Backpacker Magazine: Hiking, Backpacking, Camping, Adventures; Trip Planning Topo Maps, Aerial Photos

Appalachian Trail: Springer Mountain to Woody Gap

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Three shelters, rolling hills and beautiful vistas reward hikers as they connect Springer Mountain to Woody Gap where a recently renovated shelter sits under a leafy canopy.

Colorado 14ers: Mount Harvard and Mount Columbia

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
It's a scholarly debate on which summit--Mount Columbia or Mount Harvard--is the best. So reserve a long weekend to climb both in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, and decide for yourself.

Appalachian Trail: NY 301 to NY 52

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Postcard-worthy views are plentiful during this 11.2-mile stretch. Bring your camera and snap panoramas overlooking Canopus Lake, the Hudson River Valley, and the Fishkill Plains.

Adirondack Park: Mount Marcy

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Tag New York's high point on this 14.2-miler into a mix of forest and broken rock, with jaw-dropping vantages of the High Peaks and Green Mountains.

White Mountain National Forest: Mount Osceola

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Conquering two of New Hampshire's 4,000-foot summits, this 7-mile out-and-back ascends the spine of Mount Osceola before scrambling up a narrow rock passage to a Mount Washington overlook.

Grand Canyon National Park: Thunder Canyon

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Multi-layered red rocks line mile-deep canyons and cactus flowers explode with pastels on this 16-mile out-and-back to a Colorado River tributary.

JMT Sierra Spine Climb 2009

Submitted by: MendedWing
32 day Sierra thru-hike from Horseshoe Meadows trailhead to Tuolumne Meadows, mostly along the John Muir Trail(NOBO),includes a detour over Crabtree Pass, Mt.Whitney summit and an alternate route to include Iva Bell Hot Springs.

Mount Isolation

Submitted by: beicens
4005 ft. First snowfall of year mixed in with peak fall foilage. Group: Sean, Kevin, Jack, Mike, Bryan and Glen. Started: 8:00 AM Ended: 5:00 PM

longs peak

Submitted by: jtrice4848
my first fourtneer

The Earl Cardot Eastside Overland Trail

Submitted by: ZELLER
The Earl Cardot Eastside Overland Trail extends 19 miles, running N/S linking 3 large state land areas. Lean-tos, latrines, firepits and tables are at campsites along the overland trails. The trails are well marked. Hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, and mountain biking are permitted on the trail.

Yosemite National Park: Glacier Point

Submitted by:
This epic Yosemite out-and-back climbs 14,000 past countless National Park photo-ops to Glacier Point, a 3,200 wall of shear granite overlooking the valley.

Cave Creek: Spur Cross Ranch

Submitted by: 4804143064

Local Hikes

BACKPACKER Review
Jump-start your hiking season on these spring-ready trips from around the country.

The Changing Mountain

BACKPACKER Review
The following is adapted from Northwest editor Michael Lanzas new book, Before Theyre Gone: A Familys Year-Long Quest to Explore Americas Most Endangered National Parks ($24.95, beacon.org, TheBigOutside.com).

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Died and Gone to New Zealand

BACKPACKER Review
Hiker heaven, redefined, is a month-long hike/paddle/camp in Adventureland.

Died and Gone to New Zealand

BACKPACKER Review
Hiker heaven, redefined, is a month-long hike/paddle/camp in Adventureland.

Kids, Camping, and Abuse: A Q&A with Tracy Ross

BACKPACKER Review
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.

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America's Newest Long Trail

BACKPACKER Review
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.

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.