Making your own camp stove out of a cat food or soda can used to be a rite of passage for backpackers. But with canister stoves getting lighter and cheaper—and fire bans getting more and more common—one Backpacker editor argues their time has come. (Plus: Another editor dissents.)
As the remnants of Hilary moved inland, floods trapped visitors and boosted flood risk across the southwestern US.
Could an AI chatbot be a weekend adventurer's new best friend?
When soreness crosses over into genuine pain, it can turn the most pleasant hikes into teeth-gritting tests of endurance. Fight back with expert advice and exercises for tackling 8 different types of ache.
You're out of water and far from a reliable source. Stay alive with survival instructor Jessie Krebs's backcountry-tested advice.
These smokeless fire pits let you light a blaze without wallowing in smoke—and right now, they're on sale for 33% off or more.
The park announced that rangers had found "evidence of a black bear's presence" on top of the famous summit.
If you think the Midwest is flat and boring, you'll think again after taking these trails for a spin.
The cause of death has not yet been released.
A deep snowpack in the Sierra disrupted normal trail dynamics for groups of hikers, but flip-floppers are reuniting as their paths converge.
As temperatures worldwide continue to soar, it's time to understand the insidious danger of extreme heat.
The draft management plan proposes preservation methods for the Appalachian Trail's Triple Crown in Virginia.
As extreme temperatures blaze across the nation, parks are taking extra measures to keep visitors safe.
Karel Sabbe just blasted through California's section of the PCT—will he set a new FKT for the whole trail?
Over the years, we’ve published hundreds of trail-tested recipes, and these are our favorite to cook over an open flame.
A lighter pack is a worthy goal—just don’t take it too far.
Our ethics columnist weighs in on hiking with a four-legged friend.
With an abundant coastline, green initiatives guiding change on both peninsulas, and trail-filled forests that cover more than half the state, Michigan is made for eco-minded travelers
A proposed change in how Zion handles backcountry permits could raise prices for some groups by more than 400 percent—but solo hikers would get a break.
What do winners of the Defender Service Awards have in common? They make the world a better place, and now Land Rover is helping them do it.
Wildlife officials blame Hank the Tank and her three cubs for dozens of burglaries. Now, with her death sentence commuted, she'll spend the rest of her days in a Colorado wildlife refuge.
These are some of the best ways to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch Maine on your next adventure
We tested gear made with the hottest new ultralight fabrics, Ultraweave and UltraTNT
Girard Ridge and its surrounding terrain will become part of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
You've seen chaga, a rough-looking, bumpy fungus that grows on tree trunks, before. But we bet you didn't know you were looking at one of the wilderness's best firestarters.
Veja’s first trail shoe steps up to the challenge.
Only a lucky few can win the permit lottery, but anyone can hike these alternate trails that give you a similar experience.
Let your senses guide you to your next Maine adventure. Here's where to plan your escape.
Venture into an intense survival story in a cave so deep and treacherous that explorers must rely solely on their own wits
In 2020, Danae “Queen Bee” and Olen “Spreadsheet” Netteburg set out with their four kids on the Appalachian Trail. Three years (and one more baby) later, they’re about to complete the Triple Crown.
On England's 102-mile Cotswold Way, a hiker sets herself up to fail—and ends up surprised by how things turn out.
They don’t necessarily save energy, but a new study suggests they might save your legs
When a court struck down the public’s right to wild camp in Dartmoor National Park in January, hikers lost the only place in England where they could dispersed camp without getting the owner’s permission first. Now, an appeals court has given it back to them.
Robert “Steady Eddie” Kerker appears to have gotten caught in a swollen waterway during the historic floods that hit Vermont in July
You've got a scenic campsite, a couple of friends, and a billion stars overhead. Now, you just need something to tie them all together. Make that two somethings: Light the perfect campfire (or pick the perfect campfire-like lantern for when you can't have one) and tell a story that will make sure no one's dozing off early tonight.
Light up your tent, camp kitchen, and more with these versatile lights.
On a guided walk, this group got a very-up-close glimpse of a brown bear as it raced toward them. Here's what to do if this happens to you.
A $3 secret weapon from the grocery store, a tasty drink mix, and a free app are all on our list this month.
Mud-choked paths, damaged bridges, and trail communities cleaning up from some of the worst flooding in Vermont history have AT hikers wondering if they should skip the state for now.
