| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
Blood, Sweat, & Beers
Join editor-in-chief Dennis Lewon for a hike--and cancer-fighting concert--in the Rockies.
Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Portraits
These men and women were photographed as they thru-hiked the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail, from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine. They each walked more than 2,000 miles—enduring the Smokies, the Shenandoahs, and the White Mountains—to get to the point where they posed for their portraits. Only the vast and lonely wilderness of Maine's north woods stood between them and their goal: Mt. Katahdin, a behemoth of a mountain that stands like a beacon to every thru-hiker. For some the journey couldn't end soon enough; others enjoyed every step along the way.
Win a Trip to Kilimanjaro!
Ascend to the "Roof of Africa" with renowned guide Peter Whittaker and BACKPACKER's Jonathan Dorn.
Trail Mix - West - March 2013
Your region's go-now spring guide: Scramble to Salado Indian cliff dwellings in Arizona, spot bighorn sheep in Wyoming, and more.
Rip & Go: Lost Maples Loop, Lost Maples State Natural Area, TX
Warm up for hiking season with a mellow escape to a maze of limestone plateaus.
From the Field — East — March 2013
Our trail scouts' top local hikes, including fire tower views in New Jersey, a New York waterfall, and more.
Rip & Go: Florida Trail, Big Cypress National Preserve, FL
Traverse a primeval landscape of cypress swamp, hardwood hammocks, and pinelands.
From the Field — Central — March 2013
Follow the footsteps of Wild West outlaws in Oklahoma, marvel at Gooseberry Fall's frozen cascades, search out arrowheads at Hot Springs National Park, and more.
Top 3: Better in Winter
What off season? Bundle up and reap the benefits of colder weather in these snowy playgrounds.
Trail Mix — Central — March 2013
Your region's go-now guide: Explore ice caves on Wisconsin's Apostle Islands, overnight in peace in northern Missouri, and more.
