| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
From the Field: BACKPACKER Trail Scouts' Top Western Local Hikes
Whether you want an uncrowded hike in Zion National Park or a five-miler through a gypsum dune field in New Mexico, our scouts have paved the way.
From the Field: West
Our trail scouts' top local hikes
Rip & Go: Divide Creek Lake, Targhee National Forest, ID
Explore a seldom-visited stretch of the Continental Divide with hidden lakes, world-class trout fishing, and abundant wildlife.
Local Hikes
Jump-start your hiking season on these spring-ready trips from around the country.
Kids, Camping, and Abuse: A Q&A with Tracy Ross
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.
Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Grab Steep Thrills
Ski remote winter terrain—and have the most winter fun.
Ultimate Adventure Handbook
Tired of the same old weekend loops? Looking to create memories your grandkids will talk about? In this how-and-where guide, we serve up 15 extraordinary escapes that will shatter your expectations of "normal." From adventure moviemaking to canyoneering, we'll take you places you've never been—but will long to visit again soon.
Readers' Choice 2012: Top 3 - Mountain West Hikes
This region's top contestant in our Be a Mapper contest reveals his favorite off-the-beaten-path routes through canyon country and mountain refuges.
America's Best Backcountry Ski Tours
Upgrade your winter fun at these 8 beginner-friendly, expert-ready spots.
Online Exclusive: Readers' Choice 2012: Travis Lesicka's Wildlife Sighting Tips
This region's top contestant in our Be a Mapper contest reveals his wildlife sighting tips.
A Piece of Quiet
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.
National Parks: Yellowstone
A forgotten explorer's route leads to off-trail, high-peak adventure and bona fide solitude.
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.
Local Hikes: Mountain West
Hike these long trails in Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and Colorado, and raft an eight-mile section of the Arkansas River.
Hiking Hells Canyon, ID
This remote chasm boasts big views, craggy mountains, abundant wildlife, and staggering solitude.
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.
America's Best-Kept Secrets
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.
Local Hikes: Mountain West
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.
Right Place, Perfect Time: Best River Paddle
Hit Idaho's Owyhee River just right, and you get one of the West's best paddles to yourself.
America's Best-Kept Secrets: White Cloud Mountains, ID
Readers' Choice 2011: America's Best Hikes
The undisputed local experts—you—chose the top parks, trails, campsites, and weekend getaways from Alaska to Alabama.
Readers' Choice: Rockies
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the Rockies.
Trip Finder: Rockies
Your favorite Rockies hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.
Best Hikes Ever: Gospel Hump Loop Trail, ID
Find private valleys, mountain passes, and riverside campsites.
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.
Rip & Go: Maine, Idaho, California
Take the guesswork out of weekend hike planning; download these new trips in Baxter State Park, the Bitterroot Wilderness, and the Trinity Alps.
Natural Wonders: Hells Canyon, Bighorn Sheep, and Longleaf Pines
See North America's deepest river gorge, the west's most violent mating Display, and the Southeast's last longleaf pines.
Natural Wonders: Hells Canyon, OR/ID
Hike into North America's deepest river gorge--a canyon that could hold five stacked Sears Towers.
Local Hikes: Boise, ID
The best hikes near Boise.
Local Hikes: Northwest
The best hikes in Northwest, as suggested by the best local hiking clubs.
Rip & Go: Watchtower to Sheephead Loop - Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, MT/ID
Have rocky ridges and sparkling alpine lakes all to yourself.
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.)
Ultimate Rocky Mountain Destinations
Disappear into Yellowstone's forgotten peaks. Bag Colorado's most exciting Fourteener. Hike Utah's unknown long trail Our field editors pick 24 epics for your Rockies life list.
Northwest Readers' Choice Trips
Crashing waterfalls, hidden lakes, and a choice Denali view highlight the 2010 Northwest Readers' Choice hikes.
Readers' Choice Northwest: Golden Larches - Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WA
See this deciduous pine turn electric-yellow.
Readers' Choice Northwest: Wahtum Lake, OR
Find primo lakeside camping on a rainforest-to-alpine loop.
Readers' Choice Northwest: Lost River Range, ID
Want guaranteed peace and quiet? Hike to two of the Lower 48's most remote alpine lakes.
Readers' Choice Northwest: South Spur, Mt. Adams, WA
Climb the Northwest's tallest nontechnical volcano.