And while we're at it, stop saying these other phrases to me on the trail.
Knowing how to summon help isn't as flashy as being able to start a fire with a bow drill or forage for food. But it's a lot more likely to help you get home safely.
Matteo Volpi hopes his packs will bring thru-hiking culture south of the border.
Four hikers reveal every morsel that's fueling them for thousands of miles.
Wildlife officers are looking for the bear and cub involved after a hiker found the victim’s body in a popular hiking and off-roading area.
The heat was so extreme that a rescue helicopter couldn’t even fly to the site of the incident.
More and more long-distance hikers are having to get creative when fires, floods, or heavy snowpack shuts down their trail. What should you do when you can’t keep going?
So many trails, so little time: Add more adventure to your day with our favorite small-scale trips and everyday advice for getting outside.
Want to cross the finish line of a thru-hike but only have a handful of days to do it? From 40 miles to more than 200, these trails pack a huge punch in a small package.
Chips, candy bars, ramen bombs: A lot of what thru-hikers eat on the trail is far from good for you. But some nutrition-minded backpackers are trying to buck the trend.
Unveiling the truth: Should you drink your own pee to survive? Expert Jessie Krebs separates fact from fiction, delivering insights for life-or-death decisions in the wild.
We posed your top questions to our resident outdoor nudist funhog
The granola brand bolsters naked hiking communities with a system to review the country’s top nude hikes
In a viral PSA, Yosemite National Park urged hikers to knock over rock cairns. Days later, staff at Canyonlands and Arches asked hikers not to. What's a backpacker to do?
One of the most popular mountains on the Appalachian Trail closed to overnight visits after visitors trashed it in 2020. Now, those temporary restrictions are starting to look permanent.
A stripped-back list of do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when hiking in the buff
The Idaho Centennial Trail is a long trail experience that takes hikers through some of the most remote, beautiful terrain in the lower 48. But years of deferred maintenance mean that it’s in danger of vanishing into the wilderness.
Deepen your connection to nature by cowboy camping: spending the night outdoors without a tent. Here's where to give it a try.
Lifestraw’s new Peak Solo punches above its weight class.
Live electric wires and bridge damage are among the hazards that trail crews have found so far—but it’s not all bad news.
Havasu Falls' beauty has made them a staple of FOMO-inducing Instagram pics. But in an instant, they can turn into a dangerous deluge.
Visits to one popular Colorado fourteener have declined by more than half since 2020.
Authorities are trying to determine what caused the deaths of three "mummified" people found in a remote campsite near Gunnison this week.
Highlander's organized group treks have all the trappings of a race—but the point isn't to finish fast.
Testing a tent, chair, table, and more from Moosejaw’s new beginner friendly collection
Schwalbe’s latest sustainability initiatives set a low-impact example for riders everywhere
The death is the third snow-related fatality that local search and rescue has responded to over the past three weeks.
How to find some of the country’s best campsites—and stay for free
Get an RV and enjoy savings, flexibility, and the best kind of indoor/outdoor living
Hitting the road with your family offers plenty of good times in the moment—plus important takeaways for the future
Our Gen Z editor had a secret: She had never seen Grizzly Man. We recruited bear biologist and podcast host Wesley Larson to watch it with her and recorded their reactions.
With the Sierra’s record snowpack beginning to melt, swarms of the biting insects are coming out en masse. For hikers, that could be a nuisance.
Most of this year’s PCT class is skipping the snowbound Sierra and planning to come back later when conditions improve. But a small, hardy group of adventurers are pushing straight through.
America's oldest national park is only getting more popular—but hiring staffers and keeping them on the payroll has been difficult.
Looking for a new national park to visit this summer? You're not alone. But, on the trails in these parks, you just might be.
If hot weather, hydrothermal pools, and alpine hideaways are your vibe, you’ll love hiking near Redding, California.
Changing environmental standards have upended the industry.
Survival, courage, and tragedy intertwine on Mount Rainier in this riveting episode of Out Alive. Join us as we recount a daring rescue, honor a fallen hero, and explore the thin line between triumph and disaster in the face of unimaginable odds.
The Outdoor Industry Association’s annual outdoor participation survey found the United States added 881,000 new hikers in 2022—and that the outdoors are becoming more diverse.
Our favorite products of June included a versatile sun hoody, a long-handled spork, and a summer-ready hydration mix.