Backpacker Magazine: Washington D.C.: Backpacking and Camping Trips, Hikes, Adventures, Topo Maps, Aerial Photos.

Washington, DC: South Fork Quantico Creek Loop

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Go ahead: Bag work early and swing off the Beltway for a quick 4-mile hike or trail run through the rolling piedmont of Prince William Forest Park.

Washington, DC: Sky Meadows State Park

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Centuries-old settler ruins and fabulous forest overlooks make this quiet 4.7-mile loop one of the best dayhikes within an hour's drive of downtown D.C.

Washington, DC: Maryland Heights Loop

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Immerse yourself in history as you explore long-abandoned Civil War batteries on this 6.1-mile hike to a commanding view of Harpers Ferry.

Washington, DC: First Manassas Trail

BACKPACKER Review
March 4.2 miles back in time to July 21, 1861, where General Stonewall Jackson led an epic battle on this ground at Manassas National Battlefield Park.

Washington, DC: Perimeter Trail

BACKPACKER Review
Skip the tourist spots and take the bus to Greenbelt Park for a 5.4-mile loop through a quiet, leafy urban forest.

Washington, DC: G.R. Thompson Loop

BACKPACKER Review
Pick a sport: fish, bird watch, or hike. Next: tour parts or all of this 5.8-mile loop for a quick getaway from the noisy Capitol City.

Washington, DC: Washington Waterfront Loop

This 11.2-mile tour of D.C. sticks close to the Potomac River shoreline, connecting several national monuments, greenways, and parks.

Washington, DC: Mount Vernon Trail

Ride through history (and along the Potomac) on the 17-mile Mount Vernon Trail from Washington’s home to Theodore Roosevelt Island.

Washington, D.C.: Rock Creek -- Capital Crescent Loop

Ditch the Beltway grind on this 25.5-mile commuter-friendly tour of D.C.’s landmarks on the twisting Rock Creek and Capital Crescent Trails.

Washington, DC: Washington Waterfront Loop

This 11.2-mile tour of D.C. sticks close to the Potomac River shoreline, connecting several national monuments, greenways, and parks.

Washington, DC: Mount Vernon Trail

Ride through history (and along the Potomac) on the 17-mile Mount Vernon Trail from Washington’s home to Theodore Roosevelt Island.

Backyard Everests: Spruce Knob

BACKPACKER Review
Stand atop The Mountain State's most famous peak.

Prayers Answered In Virginia's Priest Wilderness

BACKPACKER Review
In Virginia, a miracle occurs and hikers get some new wilderness, thanks to The Priest.

Virginia's Massanutten Range

BACKPACKER Review
The 50-mile-long Massanutten range in Virginia may be D.C.'s top-secret hiking getaway.

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Packing for a Backcountry Ski Day Kristin Hostetter shows you the essential gear, and how to pack it, for a day of backcountry skiing.	Adjust Your Pack Straps on the Trail Maximize your pack's comfort with a few easy, on-trail strap adjustments.

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.