Colorado 14ers: Mount Yale
A leg-busting 8.4-mile round trip up Yale’s relentless southwest slopes culminates with soaring views over the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness and Arkansas River Valley .
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Colorado
Hiking and Backpacking Trips
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Gunnison, CO: Dillon PinnaclesCruise the high-mountain desert to a pinnacle overlook in the Curecanti National Recreation Area. This 3.8-miler offers an up-close look at the volcanic activity that shaped the natural wonders nearby. Colorado 14ers: Mount PrincetonDrawn-out switchbacks lead past jumbled boulder gardens and old mining ruins to a sweeping finale above the high tundra. Post-trip bonus: Soak in the steamy baths at Princeton Hot Springs. Denver: Devils Thumb LoopBag two peaks on this 9-mile, fido-friendly loop around Boulder's signature Flatirons.
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Flat Tops - west loop Wall LakeThis 17 mile loop starts through a burn up to the rim, then around the central canyon near tree-line off trail, ending (the difficult way we went) with a bushwhacking descent down a burned drainage to the canyon floor. Colorado Springs, CO: Cheyenne MountainThis newly opened trail system on the south side of Colorado Springs has something for newbies and old hats alike. Denver, CO: Squaw Pass RoadThis approach to Mount Evans is its own epic ride: An 18-mile climb with incredible views around every corner. Continue to the summit for a mega-epic.
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BACKPACKER PRO MapsGet epic BACKPACKER editor-approved adventures on custom waterproof maps. Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Climb to Heart-Pumping HeightsScramble a class 3 route and claim your own private peak. 
Readers' Choice 2012: Your Neck of the Woods - Mountain West HikesScramble on red rock, camp at alpine lakes, cross a high pass, explore a trailless moonscape, and bushwhack to a peak. |
America's Best Backcountry Ski ToursUpgrade your winter fun at these 8 beginner-friendly, expert-ready spots. 
A Piece of QuietAmericas leading advocate of wilderness silence shows the way to Mt. Rainier National Parks quietest corner. Plus: 9 more campsites with life-list listening. 
Rip & Go: Tonahutu Loop - Rocky Mountain National Park, COCross elk-filled woods and bighorn- busy flats on this park's quiet side. |
Keyhole Route, Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park, COIn May 2006, BACKPACKER editors Jon Dorn and Kris Wagner made an early-season summit attempt on the highest peak (14,255 feet) in Rocky Mountain National Park. (Photos by Jonathan Dorn) 
The CDT Project209 BACKPACKER readers were dispatched to GPS map the CDT & they sent along some amazing photographs. |
The BACKPACKER Interview: Ken BurnsAward-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns joins us to talk about the people, places, and lasting importance of his latest project, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea." 
3D Flyover: Rocky Mountain National Park's Grand LoopExplore the quieter side of Rocky Mountain National Park with writer Dougald MacDonald on this historically inspired route up Longs Peak. 
Boulder's Gregory Canyon TrailTake an abandoned wagon road near Boulder's Flatirons with Backpacker editors Jon Dorn and Anthony Cerretani in this trail profile. |
The CDT Project: WildlifeBig and small, the Backpacker teams spotted a variety of wildlife along the CDT |
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.
