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A hiker whose loyal, four-legged partner disappeared on the last stretch of the Triple Crown is asking for the hiking community's help finding her.

Trendy, high-tech pack fabrics aren’t the upgrade you think they are.

The next best thing to hitting the trail? Hitting these books.

This adventurous North Carolina community has incubated scores of outdoor gear makers. Here’s what they recommend for fun in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Slot canyons, auburn cliffs, alpine lakes, and more: You can experience the best Utah has to offer on this 10-day road trip just for hikers.

Find boundless beauty in Alberta’s front range—glacial lakes, snow-capped crags, wildflower-filled meadows, and more.

Pacific Northwest hiking expert Matt Wastradowski explores the best hiking in Washington's three national parks.

The historic Haiku Stairs are a popular—if illegal—trail, but with hundreds of rescues and hundreds more citations for trespassing, local officials say it’s time for them to go.

Most backcountry lightning education—including what you may have learned as a kid—is antiquated. Here’s your overdue expert update.

Oregon guidebook author Matt Wastradowski explores the best hiking and backpacking in Oregon’s national parks and national monuments.

Embracing the pee bottle is the secret to getting through cold nights on trail comfortably. So why do so many hikers fight it?

After a bobcat attack in January this year, Saguaro National Park warned visitors to be on the lookout for infected animals.

The brands say the three offerings—which include hiking in Shenandoah and camping in the New River Gorge—will “celebrate Black joy in nature.”

John Passidomo, 72, died in a fall in the Utah park.

For day hikes, you can do no better than this low-top-sneaker fusion from Oboz.

From meal planning to meeting the townies, every aspiring thru-hiker should hear this hard-won advice.

With the contiguous United States' last total solar eclipse for 20 years hitting on Monday, most campsites in the path of totality are fully booked up. But procrastinators still have options.

We tested 25 sleeping bags. Only eight of them kept our trekkers toasty and dry all season.

After bad news from a doctor threw his hiking dreams into question, one backpacker planned the adventure of a lifetime.

These treeless summits have expansive views of some of America's most beautiful terrain. Here are 6 of the best to start with.

You can't (or shouldn't) just jump into your thru-hike without a trial run. Take these three trails for a spin before the big trip.

Thanks to impressively lightweight materials and a crazy-high down fill, Sea to Summit’s Spark Pro Down is a fully-featured bag that weighs just over a pound.

Federal land managers and trail clubs are monitoring the spread of a gastrointestinal illness among thru-hikers on the southern portion of the AT.

Follow these steps to give your camp neighbors an unforgettable experience. (Note that we said “unforgettable,” not “good.”)

Hike among fossilized sand dunes, fern-filled trails, and striated sedimentary headlands on this gorgeous stretch of the Atlantic.

This one-pound Dyneema trekking pole shelter can hack it just about anywhere

Our etiquette columnist weighs in on a contentious but common trail occurrence.

A backpacking stove made for gourmet meals, a pair of perfect spring layers, and a trail toy to share with your best friend: Here's the gear that elevated our outdoor experience this month.

Self-described Luddite Michael Engelhard preferred to ditch the gadgets and improvise what he required instead. Would a super-size adventure change how he packed?

A cougar fatally mauled one person and injured another in the encounter near Georgetown.

This Appalachian’s spin on Shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of forest bathing, is proving to be potent medicine in the mountains of North Carolina.

The new Danner Mountain 600 Evo is designed to go the distance on technical trails

You're excited to hit the trail and crush lots of miles as soon as possible. But should you?

When darkness falls, these wayfinding skills could save your life.

San Carpoforo Creek Beach will be closed to camping for at least the next two years, with officials citing garbage and human waste as the motivation.

These ounce-saving sleeping bag alternatives come in more shapes and sizes than ever. This is what you need to know before buying.

With the recent completion of the Capital to Tahoe Trail, Carson City is looking for two hikers to go from its core all the way to Canada for good money.

Cinamen, an 8-year-old cat from New York, went viral for leading guests at his owner's AirBnb on Appalachian Trail hikes. It's a role he was born to play.

Hiking with a guide can take you to places you'd never be able to experience on your own. These guided treks are some of the best in the world.

At a modest 6,288 feet, Mount Washington seems like an unlikely candidate for one of America’s deadliest mountains. But with more than 150 known fatalities, it can be a hazardous hike. Here’s what beginners need to know before hitting the trail.

Spend a night in one of these incredible spots and it might just change your life.

In Instagram apology, actor said he didn't see closure sign before making "impulsive" decision to leave path.

Having a friend join you as support for a few days during your hike can be a welcome break—and a chance to reconnect with your life at home. But for it to be a positive experience, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Discover the many health-boosting benefits of a night spent outdoors—and how to reap them with the right sleep gear from Sea to Summit

It's hard to find an ugly spot in the national parks. But these eight hikes take it to the next level, with gorgeous scenery and wildlife. Go for a walk.

Thousands of luminous insects blinking in unison will light up Congaree National Park this May—and reservations to see them are limited. Here’s how to get on the list.

Traveling 68 miles through Sweden’s Arctic backcountry, the original Fjällräven Classic is an anomaly: A wild trek dozens of miles from a trailhead that’s also feasible to tackle as your first-ever backpacking trip. Backpacker Executive Editor Adam Roy hits the trail to check it out.

If there’s one thing we’re passionate about, it’s setting things on fire in the name of science.

Lack of employee housing is a critical issue in national parks across the United States, and a super-size gift from an unidentified donor may help Yellowstone tackle it.

A sprained ankle is one of hiking's most common—and painful—injuries. Learning how to deal with it is an essential skill.

After 25 years of hiking in his hometown of Boulder, guidebook author James Dziezynski reveals his all-time favorite treks in the area. Plus, he’s included downloadable GPX files, parking intel, trail beta, gear and weather tips, and more.

A backpacker discovers the joys of scenic commodes on trails around the world.

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.

Clothing companies have long relied on PFAS, or forever chemicals, to provide stellar water, stain, and oil repellency. But at what cost? New regulations are forcing your favorite apparel brands across the globe to rethink their chemistry.

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.