| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
Life List: Northern Lights Ski Tour, Alaska
See the world's best sky show from your private backcountry cabin.
Limit Pusher: Three More Epics
Test yourself on these wild routes.
Killer Trips: Wildlife
Our favorite high-risk, high-reward adventures in North America.
The Last Bus
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.
America's Best Campsites
Park your tent in one of these 10 spots, and you'll be happy in the morning. Guaranteed.
National Parks: View Finder
Go ahead, look again. And again. These images are worth a third, fourth, and then a tenth gaze.
National Parks: Denali
Denali isn’t just for experts. These guinea pigs will prove it. Probably.
Going to Extremes
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.
National Park Slideshows
See scores of stunning images from the Grand Canyon, Denali, Yosemite, and more.
Local Hikes: West
See California dunes, Nevada red-rock canyons, Alaska's deep forest, quiet Oregon Coast, and Washington's Cascade lakes.
Trip Finder: Alaska
Your favorite Alaska hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Our Backyard: Denali National Park
Explore Denali's top dayhikes, photo ops, and epic wildlife treks.
Rip & Go: Crow Pass Trail - Chugach State Park, AK
Cross the west edge of the Chugach for glaciers, bears, and wildflowers.
Readers' Choice: Alaska
The undisputed local experts—you—choose the top parks, trails, campsites, and weekend getaways in Alaska.
Less is More: 50-Mile Thru-Hikes
Ten point-to-point treks with the payoffs of a thru-hike, but hikeable in a week.
Best Hikes Ever: Southern Traverse, AK
Tackle an epic adventure in the far north.
Best Hikes Ever: Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, AK
Find deep solitude where the continent crashes into a frigid ocean.
Best. Hikes. Ever.
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.
Best Hikes Ever: Denali, AK
Pick your pilgrimage through the backcountry Holy Land: Mt Eielson Loop or Kesugi Ridge.
50-Mile Thru-Hikes: Resurrection Pass Trail, AK
This 39-mile Alaska hike offers big scenery without a bush plane.
Local Hikes: Anchorage, AK
The best hikes near Anchorage.
Local Hikes: Northwest
The best hikes in Northwest, as suggested by the best local hiking clubs.
Rip & Go: Mt. Eielson Loop
Explore pure wilderness on this two-day circuit in the Alaska Range.
August 2010 Reader Shot of the Month
Feast your eyes on this photo of Alaska's North Slope, along the Arctic's Sagavanirktok River.
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.
New Life List: See a Grizzly
Coming face to face with the biggest predator in North America might just alter your worldview.
Local Hikes: New Hikes Near You
Our army of reader-reader scouts mapped 59 local hikes from South Carolina to Northern California. See their favorites, then learn how to download tracklogs and waypoints.
Local Hikes: Northwest
See five volcanoes, camp at secluded lakes, and hike through a swarm of butterflies. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)
Zones: Water
Hit the water, and see plenty of wildlife and scenic views, on these paddling trips in Alaska, Florida, and Minnesota.
Water: Muir Inlet, AK
Paddle along Glacier Bay's dynamic shores.
The Big Easy: Backpack Alaska
Plan your perfect Alaskan trip–from a budget-friendly weekend to an entry-level expedition–with field reports from Steve Howe.
Higher Love: Father & Daughter Climb Mt. Chamberlin
On a remote Arctic peak, a father and his teenager encounter the hardest of all human challenges.
Fly Fishing Mystery Alaska: A Fish Story
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.
Destination Alaska: Castner Glacier
Witness the effects of climate change on a challenging trek in the Delta Mountains.
Destination Alaska: Grizzly Pass
Hike to a private paradise deep in the Talkeetna Mountains.
Destination Alaska: Harding Icefield
Hike a classic in Kenai Fjords–and escape the crowds by making it an overnight.
Destination Alaska: The Goat Trail
Tackle an epic route through Chitistone Canyon in Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve.
Destination Alaska: Flute Glacier
Just minutes from town, score big scenery fast on the South Fork of Eagle River.
Destination Alaska: Lost Lake, Chugach Mountains
Bring plenty of supplies to this alpine plateau in the Chugach Mountains–you'll want to extend your stay.
Destination Alaska: Thompson Pass
See the awesome Valdez Mountains on this off-trail adventure to Point Odyssey and beyond.
Special Report: Alaska's Toklat Wolf Pack in Crisis
When senior editor Tracy Ross investigated Denali's wolf controversy, she expected to see a dead wolf--but not a skinned one. Go behind the scenes with video filmed in the field and an interview with Ross on the experience.
Destinatons Alaska: Johnson Pass
Hike a historic, kid-friendly trail to wildflower meadows and fish-filled lakes.
Destination Alaska: Devil's Pass
Easy routefinding and life-list sights make this thru-hike a must for Alaska novices.
