Backpacker Magazine: Maryland: Backpacking and Camping Trips, Hikes, Adventures, Topo Maps, Aerial Photos.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP: Swains Lock to Violettes Lock

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Hike or bike 11.6 out-and-back miles on an old mule path to views of the Potomac and historical relics. A flat profile makes this trip suitable for young hikers.

Appalachian Trail: Gathland State Park to Greenbrier State Park

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Civil War battlefields, the original Washington Monument, and a rolling ridgeline await dayhikers and overnighters on this lovely historical section of the AT.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP: Edwards Ferry to Violettes Lock

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Life on the old canal was tough, but you can take it easy as you hike or bike these pleasant, flat-as-a-pancake 8.7 miles in a historical setting.

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.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP: Swains Lock to Violettes Lock

BACKPACKER Review
Hike or bike 11.6 out-and-back miles on an old mule path to views of the Potomac and historical relics. A flat profile makes this trip suitable for young hikers.

Washington, DC: Blue Ridge Overlook to Cunningham Falls

BACKPACKER Review
Escape on a 5-mile loop through Catoctin Mountain Park, where healthy hardwoods, unique fungi, and a host of fauna conceal this area's industrial past.

Kids School Trip

The kids hiked with PATC From Route 40 (Pine Knob) to Annpolis Rocks and Black Rock.

Soldier's Delight Natural Environmental Area

5 1/2 mile double loop over serpentine rock that criss-crosses over Deer Park Road in Baltimore County.

Garland to Takoma Metro: Ride to Train and along Sligo Creek

nice morning again. checked up and down sligo creek a little bit. will have to do morning runs down there. ride to the creek, lock bike, and do an out-and-back. north or south variations.

maryland Challenge

Maryland Challenge...Penn Mar Maryland along the Appalachian Trail south bound to Harpers Ferry in under 16 hours...

Soldier's Delight Natural Environmental Area

5 1/2 mile double loop over serpentine rock that criss-crosses over Deer Park Road in Baltimore County.

Takoma Park: Farmers Market to Home

Stopped at the FM after the Rock Creek Park ride for a cheese roll before rolling home. End of a great day of riding.

Readers' Choice 2012: Your Neck of the Woods - Northeast Hikes

BACKPACKER Review
Snag Big Apple skyline views, tackle four peaks in a day, rack up waterfalls, hike through history on the AT, and climb Vermont's highest peak.

Local Hikes: Northeast

BACKPACKER Review
Head out on one of these trails in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

Rip & Go: Pine Tree Loop

BACKPACKER Review
Paddle to shoreline solitude, then perch on dunes above the Atlantic Ocean in Maryland's Assateague Island National Seashore.

Trip Finder: Northeast

BACKPACKER Review
Your favorite Northeast hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.

Local Hikes: New Hikes Near You

BACKPACKER Review
Our army of reader-reader scouts mapped 59 local hikes from South Carolina to Northern California. See their favorites, then learn how to download tracklogs and waypoints.

Appalachian Trail Nature Photo Gallery

BACKPACKER Slideshow
Wildflowers, bugs, and other nature photographs shot by our map correspondent on the AT © Jeff Chow

AT Shelter Photo Gallery

BACKPACKER Slideshow
A few of the shelters and lean-tos found along the length of the Appalachian Trail © Jeff Chow

Panoramas of the Appalachian Trail

BACKPACKER Slideshow
A collection of five-star overlooks along the Appalachian Trail © Jeff Chow

AT Culture Photo Gallery

BACKPACKER Slideshow
Some of the faces and places our map contributor saw on the AT © Jeff Chow

AT Interview: Correspondent Jeff Chow

BACKPACKER Video
Jeff Chow spent 10 months mapping every mile of the AT for BACKPACKER. Learn about his favorite spots and hard-earned tips here.

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 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.