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The Ursack AllMitey is a lightweight alternative to bear canisters that's tested against grizzlies and smaller critters too—and it's on sale right now.

A 29-year-old solo hiker suffered "significant but non-life-threatening" wounds after the attack on the Turbid Lake Trail.

With their easy access to adventure, gorgeous scenery, and electric vibe, mountain towns can feel like an outdoor paradise from the outside. But moving to—and staying in—one can be trickier than it looks.

When hikers get lost in the wilderness, newspaper headlines often credit their survival to subsisting on their own urine. The reality? It’ll just kill you faster.

Self-rescuing can be a good idea—just make sure the SAR team looking for you knows you're doing it.

Check out Adam Roy's author page.

North Carolina's Mount Mitchell State Park had been closed since Hurricane Helene wrecked part of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

On her new podcast "Gear Abby," Shawnté Salabert debunks this and other outdoor myths.

Is there a bigger gray area than the uphill right of way rule?

Fat Bear Week, the annual contest to find Katmai National Park and Preserve's chunkiest ursine resident, is nearly upon us. Brush up on the highs, lows, and shockers of this battle of the titans.

Move over, duct tape: An outdoor-specific sewing kit—and the know-how to use it—might just be the most useful repair gear you bring.

Baxter State Park officials are asking for the public's help identifying the person or people who defaced the sign at the Appalachian Trail's northern terminus.

No time to hike the Triple Crown? These trail trios are epic adventures for every type of backpacker.

Stay calm, assess the situation, and use what’s in your pack.

Whether you’d prefer to summit a craggy peak or go for a riverside ramble, these are the most stunning trails in the National Park System.

Lets just say I don’t spring out of my sleeping bag as fast anymore.

In two separate incidents in Arizona and Colorado, police say that three individuals walking dogs assaulted or threatened other hikers after getting into disputes over their pets.

Visitation to the park jumped 7 percent over the same period last year, while rescues rose 40 percent.

Thanks to its space-age materials, the Editors' Choice-winning Mystery Ranch Radix 57 carries serious weight while coming in at a pound less than similar haulers.

The 501 “pizza” shelter and Eckville shelter are expected to be demolished between 2026 and 2027 due to an NPS policy that targets “nonconforming infrastructure.” Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club is mounting a last-ditch campaign to stop it.

Having a bad stomach isn't a trip-killer, as long as you follow these tips from a veteran hiker.

The Anchor Ranch had been at the center of a long-running land dispute involving two of Montana's largest landowners.

Are the unique shape and simple locking mechanism enough to set it apart?

Getting to Gates of the Arctic National Park takes significant effort—but adventurous backpackers will reap serious rewards.

This delectable is ready in seconds—and blows gloopy porridge out of the water.

A group of hikers had to call for help in New York's Catskills after taking shrooms and losing both themselves and their car keys in the mountains.

Falling in love with one of America's outdoor hubs is easy. Making a life there? Less so. Learn how to make the move to a trail town from hikers who did it.

Joro spiders’ large size and enormous webs have spurred public concern since the invasive species arrived in the United States in 2013. While they’re harmless to people, they may pose a threat to their new ecosystem.

On a backpacking trip in Alaska’s ultra-remote Gates of the Arctic, one writer learns to embrace discomfort, even if it means soggy feet for eight straight days.

Nothing heats up your relationship like a little DIY dermatology on a backpacking trip

Think you understand how headlamp brightness works? Get schooled at the Outside Gear Lab.

From rugged Upper Midwest forests to sweeping Appalachian ridgelines, the North Country Trail spans 4,800 miles across eight states.

Carbs are one of the hardest nutrients to get right on the trail. We interviewed two experts to learn the facts.

A herd of cattle reportedly trampled an 85-year-old man as he hiked with his wife and dog.

Hiking dietitians weigh in on how to meet your fueling needs without hauling the whole fridge.

Take a ferry or kayak to these campsites only accessible via water.

These adventures are perfect for class 2 and 3 first-timers.

From headlamp straps to trekking pole holsters, these hacks are cheap and (nearly) weightless.

