| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
National Parks: View Finder
Go ahead, look again. And again. These images are worth a third, fourth, and then a tenth gaze.
Right Place, Perfect Time
See Yosemite's river of ice, witness there-and-gone meteor showers in Hawaii, and mark your calendar for eight more fleeting natural wonders.
Right Place, Perfect Time: Geminid Meteor Shower
See shooting stars from a five-star backcountry observatory.
Trip Finder: West
Your favorite western hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Readers' Choice: West
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the west.
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: California/Nevada/Hawaii
Hike to the world's best tropical campsite, see elephant seals, and trek through poppies. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)
America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes
Like your life and limbs intact? Then you'd better get skilled before visiting these trails.
West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes
The world's prettiest shoreline, giant pines, and Yosemite's premier view.
West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes: Kalalau Trail, HI
Hike Hawaii's all-world coast to a secluded beach.
West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes: The Ruby Crest Trail, Humboldt NF, NV
Explore lonely alpine scenery in this off-the-radar wilderness.
West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes: Thru-hike the John Muir Trail, CA
Trek 211 miles through hiker heaven.
West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes: California's Giant Sequoias, Sugarbowl Loop, Kings Canyon NP
Take a lightly trafficked trail into the word's biggest grove.
West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes: Sentinel Dome, Yosemite NP
Bag a granite peak with big views and small crowds.
West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes: Lakes Trail to Pear Lake, Sequoia NP
Get a highlights tour of the High Sierra backcountry.
Natural Wonders: Blowholes, Salmon Runs, & Wine Country
Hawaii's Nakalele blowhole rivals Old Faithful. Plus: Trek to Oregon's salmon run and California's wine country.
Natural Wonders: Maui's Nakalele Blowhole
Get sprayed by an oceanic geyser. Erupting every few minutes under perfect conditions, this is a natural wonder you can't miss.
Swimming Hole Hikes
Time to cool down. Hike to these refreshing swimming holes and settle right into summer.
Readers' Choice Awards 2009
Discover the best hike in every state, as voted by BACKPACKER readers. Plus: your essential gear, most desirable tentmate, worst-ever adventure movie, and our picks for the best reader-submitted photos.
Quick Fix: Dayhike Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Plunge from rainforest to caldera in Hawaii's famously explosive national park
America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes - Kalalau Trail, Kauai, HI
Killer coastline
Trip Finder: 2-4 Day Warm-Weather Hikes
Track the sun on these 2-4 day trips in the Southeast, Southwest, and Hawaii
Find the Tallest Waterfall in the U.S.
Head to Hawaii for three of the tallest
America's Best Campsites
Whether you are after fishing holes or skinny-dipping, Backpacker tracked down the best campsites in the country
Top 3: Native Art Hikes
Explore burial effigies, seven-foot petroglyphs, and images etched in lava as you discover the ultimate mix of manmade and natural beauty.
High Points: Mauna Kea, Hawaii
Your car does all the climbing here.
Whale-watching and Hiking on Maui
See Hawaii's humpbacks in late winter
A Hiker's Guide To Surfing and Snorkeling
Use your backpacking skills at the best surfing, climbing, trail running, and even paragliding spots
Hawaii: Waimanu Valley
Come to this tropical oasis for great weather, an array of fruit and some great swimming.
Best Backpacking In Hawaii
Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Hawaii.
