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In a normal year, Hot Springs’s Appalachian TrailFest is the second-largest gathering on the AT. But with just weeks to go, organizers have canceled it for unclear reasons.

Our columnist takes on a DIY rite of passage.

Ultralight hiking sandals are great camp shoes that can still handle the rigors of life on the trail, but they can be expensive. We tested four designs for making our own.

If you’re after an experience that feels like a real adventure, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than South Dakota

Keep your feet happy—and active—with the latest addition to Birkenstock’s outdoor adventure line

The next total eclipse will be in 2044. The best place to watch this year's? On these 13 trails within the path of totality.

Here's the data from every satellite SOS that Garmin inReach fielded last year.

Pulling a sled of gear across a frozen lake in Minnesota, a mountaineer discovers just how challenging and deeply rewarding polar exploration is.

Just because the saying rhymes doesn't mean it's necessarily true (or good for you). It's time to bust these fitness myths.

State legislators in Hawaii are fast-tracking a bill that would authorize the state to seek reimbursement from hikers who need rescue after venturing onto closed trails. But not everyone agrees it’s the right move.

From drownings to falls to homicide, each year more than 240 people die on lands managed by the National Park Service. We dove into 17 years of mortality data to find out how it happens.

A cozy fleece cap, a lightweight multitool, and a personal safety tool our editor always carries: Here's the gear that kept us moving on the trail this February.

Last year was the National Park Service’s busiest season since 2017, with visitors hitting smaller parks and traveling during the off-season.

Longs Peak can be a sufferfest if you're not prepared for what this imposing 14er can throw at you. Here are 14 tips to increase your odds of reaching the summit.

We’ve all heard of the redwoods and giant sequoias, but old growth is all around us—if you know where to look.

PFAS, or forever chemicals, provide stellar water, stain, and oil repellency to everything from clothing and carpets to dental floss and paper plates. But at what cost? New regulations are forcing industries across the globe to rethink their chemistries because of the severe health implications of PFAS.

We put the Traverse's water-shedding tech to the test.

A recent SAR communique reams out an incautious adventurer who climbed up the peak amid dangerous conditions and then called for emergency lifesaving

Elevate your family adventures from dayhikes to backpacking trips with these five trails.

Use nature to get your bearings with these navigation skills.

Choosing not to thru-hike was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made.

Their idea of a nice dinner is buying the expensive dehydrated meal, cuddling on a sleeping pad is awkward, and don’t get us started on their feet: There are a lot of great reasons to date a hiker, but there are also a lot of reasons not to.

Does the Garmin eTrex Solar live up to the hype?

If your life partner is also your hiking partner, you'll express love by popping blisters, planning trips, and sharing M&M's.

Getting to Madeira, a Portuguese island off the northwestern coast of Africa, isn't easy. But make the effort and you'll find miles of rugged trails—and equally rugged views—waiting for you.

From a 41-mile day to thigh-busting climbs to exposed, high-mountain ridges, hiking doesn't get harder than this.

A viral video showed a group of thru-hikers ordering food delivery to the trail. Is there any harm in a little self-indulgence?

Last August, a "1,000-year" rain event wiped out roads, stranded hikers, and created a brand-new lake in Death Valley National Park. Less than six months later, the park is reeling from another storm.

Watch as two adventurers escape disaster on a cliff's edge, and learn how to stay safe when hiking near cornices.

Catholes are still the gold standard according to Leave No Trace—but maybe they shouldn't be.

Fixing a popped inflatable sleeping pad is one of the most frustrating tasks that backpackers have to deal with. But with a little bit of knowledge and some cheap supplies, patching it yourself can be simple.

At 6,800 miles counting both its northern and southern branches, the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail is one of the longest paths in the United States, and thru-hikes of it are rare. With less than 50 miles to go, Briana “Rocky Mountain High” DeSanctis is poised to become the fourth person—and first woman—to complete both routes.

Kids' gear is expensive. Save money (and stress) by following any of these seven tips.

In 2023, Sam “Shade” Carter tried to hike the Calendar Year Triple Crown with a $19 Amazon daypack, an emergency bivvy, and no tent, sleeping bag, or sleeping pad. Is that too ultralight?

The inaugural gathering is headlined by Fleet Foxes, Thundercat, Lettuce, Andrew Bird, Say She She, and The Heavy Heavy, with more performances to be announced soon.

Help keep the littlest hikers in your group safe by teaching them these basic wilderness survival skills.

The ocean is calling your name. Answer it on these wild, remote beach trails in the Pacific Northwest.

Dreaming of doing a thru-hike? You can get a taste of the experience on these three-day treks that travel an entire trail, terminus to terminus.

Everybody does it. But pooping in the wrong place could make a mess of someone else's hike. An expert shares how to make the best of a sh*tty situation on the trail.

Modern hiking shoes don’t last long. A few companies are trying to buck that trend.

For now, Mystery Ranch will continue to operate from its headquarters in Bozeman, Montana.

