Hike at Night, and See the Wilderness Like Never Before
Turn off the light for a trek you'll never forget.
FBI Agent: Appalachian Trail Murder Suspect Threatened to Burn Hikers Before Attack
Alleged killer played guitar, argued with victims, affidavit says.
One Hiker Killed, One Injured in Attack on Appalachian Trail
Suspect arrested as section of Appalachian Trail closed through Sunday morning.
The First Public Lands Plan of the 2020 Race Is Out. Here’s What It Means for Hikers
Senator Elizabeth Warren is the first presidential contender to come out with a comprehensive set of public lands policy proposals – here’s what they could mean for your future trips.
9 National Park and Monument Hikes to Beat the Crowds on Fee-Free Day
On April 20, all national parks in the U.S. will offer free admission. Skip the lines with our guide
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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The 6 Most Remote Places in North America That You Can Actually Explore
Get away from civilization in these accessible wild places.
The 10 Rules of Solitude
Use these tips and trips to find backcountry peace and quiet, no matter where you live.
Hike of the Week: Tablerock Mountain, NC
Capture some of North Carolina’s best views as you hike into the Linville Gorge Wilderness on this spring-perfect trek.
Hike Like a Local in San Francisco's Golden Gate National Recreation Area
See butterflies, redwoods, whales, and some of the most beautiful coastline any major metro area has to offer.
See a Magical Crater Lake—and an Active Volcano—on Mt. Rinjani in Indonesia
Get up close and personal with a force of nature.
Hike of the Week: Yosemite Valley Loop Trail, CA
Get up close and personal with North America’s tallest waterfall and Yosemite Valley’s greatest hits on this 20.6-mile loop.
The 20 Best Waterfall Hikes in the United States
No two waterfalls are exactly alike, but these 20 will always capture our imagination.
Hike at Night, and See the Wilderness Like Never Before
Turn off the light for a trek you'll never forget.
The Best Piece of Gear I'll Never Use
I've never triggered my personal locator beacon. But I'm going to keep carrying it all the same.
Meet the Artist: Heidi Nisbett
As she thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, Nisbett grew to love long stretches of hiking through green tunnels.
What Could Americans Learn From the Way Koreans Hike?
South Koreans hike in droves. And they like it that way. An American who craves solitude joins the party.
Meet the Artist: Latasha Dunston
Denver artist Latasha Dunston paints details she would have missed with photographs.
Meet the Artist: Dave Bonan
As Bonan draws the world around him, he becomes intensely curious about the way it works.
This Six-Year-Old Climbed Whitney
Eva Luna Harper-Zahn kicked off her alpinism career with the Lower 48’s highest peak.
A Man and His Mountain
On California’s Mt. Baldy, Sam Kim found spirit, grace, and fulfillment summit after summit after summit.
3 Leg Exercises to Jumpstart Your Hiking Season
Strengthen your legs for early-season hikes, which often involve postholing in lingering snow up high and crossing run-off swollen rivers down low.
The 5 Habits of Highly Successful Thru-Hikers
Out of every 100 people who attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, 73 will give up. Beat the odds—and save your budget—by following these rules from a gear shop owner who sees thousands of hikers every season.
The 10 Rules of Solitude
Use these tips and trips to find backcountry peace and quiet, no matter where you live.
Have Family Fun all Spring, No Matter the Weather
Finding adventure inside and outside will keep the kids entertained all season long.
The Universal Edibility Test
Choosing which foods to eat in the wild can either make or break you.
4 Ways to Pitch a Tarp That Every Backpacker Should Know
For versatility and affordability, nothing beats a tarp. With an 8-by-10-foot piece of nylon, some paracord, stakes, a trekking pole, and a little ingenuity, you can make a shelter to withstand any weather.
How To Start Your Own Backpacking Tradition
One backpacker shares her secret to maintaining a decades-long hiking streak.
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.
PODCAST: Stranded on a Ledge
A fatal accident is the beginning of a six-day-long wilderness ordeal in the second episode of BACKPACKER's Out Alive podcast.
Lost, Injured, and Cold
For George Brown, 68, a morning trail run in August 2018 became more than 40 hours stranded in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness with a broken leg.
LISTEN: Out Alive, BACKPACKER's New Podcast
The wilderness is full of dangers. BACKPACKER's new podcast tells the stories of the people who survived them.
The Universal Edibility Test
Choosing which foods to eat in the wild can either make or break you.
Quiz: Can You Tell Black Bears and Grizzlies Apart?
See if you have the knowledge to ID the lower 48's bruins.
How to Pack a Bear Canister
You don't have to sacrifice the dessert to fit a trip's worth of food.
Ask a Bear: Do Bears Really Love Honey?
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our 'Ask A Bear' column.
