Denali National Park: Healy Overlook
Enjoy fabulous views of the highest peaks in the Alaska Range (Mounts McKinley, Deborah, Hess, and Hayes) on this 6-mile round-trip.
| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
Alaska
Hiking and Backpacking Trips
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Wrangell-St. Elias National Park: Southern TraverseThirteen days of tough travel takes you through the heart of the world's largest protected wilderness. Denali National Park: Mount WrightThis 4.7-mile out-and-back climbs to the expansive, 4,275-foot summit of Mount Wright for endless views of the Alaska Range and Denali National Park. Anchorage: Lazy MountainDon't be fooled by the name: You'll climb 3,000 feet in 2 miles to a summit with spectacular views of rivers, mountains, and ocean.
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Swanson River Part IIThis paddle goes through 26 miles of Alaska, through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. It starts almost north of Sterling and ends in the Cook Inlet where there is about a mile of portage to pull the canoe out. The paddle takes you through conifer spruce forests and marsh finally ending up in a tidal zone. Delta Mountains, AK: Castner GlacierWitness the effects of climate change on a challenging trek in the Delta Mountains.
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BACKPACKER PRO MapsGet epic BACKPACKER editor-approved adventures on custom waterproof maps. National Parks: View FinderGo ahead, look again. And again. These images are worth a third, fourth, and then a tenth gaze. |
Going to ExtremesCan 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 SlideshowsSee scores of stunning images from the Grand Canyon, Denali, Yosemite, and more. 
Local Hikes: WestSee California dunes, Nevada red-rock canyons, Alaska's deep forest, quiet Oregon Coast, and Washington's Cascade lakes. |
Mystery Photos: An Alaskan Fish StoryEditor in Chief Jonathan Dorn heads deep into the Alaskan backcountry and comes back with the ultimate fish story in this gallery. 
Glacial AlaskaThe Castner Glacier proved a picturesque teaching ground for glacial terminology. Photos by Katie Herrell |
Entering Alaska: Pipelines, Rations, and One Major Wrong TurnThe first couple days of an Alaskan backpacking trip were filled with organizational efforts and one false start, plus plenty of stunning scenery. 
November 2008 Reader PhotosThis month our readers found sun in Sedona, Arizona and snow and ice on Rainier–plus everything in between. 
September 2008 Reader PhotosCalifornia, Argentina, Mexico–our readers sought the endless summer this month. |
Dirtbag Camping...Alaska Style!Rocky Mountain Editor Steve Howe dispels a few camping myths and drops some dirtbagging tips in this primer.
Mystery, Alaska: A Fish StoryEditor in Chief Jonathan Dorn heads deep into the Alaskan backcountry to fish the most bountiful streams in the world. 
Exploring Alaska's Castner GlacierWitness the effects of climate change on this challenging trek in the Delta Mountains. |
Mountaineering 101: Putting On CramponsLive from Alaska's Castner Glacier, Rocky Mountain editor Steve Howe shows you the basics for putting on crampons 
Dogs of War Part 3: Witness a Wolf SkinningVIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. Alaska wolves are prized for their pelts. Here, trapper and tanner Al Barrette skins a wolf and makes the case for continued hunting and trapping. 
Dogs of War Part 1: Hunting Denali WolvesCoke Wallace lives to hunt wolves. Follow him into the Alaskan backcountry to learn how wolf hunters find, catch, and kill their prey. |
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Photos + Videos
Packing for a Backcountry Ski DayKristin Hostetter shows you the essential gear, and how to pack it, for a day of backcountry skiing. |
Adjust Your Pack Straps on the TrailMaximize your pack's comfort with a few easy, on-trail strap adjustments. |
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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.
Secret Hikes: Appalachian Trail
The last lonely stretch of the AT beckons from the mountains of western Maine.
Secret Hikes: Glacier National Park
Score wildlife sightings daily, choice views hourly--and at least one juicy burger--on this weeklong circuit.
Secret Hikes: Grand Canyon National Park
Surprise: This park's busy corridor trails offer a fast track to a private slice of heaven.
Secret Hikes: Grand Teton National Park
Rise above the crowds and earn solo views of elk, wildflowers, and summit sunsets.
International Travel
From Nepal to New Zealand, we have stories and tips to help you plan the perfect 'life list' trek abroad.
Navigation Center
Learn how to orient a map, navigate any terrain, and the ins-and-outs of GPS devices.
BACKPACKER's Free Smartphone GPS App
Record and share you adventures with our new, free navigation app. Plus, discover thousands of GPS-enabled hikes in national parks and major cities.
Green Guide
A backpacker's guide to environmental issues and "green" gear.