A comfy sleeping pad, an insulated bottle to keep your drinks chilly, and a pile of fantastic backpacking food: This is the gear that helped our editors make the most of this past month.

There's a beauty (and importance) in the trail's smallest trekkers

A trail club of seniors has built dozens of miles of trails across their county, transforming how their community gets outside.

On a damp and chilly trip to Alaska, one Backpacker editor was especially grateful for this gear.

Backpacking for the first time might suck. That’s totally normal

With its new Trails app, Orijen pet food is partnering with the National Park Foundation to help pet lovers and their furry friends connect with the outdoors

The AT was rugged and sparsely traveled when Espy hiked it in 1951.

Snag savings of up to 60 percent on tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, and more.

Experience the state’s longest path—rich in beauty, history, and a strong hiking community, with events and trail magic along the way

From wild animals to dangerous terrain, the outdoors has its fair share of hazards. Test your survival knowledge against a Backpacker editor and see how you fare.

Heat stroke strikes quickly. Avoid it with these tips from wilderness medicine expert David Fifer.

Pistachio, tahini, and crunchy kadayif have proven to be a winning combination as a chocolate bar filling. But how do they work as part of a s'more?

Give your pack a much-needed shakedown by cutting these common but unnecessary items.

In bear country, food storage is key—but can be a huge pain. Here's how to ease the burden of rigid bear-proof containers.

Trapped and boiling alive—how did we get here?

Grooming standards in the outdoors are low. A little wipe down won’t hurt.

Make a classic backpacking dessert without a campfire using this simple recipe.

The Exped Megamat is a camping pad that sleeps like a full-on mattress.

We're not counting them, but we sure could use more.

Prosecutors in Colorado claim that a state park ranger searched for information about abdominal anatomy and injury payouts online before stabbing himself and trying to pass it off as an attack.

In the wake of a fatal snakebite on a Tennessee trail, Editor-in-Chief Adam Roy dives into one of their most common causes.

Plus tips on how to spend your golden years on the trail.

This family-friendly hike packs a visual punch. In less than an hour, you'll pass shaded forest paths, expansive overlooks over the lakeshore, and much more.

More than half of people in the U.S. recreated outdoors in 2024 according to a new report from the Outdoor Industry Association, with Black and Hispanic participants driving the biggest gains.

The ultrarunner completed the 272-mile trail in 3 days, 18 hours, and 29 minutes, breaking the overall supported FKT by more than 2 and a half hours.

Give your sleeping bag, puffy, and layers an end-of-summer deep clean without leaving them damaged.

Whatever your group size or experience level, these insider suggestions will help you plan the best Minnesota hiking adventure

Why waste time pre-packaging trail food when you can purchase a feast along the way?

Here's everything backpackers need to know about air travel with hiking gear.

Feeding bears can lead to aggression and dangerous encounters between them and humans—and the National Park Service caught visitors in the Smokies doing in three times in one week

These easy tips will have a huge impact on your quality of life on the trail

A canyoneer spent some 48 hours nestled in a dark, wet cave behind a raging waterfall before rescuers managed to hoist him out.

Officials believe at least 200 people may have been exposed to rabies while visiting a hotel in Grand Teton National Park.

The pups were rescued off of Mount Princeton after hiking up with their owner.

Watch as Associate Editor Emma Veidt walks through her gear closet and answers some questions.

Why would a lightweight backpacker willingly add a kettle to their load? Backpacker Editor-in-Chief Adam Roy makes his case for his new favorite swap.

Finally an ultralight kit that won't turn your savings into dust. Here's where to start.

Quilts have a bad reputation as a chillier, less comfortable alternative to sleeping bags. But our gear editor thinks most campers should be using them most of the time.

A hiker in Tennessee passed away late last week after suffering a snakebite a half-mile into a local trail.

Colorado's highest peaks saw an estimated 265,000 hiker-days in 2024, far short of the pandemic-era record, but a gain over 2023.

Resist the siren call of pumpkin spice season: You've still got two weeks left until Labor Day. From sneaking in one last trip to brushing up on your campfire skills, here's how hikers should spend the rest of their summer.

No TSA fuss, no parking lot madness. Take the rail to these four hiking towns flush with beautiful trails.