One local Grand Teton fox who's embracing its inner sneakerhead has stolen nearly three dozen shoes in a Grand Teton campground, leading park officials to worry it's becoming alarmingly habituated to humans.
A year ago, I flew to British Columbia for a week in the woods punctuated by scenic hikes, gourmet food, and treatments ranging from massages to sound baths. It fundamentally improved my life, but it's a shame we’ve let that kind of wellness become a luxury.
Sure, the Mighty Five are great. But they're also crowded. These trails outside those parks have a little more breathing room.
There's no better time than the summer to embark on this classic Californian road trip.
To write the San Jacinto Trail Report, Jon King hikes 5,000 miles and a million feet of vert each year.
Authorities dispatched multiple aircraft in an attempt to rescue a hiker from 14,379-foot Mt. Williamson in the Eastern Sierra.
Congratulations on your big day. Can we please talk about something, anything, else?
If you're a devotee of Altra's Lone Peaks, you can grab a fresh pair at a steep discount now.
Devices made for refilling fuel canisters solve a common hiker problem—but come with their own risks.
Have you ever tried…cold soaking? Here's why the warm season is the best time to try leaving the stove and pot at home.
The executive decision also requires all NPS sites to grant American residents preferential treatment in permit lotteries
Check out 14 hand-picked deals on hiking and backpacking gear from Amazon Prime Day.
We get it: Trail runners are cool. But some rough terrain calls for a little more ankle support.
July 6 is the anniversary of the Oregon Beach Bill, one of the boldest public lands laws in American history, and it's a reminder that when we fight for public access to the outdoors, we can win.
Escape the summer crowds at Banff Sunshine Village with unforgettable alpine hikes for all ages
A confluence of form factors, tech, and knock-offs have led to a muddled market for one of the most important pieces of gear a hiker will ever own.
A near-miss on a popular Utah trail serves as a reminder to stay alert in the area.
Colorado's iconic Hanging Lake Trail reopens to the public this month. Come with us to get a crowd-free sneak preview.
The Vaucluse ventilation frame is an inexpensive add-on for airflow.
Tex the grizzly already had multiple relocations on his record and a history of breaking into fishing boats and following hikers in British Columbia when he swam to bear-free Texada Island. Now, locals, provincial officials, and First Nations leaders are divided over what to do.
Emily Pennington traveled around the U.S. and visited all seven continents, primarily by herself. But the frigid nights and unforgiving high altitude of Bhutan’s Druk Path Trek might have put her off solo backpacking for good.
Summer's here, and from a pocket-size caffeine spray to trail-to-town footwear that's ready to travel, this is the gear that's getting us out there.
Your partner doesn't hike. So what?
This Backpacker-tested tent, sleeping bag, pad, and backpack is everything a new hiker needs to hit the trail—and right now it's a steal.
Check out Sienna Fry's author page.
Capitol Peak is widely considered the most serious of Colorado’s highest peaks and has been the site of numerous fatal incidents over the years.
The equipment I didn't know I needed saved my long hike.
Officials have reminded the public that summer conditions can quickly become dangerously cold and windy atop the 6,288-foot peak
The plan to sell millions of acres of Forest Service and BLM land just encountered a major hurdle. The plan's author says he still wants to auction off some areas.
A 10-person crew of imprisoned trail workers and firefighters helped evacuate a person with a broken ankle from a rugged trail in Oregon. He's at least the second stricken hiker they've helped.
Millions of campers and hikers around the U.S. are using recreation.gov to book their next vacation—and by the time they’re done dealing with its confusing navigation, broken interface, and inflated fees, most will need one.
The Orukayak Beach Explorer bundle comes with everything paddlers need for casual overnight adventures, and folds up small enough to check on a plane.
Learn to use bark, leaves, and other features to tell common types of trees apart on your next hike.
Courmayeur is more than an epic alpine base camp in the Italian Alps. It’s an ode to mountain culture.
The latest iteration of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could make a continuous hike more difficult for PCT and CDT thru-hikers if it passes.
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction 55 is a trail-tested, reliable ultralight pack, and right now you can snatch it for under retail.
Parent of a tiny trailblazer? These short yet stunning national park trails are perfect for families with kids—including infants.
Hike out of your cabin at one of these new and upgraded nature retreats.
Sharing a cramped sleeping space with a dozen stinky hikers can be a challenge. Here's how to make it more pleasant for everyone.
I backpacked a segment of New Mexico’s in-the-works Rio Grande Trail. Here’s what it was like.
These three hikers achieved their long-trail dreams later in life. Here's how you can, too.
Where's the most memorable place you've ever gone to the bathroom outdoors? From a spider-filled jungle to a mountaintop throne, here's what two Backpacker editors had to say.
Backpacker Editor-in-Chief Adam Roy and former Editor Jon Dorn shared their wildest animal encounters onstage at Outside Festival. From a harrowing mountain lion encounter in Saguaro National Park to a bathroom break interrupted by a bruin, here's what they said.
