Hike the Living Desert in Ironwood National Monument, Arizona
The Ironwood Forest is a true redemption story. Home to arroyos, plains, foothills, and mountains, the monument’s coarse and well-aerated soil allows roots to dig deep.
Please, People, Don't Put Wild Animals in Your Car
An attempt to rescue a bobcat in Colorado is the latest instance of animal lovers doing more harm than good.
A Mysterious Illness is Sickening Florida Panthers, and No One Knows What's Causing It
Florida wildlife officials are asking for the public's help in figuring out what's disabling wild cats in the state.
Man Fined for Trying to Fight Grizzly Bear
A visitor to Banff National Park wanted to wrestle a grizzly. He was lucky to make it out unscathed, says an expert.
Careful Out There: Falling Trees, Helicopter Rescues, and a Continuing Search
This week's survival and accident report
Get Out More: Become a BACKPACKER Basecamp Member
Get the tools you need to get outside. Join Basecamp for access to an exclusive video skills library, gear deals, special guides, giveaways, a members-only community, insider tips, and more!
The 12 Best Hiking Jackets of 2019
Keep out the wind, rain, and cold with our favorite shells of the season
The 13 Best Backpacks of 2019
Our testers found load haulers for every trip and hiker. Pick yours and enjoy the spoils.
The 5 Best Backpacking Electronics of 2019
This year's top gadgets are designed to keep you safe and comfortable on the trail while staying out of your way.
The 12 Best Tents of 2019 for Backpacking
Find the perfect shelter to match the perfect location.
The 12 Best Hiking Boots and Shoes of 2019
Treat your feet with these trail runners and mid-cuts.
Editors' Choice: The Best Gear of 2019
For five months, we crisscrossed continents, climates, and comfort zones to put the newest outdoor products to the test. Presenting the 12 winners of this year’s Editors’ Choice Awards.
The 9 Best Sleeping Bags of 2019
Sleep well in the backcountry with these down and synthetic models.
Find Gear Reviews By Popular Brands
Wilderness First Aid Basics
Don't venture out without knowing how to take care of yourself in the woods.
Outdoor Photo School
Stop being envious of other people’s great shots and create some of your own.
Backcountry Navigation
Even in today’s high-tech world, your smartphone will only get you so far.
Thru-Hiking 101
This six-week online class covers everything you need to know to plan and finish the long-distance hike of your dreams.
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Float a Swedish River on a Huck-Finn-Style Log Raft
Float back in time on the Klarälven River.
Map: 16 Backyard Epics That Prove Everywhere is Hiking Country
You don't always need to go far to go big. Case in point: these stunning hikes, all within a day trip of a major metropolitan area.
Hike the Living Desert in Ironwood National Monument, Arizona
The Ironwood Forest is a true redemption story. Home to arroyos, plains, foothills, and mountains, the monument’s coarse and well-aerated soil allows roots to dig deep.
Do Denali Right
Deepest Denali is big, bold, and sublime—for those willing to pay the price of admission.
The 3 Best Hikes for Gem Hunters
Search for buried treasure on one of these gem-studded dayhikes, where gathering rocks is legal.
The Best Dayhikes in Death Valley National Park
Go off-season hiking in the hottest, driest, lowest place in North America
Hiking the Elwha River, Olympic National Park
See dense forest and prehistoric ferns on this 45.2-mile jaunt.
Go Trekking With BACKPACKER
We've partnered with three great organizations to help you see the world, from Utah to Nepal.
LNT Confessional: I Dropped a Case of Beer Cans Into a Creek
An accidental litterer receives their penance in this edition of Leave No Trace Confessional.
A Mountaineer Brings the Outdoors Back Home
More than a decade after seeing his first peak, adventurer Tyrhee Moore gives back.
Opinion: Hunters Pay for Conservation. Hikers Should Too.
Hunters fund conservation through taxes and tag fees. As their numbers decline, it’s time for hikers to step up.
JR Stockwell is the King of the Mountains
If there was a championship of local hiking, New Hampshire native JR Stockwell would be a lock for first place—except he never tells anyone about his singular adventures in the White Mountains.
Growing Up on the PCT
When a father-daughter team tackles the Pacific Crest Trail over the course of seven summers, they learn something about long-distance hiking—and each other.
White House Cuts Back Protections for Endangered Species
New rules allow government to share economic impacts of listing, eliminates protections for threatened species.
Every Hiker Should Help Build a Trail
Use some elbow grease to give back to the land you love.
How to Help You Kids Do Their Business in the Woods
Doing a number two outside can be a fraught topic for kids. But it doesn't have to be.
How to Care for Your Backpacking Gear
Keep your gear going season after season with these tips.
4 Edible Plants for Beginner Foragers
Chow down on these edible plants, all found across the U.S.
Pass/Fail: SUP Into Camp
It’s just like backpacking, but with a paddleboard instead of boots. Right?
3 Vegetarian Recipes to Fuel You on the Trail
Going meatless shouldn’t mean going hungry. These protein-packed vegan recipes will satisfy any hiker.
How to Pick the Perfect Hike for Kids of All Ages: Babies and Toddlers
Expert advice from Hike It Baby's Jessica Carillo Allatore
How to Pick the Perfect Hike for Kids of All Ages: Elementary School-Aged Kids
Expert advice from Family Channel editor, Lisa Jhung
Sleepwalking Into the Wilderness
In October 2018, Rob Lundgren, 66, woke from a dream to find himself in a nightmare—lost in Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness
Game: Survive the Slot Canyon
When a desert dayhike goes wrong, do you have the skills to survive? Play our game and find out.
PODCAST SEASON FINALE: The Science of Survival
Are we wired to get out of dangerous situations alive? We talked to the experts.
Chased by a Flash Flood
For J.P. Rose, 34, and Christina Fialho, 35, an idyllic dayhike in the Caribbean in 2017 turned into a nightmare.
Drink Safely in the Backcountry
Follow these guidelines so you don't have to cut your trip short.
PODCAST: Alone With a Compound Fracture
When a boulder snaps his leg on a California mountain, Gregg Hein finds himself in a fight for his life.
PODCAST: Bitten By a Rattlesnake
What if you were bitten by a venomous snake far from help? For Scott Vuncannon, an encounter with a rattler in the North Carolina backcountry was the beginning of a struggle for survival.
PODCAST: Mauled By a Grizzly
Your chances of being attacked by a bear are around one in two million. Todd Orr was mauled by one twice in a single day. Listen to his story in the latest episode of our podcast.
