orient a map, navigate any terrain, and the ins-and-outs of GPS devices.
BACKPACKER's Free Smartphone GPS App
Record and share you adventures with our new, free navigation app. Plus, discover thousands of GPS-enabled hikes in national parks and major cities.
Green Guide
A backpacker's guide to environmental issues and "green" gear.