There are 21 muscles that cross the hip joint, and every one helps you hike effectively—as long as you take care of them.

A winterized trail runner, vegan candy, and a fast-and-light hydration pack: This is the gear that kept us moving this month.

On a slow-paced trip to Colorado's Ice Lakes, one hiker comes to terms with the value of doing nothing.

You have gotten so smelly before, you've stopped noticing. You have a "nice" pair of Lone Peaks for when you want to look presentable. You own too many sporks. If this sounds like you, then congratulations: you are definitely a hiker.

Complete an entire thru-hike before fair-weather hikers lace up for their first trip of the year.

When it comes to bragging, actions speak louder than words. Show off your expertise to your hiking partners with these tips.

What should every backpacker carry in case of emergency? It's a tough question—so we got an expert to help answer it.

The Conservation Fund will turn over 3,654-acre Richmond Ranch to local government and plans to add miles of hiking trails to the parcel.

Two years after putting a pilot ticketing program in place for the popular hike up Old Rag, Shenandoah National Park announced it would permanently require hikers to have permits.

Putting up your own tent inside a communal shelter may sound cozy, but it takes up room and can be frustrating to weary hikers who just want to get some rest. Is there ever a situation where it’s all right to do?

If you want to hike to one of these iconic destinations, you'll have to plan ahead.

Resolving to be more peaceful in 2024? With these trails, you'll want to keep your resolution going all year long.

Christopher "Rafiki" Roma, a Triple Crown thru-hiker, guiding company owner, and prominent member of the New Hampshire hiking community, encountered harsh weather while hiking a long route in the mountains.

As gear has gotten lighter, the traditional ten-pound baseweight limit for ultralighters has become a thing of the past. It's time to take a more expansive view of what it means to go light.

Solo hiking is the best way to explore wherever you want, whenever you want. These six trails around the U.S. and the rest of the world are well-traveled enough to feel safe, but wild enough to change your life.

Rainier will join other popular national parks like Glacier, Rocky Mountain, and Arches in implementing a new timed-entry system for the park's most popular entrances.

You’re getting ready to hit the trail but you don’t want to spend a year’s salary on gear. Fear not: It’s possible to find a system that’s both high-performance and affordable. Get equipped and ready to go with this 3 pound, 12 ounce ultralight setup.

A rescue crew who found the deceased hiker got benighted after dangerous conditions kept them on the mountain after dark.

Hikers today can be harsh when they see one of our number screw up on the trail. But it's time to face facts: We all make mistakes, and if we were less judgmental about them, we might all be safer.

America’s national parks boast thousands of stunning trail miles, but some are just a hair more amazing. Find the top 101 miles in the entire system on these 16 hikes.

New year, new us? Not quite. From hiking crowded trails to carrying gear we know we will never use, here are all the bad habits we plan to keep nursing this year.

Four college students from Kentucky scaled a rocky pinnacle in search of a perfect campsite. When the weather turned bad and they called for help, it sparked what one SAR member called "one of the most dangerous rescues ever attempted" in the region.

Thru-hikers who cross long, dry stretches have always had to get creative to avoid dehydration, and a warming climate isn’t helping. Learn the rules and etiquette of caching water.

A seemingly healthy tree nearly crushed Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Beth Feret's tent—but some rhododendrons saved her life.

Dayhikes, backpacking trips, popular routes, remote backcountry trails, and more. No matter what you're looking for, Patagonia has it all.

Learning how to talk about problems you're having on the trail—and how to listen—can be the difference between a frustrating, demoralizing hike and a fun, fulfilling one. What can psychology teach us?

Traps set to catch wild animals can accidentally kill hikers' dogs instead. Learn how to save your canine companion from three common types you may encounter on the trail.

Billy "Wahoo" Meredith had one thru-hike and exactly zero FKTs under his belt when he decided to try to finish the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails in record time. The next 234 days and 7,500 miles would test him in more ways than one.

The BioLite HeadLamp 800 Pro is a high-powered light with unlimited juice.

Donner Pass was the site of one of the worst backcountry disasters in American history—but a traveler who got lost there over the weekend fared better.

The retailer launched its “Politics Escape Pack” for hikers who just need a break from the news cycle.

Every day is a good day for hiking. But where to do it? Chase the best weather, dodge crowds, see superblooms, and more with our month-by-month hiking guide to 2024.

Maine game wardens had to carry two hypothermic hikers out of the forest after a companion alerted authorities to their predicament.

Not interested in thru-hiking? You can still have goal trails. These dayhikes have everything worthy of a spot on your bucket list.

We all have those trails with calls we just can't ignore. Here are ours.

Looking for a heroic adventure? Hike across an island, seek a rare beast, or complete three more quests on these life-list treks.

The Alaska ferry system is creaky and unpredictable. But it may be the best way to reach the wildest trailheads and abandoned shorelines in America.

A pre-holiday adventure didn’t go as planned for two hikers near Tampa, who ended up lost in a flooded forest after dark.