Top 3 Ansel Adams Hikes and Reader Photos
The legendary shooter once said that photographs were "usually looked at, seldom looked into." Take a look into three hikes that inspired some of Ansel Adams greatest photos, and take a few pictures yourself.
America's Scariest Trails: Vanished
Lost? Murdered? When the wilderness swallows people without a trace, who's to say what happened?
Undiscovered Hikes: 19 New Trails
Hike these paths before the masses find them.
Backpacking Alaska: Glaciers, Wildlife, & Peaks On Every Corner
During a one-month August journey, BACKPACKER undertook multiple crowd-free Alaskan backpacking routes and returned with extensive photos, video, & GPS.
Hike It, Save It: Utukok Uplands, Alaska
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.
The Unlikeliest Mountaineer
Take a fatherless herd boy from poverty-wracked Swaziland, endow him with an indomitable will and a few wealthy friends, give him the lungs of Ed Viesturs, and you have...
The Unlikeliest Mountaineer: Online Slideshow & Exclusive Post-Climb Blogs
After tackling Mt. McKinley, Sibusiso Vilane & writer Steve Howe foraged in Talkeetna, hitchhiked the Alaskan highways, and met a grizzly in Denali.
Dogs of War
Another dead Denali wolf. A battle for the soul of wild Alaska. Our reporter visits America's most iconic wilderness for the inside story of a park under siege.
See More: Winter Birds
Forget flying south. Learn the secrets of cold-weather survival from three well-adapted birds.
Hikes and Trips in all 50 States
Use our comprehensive state-specific pages to find hikes in your home state our a state you're planning on visiting.
Wilderness Wonders: Biggest Bear
The white, fluffy, subzero-temperature-loving polar bear takes this title.
Ten Epic Hikes
Paddling, hiking, testing self arrest skills–we cover it all in these 10 epic trips throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Mr. Haugen's Highpoints
Denver teacher Mike Haugen sets a new state summits speed record–fifty state highpoints in less than 50 days!
Alaskan Labyrinth: Bushwacking in Denali
Beat your own path through Denali National Park's confounding and little-traveled Wyoming Hills.
The Alaska Wolf Debate: Q&A with Tracy Ross
Author Tracy Ross discusses her feature story "Dogs of War" devoted to the debate raging in Alaska over the famed Toklat wolf pack.
Where Can I Find the Best View of the Northern Lights?
You guessed, it, you need to head North. Here's where you'll get the best view of the Northern Lights.
Fighting Death on Mt. Foraker
Stunned by the loss of his friends, a stranded climber struggles down one of Alaska's toughest peaks.
National Parks Lifelist
The ultimate vacation in one of America's iconic parks requires the ultimate hiking plan: classic scenery, no crowds, and secret campsites. Here's how to spend a perfect week in Glacier, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Olympic, Denali, and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Headfirst Down the McKinley
A sudden swim in a glacier-fed river nearly finishes a ranger.
Denali National Park
Hike with grizzlies in this remote northern corner of Alaska's greatest park.
Yellowstone National Park
America's first national park is a playground for grizzlies, wolves, moose, and hikers (not in that order).
Olympic National Park
Explore two ecosystems in this hinterland of moss-draped forests, ancient trees, and snowcapped peaks.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Graze blueberry patches, explore swimming holes, and tag the South's high points on this sultry hike.
Grand Canyon National Park
Drop into America's belly on a little-known hike that dips in and out of four different canyons, each blessed with gurgling spring water.
Yosemite National Park
Climb classic Sierra passes, ogle granite monoliths, and camp above treeline in John Muir's second home.
Glacier National Park
Scramble up class III peaks and cross late summer snowfields on this strenuous but straightforward trip through Montana's big-mountain country.
National Parks Lifelist: Intro
How Your Kid Can Save a Park
Send him out on a work trip. Let wilderness do the rest.
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.
How to Light a Campfire in the Smokies
Trees, trees are everywhere, but sometimes there isn't a dry twig in sight.
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.
How to Score Denali's Choicest Permits
The system was rigged, says a former ranger. Here's how to beat it.
What Will Alaska's Future Look Like?
Alaska is the last frontier, but energy development and climate change promise to change the face of our wildest state in your lifetime. Here's how.
Cascades Meltdown
The Lower 48's most glaciated region is losing its ice at an astonishing rate.
The Impact of Climate Change on Florida's Everglades, Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias
What do Florida's Everglades and Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias have in common? Both face uncertain futures as temperatures rise.
Save or Splurge: Kayak Southeast Alaska
Tour the wildlife menagerie that is southeast Alaska on two kayak trips
Trip Doctor: Shopping For Guided Alaskan Treks
How can I comparison-shop for a guided trek in Alaska?
Epicenter: The Scene In Skagway, Alaska
The stampede is over--but not the fun--in this trailhead town.