A new, free service from the USGS hopes to keep Grand Canyon hikers safe by sending essential safety alerts to their satellite devices.
We tried every dehydrated dinner to find the ones you'll actually look forward to eating.
Hike Cathedral Rock Trail in Sedona for epic views and steep scrambles. Learn what to bring, which route to take, and how to navigate the shuttle system.
Climb coastal summits, rock-hop rugged coastline, and explore historic carriage roads in the oldest national park east of the Mississippi.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate added a mandate to the budget bill to sell enormous swaths of public land managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
They’re multi-use—and lighter than even the latest high-tech seats.
Parts of Arizona are expecting dangerous heat conditions this week, with Phantom Ranch forecast to experience highs of 114 degrees.
Baxter State Park officials believe Esther Keiderling, one of two hikers found dead near the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail in early June, likely slipped and slid into a boulder field in snowy conditions.
A pair of hikers were on the phone with SAR when lightning struck them on the summit of Torreys Peak, critically injuring one and kicked off what rescuers believe may be the highest helicopter evacuation in Colorado history.
My dad carried me (kicking and screaming, mostly) up Mt. Washington at age four. It was just the intro I needed for a lifetime of high adventure.
Is it OK to dig a cathole with your spork? Should we all start hiking barefoot? Is bug spray a scam? Watch Backpacker's editors react to your wildest hiking takes.
The best way to stay safe around bears? Give them their space. Here's what hikers need to know about avoiding conflict with our big, furry neighbors.
This neurotropic virus attacks the central nervous system and eventually kills its host. Are bears immune?
Rangers located the bodies of the two hikers in a remote backcountry campsite over the weekend. The cause of death is currently unknown.
The National Park Service says reopenings of closed campgrounds this summer will add around 500 additional sites for visitors.
While the Trump administration has largely been mum on which monuments it would revoke, a government memo suggests Sáttítla Highlands and Chuckwalla could lose their protections.
Couldn't make Outside Fest? Check out our recap here.
Even after preparing and training for months, I made mistakes. Here's what I'll do differently on my next Mt. Whitney summit.
A single-person, ultralight tent, a packable hammock, and a backpack ready for backpacking with the kids: These are the on-sale gifts that Backpacker's Dad-in-Chief is coveting this year.
From half-mile jaunts to long backcountry routes, these hikes are a quick way to get to know Utah’s largest national park.
Bears are some of the biggest, strongest animals on earth, capable of tearing off car doors and, rarely, people's limbs. So why do we instinctively find them cuddly?
Follow an uncommon adventurer who creatively maps the country’s most wild and wondrous locations, traveling off-road in a 2025 Toyota 4Runner
Search and rescue teams recently conducted 13 helicopter rescues over a seven-day span. A SAR leader blames the uptick on a detour to a vital hiking route.
A stretch of the PCT north of Stehekin is once again open for day use, the National Park Service said, but overnight stays will continue to be prohibited as police continue their search for accused triple murderer Travis Decker.
The MSR Thru-Hiker Mesh House 1 is one of the lightest solutions for keeping out bugs, no-see-ums, and water seepage from the ground.
Hike the Lost Coast Trail safely with this complete guide to permits, tides, gear, and a three-day itinerary through coastal wilderness.
Montaña de Oro is one of California’s biggest state parks, but it receives a fraction of Yosemite National Park’s visitation.
Bear spray is built to stop a charging 1,000-pound griz. So what happens when a backpacker accidentally takes a spritz of it in the face? We asked three unlucky hikers to share their experiences.
When Alexa Tubbs met Matt Leef on the CDT, he was brewing beer in a soda bottle. Now, the two own Open Space Brewing, a hub for hikers and beer-lovers.
Conservation corps members are increasingly important to fixing America’s trails. Thanks to federal funding cuts, their jobs are now in jeopardy.
Aaron Blaise is one of the animators behind your favorite Disney films. His latest solo short, "Snow Bear," is a story about loss and isolation—and a plea for the Arctic and its denizens in the age of climate change.
For Bear Month, we teamed up with the Tooth and Claw Podcast to bring you this story of daring determination in the face of a grizzly attack.
Learn the history of bear spray and how it "shuts off" bears' ability to perceive the world around them in this interview with bear biologist and podcast host Wes Larson.
Long, sunny days, aimless ambles, the thrill of discovering somewhere new: These hikes pack in our favorite things about the warmer months.
For the first time since floods closed it five years ago, the full length of the Chilkoot Trail, which crosses 33 miles from Alaska to British Columbia, is open to hikers. But a closure at the border could stop backpackers from doing the whole thing.
Thirteen testers hiked, scrambled, and power-napped to find the very best pants and shorts for hiking and backpacking.
Falling on the first Saturday in June, National Trails Day is a holiday for hikers of all stripes to get out on their local trails while volunteering to make them better. This year, we're celebrating it all month by sharing our favorite trips for the season and tips to help you and your loved ones get outside.