A Hero's Journey
Rue McKenrick would hike the perimeter of the country to demonstrate our nation’s unity—if only he and the country could hold together long enough for him finish.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Won’t Recognize Your 2021 Thru-Hike for Now
With Covid cases hitting all-time highs, the nonprofit is still urging thru-hikers to stay home.
Why the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Oil Lease Sale Flopped
After years of demonstrations and congressional battles, the sale of oil drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge finally went ahead on January 6—and almost no one bit.
The Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. Initiative Wants to Make Outdoor Adventure Available to All
A new initiative launching this week seeks to create a program to fund outdoor recreational and educational activities for underserved youth around the United States.
Hiking The Wave is About to Get a Lot Easier—and Conservationists Say it's in Danger
Fewer than 4 percent of people who apply for a permit to hike The Wave will get one. A new rule change from the Bureau of Land Management would triple that number—but environmental groups warn it could come at the expense of the scenery itself.
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 6 Best Insulated Hiking Jackets of Winter 2020
Stay warm and cozy with these perfect puffies.
The 4 Best Packs of Winter 2020
Winter activities can take a lot of gear, from avalanche equipment to heavy sleeping bags. But that doesn't mean you have to weigh yourself down. These four bags keep it light while still leaving you enough room to carry your necessities.
The 10 Best Tents of 2020 for Backpacking
Find the perfect shelter to match the perfect spot.
The Best Winter Camping Gear for Sleeping in the Snow
Want to get outside this season? These 7 products can help you do it more comfortably and safely than ever before.
The 6 Best Hiking Boots of Winter 2020
Bust through snow, crust, and slush with this warm, toothy footwear.
Editors' Choice: The Best Gear of Fall and Winter 2020
Make the most of the cold with six perfect picks, from jackets to tents to skis.
The 8 Best Face Masks for Hiking
Protect yourself and your fellow hikers with these comfortable, trail-ready masks.
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.
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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Chasing Fire and Ice on the Artist Point Trail
Find alpine bliss halfway through this snowshoe beneath an active volcano in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Living in the Present on a Hike Up Mauna Loa
The climb up this legendary peak's volcanically shifting landscape is never quite the same, no matter how many times you do it.
10 Perfect Lake Hikes That Will Make You Glad to Walk in a Circle
Spend anywhere from a few memorable hours to a few remarkable days circumnavigating one of these ten lakes.
8 Outdoor Adventures You Can Have No Matter Where You Are This Year
You don’t need to travel far to try something new. Redline your state, see a celestial show, or get to know your local wildlife with these 8 ideas.
5 Off-the-Beaten-Path Bucket List Treks You’ll Remember Forever
Make memories without the crowds on five spectacular treks that aren’t household names.
Hike America: 10 Trips to Check Off Your Bucket List in 2021
[Member Exclusive] You don’t need to renew your passport to make memories this year: Get out and get hiking with these phenomenal, uncrowded destinations.
Boots and Saddle Trail: Soldier Creek Wilderness, NE
Spend a weekend exploring an unexpected Nebraska wilderness on this route from one of our field scouts.
Member Trail Report: Emerald and Moon Lakes
Basecamp member Brent Umphlett and his brother spent five days exploring Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness.
A Hero's Journey
Rue McKenrick would hike the perimeter of the country to demonstrate our nation’s unity—if only he and the country could hold together long enough for him finish.
The Hiker Who Beelined Colorado
Thousands of people hike the Colorado Trail every year, but India Wood had a bolder idea: Hike a 732-mile diagonal, from corner to corner, straight across the state. It would take dozens of maps to do it—and help from a few new friends.
Deb Haaland Could Be the First Native Secretary of the Interior
After years of slashed environmental regulations, the United States’ public lands need a friend—and hundreds of U.S. representatives, tribal leaders, and even celebrities think Rep. Deb Haaland could be it.
A Family Thru-Hike in the Year of Covid
Hiking the Appalachian Trail with four kids is tough; figuring out how to do it safely and legally in a pandemic year might seem insurmountably so. But for Olen and Danae Netteburg, two physicians who have spent the last decade working in Chad, it was just another challenge.
Shattered on the Pacific Crest Trail
When they wake up broke, broken, and far from home, how do thru-hikers find the will to go another mile?
It's Time to Stop Managing Our Wildlands for Hunters First
Why do we still run our public lands like it’s 1920?
George Atiyeh Was the Hero the Forest Needed
The 72-year-old activist, who passed away last month, used mining claims, scenic flights, hiking trails, and occasionally outright confrontation to protect the Opal Creek Wilderness.
5 Bird Species You Can Spot All Winter Long
Seek out splashes of color amid pale winter landscapes with these five cold-loving birds.
Strengthen Your Feet for the Trail
Your feet carry you every step of the way, so don’t neglect them in your training.
8 Outdoor Adventures You Can Have No Matter Where You Are This Year
You don’t need to travel far to try something new. Redline your state, see a celestial show, or get to know your local wildlife with these 8 ideas.
How to Land your Dream Outdoor Job
Six pros share their tips for breaking into the outdoor industry
Avalanche Awareness: Basics Every Hiker Should Know
Craving backcountry snow adventures? First, use this primer to learn how to identify and avoid slide-prone terrain. Then decide if you need an avalanche safety course to maximize your winter fun.
Out Alive: Sliding Down a Mountain
Taylor Gibler, 26, barreled towards frozen peril after stumbling on Mt. Baker in June of 2020.
The Mystery on Mount Washington
Pam Bales’ solo hike in October 2010 turned into a daring rescue of a fellow hiker. But she was left with more questions than answers.
I Survived a Lightning Strike
Minko Nikolov, 32, suffered a near-fatal lightning strike while scouting a bouldering objective in Rocky Mountain National Park in August 2019.
8 Rules for Staying Safe in the Backcountry
From bear encounters to first aid, these safety tips will help you manage the unexpected in the backcountry.
Out Alive: Fall From a Cliff
When Shaina Maytum was 21, a slip in the desert left her broken, alone, and unable to move.