The Works: Climb Mt. McKinley
Experience the nighttime sky from 20,320 feet up majestic Mt. McKinley -- but first read our guide to the trip.
The Floating Frontier: Cruising and Paddling Alaska
The slow boat to Alaska requires duct tape, an elastic itinerary, and a hunger for in-your-face adventure.
Backpack Alaska's Round Island
Wildlife aplenty at Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary
Guide's Choice: Hiking, Biking, Paddling, and Sledding Adventures
From paddling Lake Superior to glacier-hopping in Alaska: 6 hair-raising, lung-busting adventures from America's top outfitters
A Hiker's Guide To Surfing and Snorkeling
Use your backpacking skills at the best surfing, climbing, trail running, and even paragliding spots
Stone Cold Campers
They kill swiftly and silently. They flit like ghosts through enemy forests. And they will brew you a fine cup of cowboy coffee. Meet America's deadliest hikers as we hump ruck with the Special Forces.
Devil's Thumb: It Can't Be Climbed
Will anyone ever climb the dangerous northwest face of Alaska's Devil's Thumb? Maybe they shouldn't.
Being Caribou: A Mountain Of A Shortcut
We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 4.
Being Caribou: Calving Grounds
We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 3.
Being Caribou Returns Home
We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 6.
Being Caribou: Spring Migration
We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 1.
Being Caribou: Arctic Summer
We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 5.
Alaska, Colville River
Visit this remote section of the Arctic before climate change alters it forever
Alaska, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Paddle blue inlets too new for any topo.
Being Caribou: Protecting the Porcupine Caribou Herd
Protection one of Alaska and Canada's largest caribou herds is so close, yet so far away.
Being Caribou: 350 Miles On Skis
We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 2.
Alaska Made Easy
Just minutes from Anchorage lie dozens of world-class hiking and paddling trips. This guide gives you the best, plus gear and travel tips to smooth the way.
Being Caribou: The Route
How do you plan a route following 123,000 migrating caribou across Canada and Alaska? Try to keep up.
Being Caribou: Caribou Facts
18 facts you didn't know about Alaska and Canada's Porcupine Caribou herd.
Being Caribou: ANWR Or Bust
Will he keep up? Karsten Heuer embarks on an audacious 1,200-mile expedition-cum-caribou chase.
Being Caribou: Caribou I Am
How do you plan an expedition to follow 123,000 migrating caribou across Canada and Alaska? Very carefully.
Climbing Alaska's 'Great One': Denali National Park
Do you have what it takes to climb Alaska's Denali? Find out with our mountaineer's guide.
Climbing Denali: The West Buttress Route
Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska
McKinley: Backpack Around "The Big One"
Let rivers and ridgelines be your compass as you hike in the shadow of Alaska's Mt. McKinley.
Best Backpacking In Alaska
Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Alaska.
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.
Bushwacking: Get High, Stay High
When bushwacking a trail, go high altitude and stay there.
Tundra Trekking Tips
Just because it's flat and treeless doesn't mean it's easy hiking.
Tundra Tip: Farther Than You Think
Distances can appear farther in the tundra.
Snowy Destinations
Need someplace to go shoe with your snowshoes? Whet your whistle with one of these great places.
Alaska Lands Act: 20 Years Later
In the 20 years since the passage of the Alaska Lands Act, nothing has changed in many of the state's wild places. And that's reason to celebrate.
Alaskan Rescued From Australian Outback
Missing for more than a month in the Australian Outback, American tourist Robert Bogucki was found alive and amazingly coherent yesterday in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)
Alaska's premier area for fish and wildlife.
River Floating: A Current Affair
Why huff and puff to get to an isolated campsite? Simply grab a paddle, then let the current carry you to a secluded riverside trailhead.
Resurrection Pass Trail, Alaska
In a land with few trails, Alaska's Resurrection Pass stands above them all.
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.
How To Deal With River Crossings
Crossing rivers can be treacherous -- unless you know what you're doing.
Solo Hiking Alaska: Fear Walked With Me
A once-in-a-lifetime solo hike through Lake Clark National Park, where the midnight sun shines like candlelight on the mountains.
The Colors Of Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias
Wrangell-St. Elias National park is known for its jaw-dropping scenery, but there's just as much beauty at your feet.
Alaska's Glaciers: Going With The Floes
When gently paddling amidst the mini-icebergs that grace Prince William Sound, you ponder one question: why walk?
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.
ANWR: Postcards From The Edge
Journey to Alaska's far northern edge, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where the midnight sun shines like candlelight on the mountains.
Northern Lights: The Sky Will Dance
Like shimmering rainbows in the night, the northern lights electrify the sky with color.
Mosquitoes: Avoiding Alaska's Winged Plague
Alaska's Tongass: Take A Deep Breath
In Alaska's Tongass, the ancient trees have something to say...if you're willing to listen.
