Palm Springs, CA: San Jacinto Peak Loop
String together two 10,000-foot peaks on this 19.4-mile loop with a mix of trail and off-trail pursuits. Enjoy fine campsites and views of Southern California too.
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California
Hiking and Backpacking Trips
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Lost Coast TrailPlay tag with the pounding surf by day and camp in misty coves by night on this 26-miler along the wildflower-swathed hillsides of the Lost Coast. Big Basin Redwoods State Park, CA: Sequoia Loop to Sempevirens FallsLoop under giant redwoods, by a 25-foot waterfall, and past a 125-year-old cabin on this easy-going 4.2-miler in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Los Angeles: Vulture CragsJagged sandstone cliffs, glorious wildflowers, and deep canyons seem endless on this 9-mile out-and-back ridgeline run in Cleveland National Forest.
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Oakhurst, CA: Sierra Vista Scenic BywayPedal under giant evergreens, past granite domes and grassy meadows into glacier-carved valleys on this photogenic road ride in Sierra National Forest. Azalea Glen-Cuyamaca Peak, Cuyamaca Rancho State ParkGreat hike for a long afternoon! 9 Miles. Combined Azalea Glen loop hike with an out and back to Cuyamaca Peak.
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BACKPACKER PRO MapsGet epic BACKPACKER editor-approved adventures on custom waterproof maps. Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Catch a Golden TroutCast for beautiful fish that live in beautiful lakes. 
Ultimate Adventure HandbookTired 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: Reader Leader Contest WinnersMore than 150 of you entered our contest to become a BACKPACKER field scout. Meet the winners. 
Readers' Choice 2012: Top 3 - West HikesThe region's best picks from our top field correspondent, who's notched more than 1,800 trail miles throughout the West and mapped 116 trips. Readers' Choice 2012: Evolution Loop, Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP, CAHike cross-country to a pocket of dreamy lakeside camps on the John Muir Trail. |
Don't Pay at the Pump: Bus to the TrailFollow Dan Koeppel and photographer Michael Darter as they jump a magic bus in L.A. and camp in Angeles National Forest. You may never drive again. 
August 2008 Reader PhotosWaterfalls and sunsets rule in this summer batch of BACKPACKER reader photos. |
Channel Islands National ParkView photographer Michael Darter's outtakes from his trip to Santa Cruz island for the July Adventures story "Return of the Natives" (Photos by Michael Darter, www.michaeldarter.com) 
Santa Cruz Island AdventureAssociate editor Shannon Davis's photo diary of his hiking and paddling trip to Santa Cruz Island. |
Channel Islands AdventureJoin associate editor Shannon Davis as he hikes and paddles through Channel Islands. |
Share your tales of travel & adventure with our step-by-step guide. Upload trail descriptions, photos, video, and more.
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.