Wonderland Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park
This classic alpine loop belongs on every backpacker's tick list.
Readers' Choice Northwest: Hannegan Peak and Copper Ridge - North Cascades NP, WA
Enjoy unparalleled views from one of the country's finest skyline trails.
Reader Essays: Stampede!
Caught between a goat and a hard place? Don't move, says Daniel Claar.
Northern Rockies: Thompson Peak, ID
Climb the high point of the Sawtooth Mountains.
Northern Rockies: Imogene Pass Loop, ID
Swim, climb, nap–repeat. This Sawtooths trek has it all.
Vanishing Act: Explore Yellowstone's Northern Fringe
Disappear into Yellowstone's secret northern fringe, where you'll find a rejuvenated landscape and total solitude (except for the bison and grizzlies).
Insider's Guide: Yellowstone
From camping with wolves to fly-fishing smarts this insider's guide has you covered.
Rip & Go: Loon Creek to Horseshoe Lake - Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, ID
Explore a supersized wilderness that's home to Idaho's densest population of gray wolves.
America's Newest Wilderness
A quick guide to the best acres, trails, and views.
Hike It, Save It: Scotchman Peaks, Montana/Idaho
Development, bureaucracy, and apathy threaten this Glacier-like mecca, home to grizzlies, fields of beargrass, and superlative alpine hiking.
Hot Springs: The Perfect Pool
Here are the top wilderness soaks on the continent. Can you keep a secret?
Weekend Snow Climbs in the Pacific Northwest, Rockies, and Northeast
Pack snowshoes for these nine epic treks to snowy solitude in the Pacific Northwest, Rockies, and Northeast.
Hikes and Trips in US Cities
Use our comprehensive city-specific pages to find hikes near your hometown or in a city you're planning to visit.
Track Caribou in the Salmo-Priest Wilderness
Glimpse these rare mammals in Idaho's Salmo-Priest Wilderness.
Hot Springs: Soak Here Now
6 more must-dip pools from Alaska to Hawaii
The Continental Divide Trail Project
We sent 209 readers out to GPS the Continental Divide Trail, the biggest, baddest, long-distance path of them all. They brought back the makings of the first authoritative map of this American classic. Here, read the Backpacker Blog on the project, and view three exclusive on-the-trail video.
Searching for Solitude: Mark Jenkins Photos and Interview
In "Destination Nowhere" (September 2008), Mark Jenkins explores the most remote wilderness location in the continental United States–a top-secret spot in Yellowstone. See his trip photos and read an interview with Jenkins where he discusses the assignment.
60 Minute Fixes: Boise
Idaho's capital offers hiking, kayaking, and climbing close to downtown
Backpack, Paddle, and Climb in Idaho
Idaho is full of surprises--whitewater in the country's deepest canyon, endless climbing at City of Rocks, and high, wild scrambles in the Sawtooths.
High Points: Borah Peak, Idaho
Don't forget your sound judgment when summitting this high point.
Go Fish
If you can't hook a monster in one of these fishing holes, you better hang up your rod.
Table Mountain, Teton Range
This summit offers the finest view anywhere of the Grand and surrouding peaks.
Hike Idaho's Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness
River rats wait years to ride the wild Selway River. Hikers can taste its raw beauty right now.
Best Backpacking In Idaho
Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Idaho.
Hiking Idaho's White Cloud Mountains
Head to the White Cloud Mountains for a crowd-free taste of Idaho high country.
Bruneau River, Idaho
Raft or hike this desert paradise's secretive canyons -- but don't pass up the hot springs.
Seven Devils of Hells Canyon
Where you'll share the mountain with curious goats and mysteries of the past.
Pinup Perfect: Sawtooth Wilderness, Idaho
While Sawtooth Lake grabs the limelight, behind the scenes lie crowd-free peace and splendor.
Not Exactly Roughing It On Idaho's Salmon River Trail
The Middle Fork of the Salmon River Trail is a 100-mile-long backpacker's dream that comes complete with muscle-soothing waters and the occasional glass of wine with your four-course dinner.
The Best U.S. Summits: Top Of The World
Who needs Everest when you can have these eight summits, all hikeable, all close to home, no sherpas or yaks required.
Short Hikes On The Pacific Northwest Trail
Only have a short time to tackle the Pacific Northwest Trail? Our guide will give you the best the PNT has to offer.
