all hikes

Adirondack Park: Mount Marcy

Tag New York's high point on this 14.2-miler into a mix of forest and broken rock, with jaw-dropping vantages of the High Peaks and Green Mountains.

Albany, NY: Mount Greylock

Lazy folks drive to the top. Be a champ and hike the 7.8 miles from farm fields and hardwood forests to the highest summit in Massachusetts.

Albany: Mount Frissell

Stand in three states, then summit a wooded peak while passing the highest hill in Connecticut on this 4-mile dayhike in the Taconic Mountains.

Appalachian Trail: Mount Greylock Hike

Hit this 15-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail via train and bus for sprawling views and Massachusetts' high point.

Appalachian Trail: Mount Katahdin

Big climb. Big crowds. Bigger reward. This classic 9.8-mile route climbs the tallest peak in Maine, a hiking high point in every sense.

Appalachian Trail: Mount Katahdin

Big climb. Big crowds. Bigger reward. This classic 9.8-mile route climbs the tallest peak in Maine, a hiking high point in every sense.

Birmingham: Cheaha Mountain

Hike 'Bama's longest trail to reach its highest peak on this 20.6-mile out-and-back near the southern anchor of the Appalachian Mountains.

Boundary Waters: Eagle Mountain

Tag the highest peak in Minnesota on this 6.6-mile hike, which courses under a coniferous forest and past a glacial lake with nice backcountry campsites.

Burlington: Mount Mansfield via Sunset Ridge

Check out the largest patch of alpine tundra in Vermont on this 4.8-mile out-and-back to the highest mountain in the state.

Colorado 14ers: Mount Elbert

This 11.6-mile route wanders through a lovely forest, climbs wind-swept slopes and ends with top-of-the-world vistas on Colorado's tallest peak.

Denali National Park: Mount McKinley

Sample the perils of North America's tallest peak in this Q&A with mountain guide Mike Haugen. Plus, downloadable GPS coordinates and photos.

Flagstaff: Humphreys Peak

This popular 10.6-mile hike begins gently in aspen groves, then crescendoes with a climb up Arizona's tallest peak.

Greenville, SC: Sassafras Mountain

Tag the two highest peaks in South Carolina on this 17.2-mile out-and-back with overlooks, waterfalls, and a homestead crumbled by weather and time.

Little Rock: Mount Magazine

Tackle the highest point in Arkansas on this 20-mile out-and-back that draws all sorts of outdoor enthusiasts—hikers, climbers, even hang gliders.

Lone Pine, CA: Mount Whitney via the Mountaineers Route

Climb the Lower 48's highest peak on a route with all of the thrills but none of the crowds.

New York City: High Point

This 11.8-miler traces the Appalachian Trail along an idyllic ridgeline to New Jersey's highpoint, 60 miles from Manhattan.

Portland, OR: Mount Hood via the South Side Route

This 6.8-miler follows the standard route up Oregon's tallest peak, ascending the Palmer Glacier, crossing a glacial crevasse, and revealing dramatic views of the Cascade Range.

Rapid City: Harney Peak

Backpack under tall Ponderosa pines to the highest peak east of the Rockies then continue to a landscape littered with needle-nose spires on this isolated 6.8-mile loop.

Roanoke: Mount Rogers

Catch great views on your way up Virginia’s highest mountain on this 7.2-mile out-and-back through the open balds and ridges of the Appalachians.

Sequoia National Park: Mount Whitney via Whitney Trail

Take a day or a three-day weekend for a challenging 20.2-mile climb to the roof of the Lower 48, and see why Muir called it a paradise of rock and light.

Sequoia National Park: Mount Whitney via Whitney Trail

Take a day or a three-day weekend for a challenging 20.2-mile climb to the roof of the Lower 48, and see why Muir called it a paradise of rock and light.

St. Louis, MO: Taum Sauk Mountain

This rugged 11.2-mile out-and-back on the Ozark Trail winds through the volcanic uplift of the St. Francois range to Missouri's highest peak and tallest waterfall.

Wheeler Peak Wilderness, NM: Wheeler Peak Loop

Connect alpine lakes and tag three summits on this wildflower- and wildlife-packed loop.

White Mountain National Forest: Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine

Bag the most famous peak in the Presidential Range in a long day, or spend a weekend enjoying the views on this classic 7.8-mile summit route.

Wilmington, DE: Ebright Azimuth

Drive the quiet streets of Wilmington to reach Delaware's high point, a sign on a suburban sidewalk: only dedicated peak baggers need apply.

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.