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From a section of the Oregon Coast Trail to an Alaskan backcountry adventure, these were our editors' favorite trails this year.

When Charlie Finlayson was just 13 and alone with his dad David deep in the backcountry, his father suffered a horrific injury from a rockfall. But Charlie, despite being forced to make decisions way beyond his age and experience, never doubted that his father could survive and that he could help him. Thanks to his unwavering faith, Charlie and David pulled off the impossible.

A pair of hunters wearing camouflage become lost for six days in Alaska. Help is tantalizingly close but just out of reach, as rescuers are unable to see them.

Jeremy Evans takes us through a first-hand account of the catastrophic injuries he sustained after being mauled by a grizzly bear while deep in the Canadian backcountry.

Winter backpacking doesn't have to be about suffering. For cheerful cold-weather trips, we can learn something from the Danes.

From tiny pocket knives to freeze-dried foods, these ultralight-friendly gifts are best presented in a sub-1-ounce merino sock.

An experienced 59-year-old hiker and Mount Washington Cog Railway engineer passed away after tumbling from a cliff in the White Mountains.

Most of us won’t make it to either pole in this lifetime. But we can still learn some tricks from those who have.

You don't have to fly to Iceland, Greenland or Norway to experience the bright-green glow of the northern lights. You can chase the show in our national parks: in Alaska, yes, but also the contiguous U.S. Better yet, your chances of seeing the aurora borealis are increasing as we march toward what is known as solar maximum, which will peak in 2025.

Nothing says down-home comfort better than a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Assemble these easy recipes at home to upgrade a classic drink.

A Bentonville, Arkansas man who led a 31-person hike along the Buffalo National River where one participant died will face sentencing in March.

In the second of a two-part episode, listen to a terror-filled tale on one of America's deadliest peaks.

Led by one of the outdoors' biggest retailers, some manufacturers may soon ditch women's and men's sleeping bags for nonbinary ones made to fit a wide variety of bodies.

Wolves in Colorado should benefit both humans and the ecosystem, but can they survive the culture war? A new draft plan outlines how the state plans to protect both them and livestock.

On a rafting trip down the Kongakut River, a photographer experiences a landscape that's as spectacular as it is endangered.

Want to ensure a fun, productive, and injury-free spring? Try these drills, which you may already know from your high-school sports days.

Get ready for your best winter ever with tips from these cold-weather experts

Twenty Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians is the first Native group to ink an agreement with the park.

Travelling a long trail end to end isn't the only way to thru-hike.

'Tis the season for a wintry multisport adventure. Here’s how to take to the ice safely.

Only a handful of other thru-hikers have completed the big three in one year.

From backyard to basecamp, these are the gifts we’ll be giving to the cushy campers in our lives.

Experience unique winter adventures in every region of the province

Give back to the community that's given us so much by supporting these four great organizations.

An injured hiker got a lucky break when two campers heard him screaming for help. As it turned out, he had been waiting for a while.

The trail is for everyone, even—especially—those of us who always got picked last in gym class.

Want a national park to visit this winter? Great Smoky Mountains is your place. Download this playlist for maximum vibes.

Cocaine Bear's first trailer shows a bloodthirsty, intoxicated bruin rampaging through the forest. But how much of the based-on-a-true-story movie is real?

Tools like Lighterpack can help you slim down and optimize your pack weight.

Hiking for your tree is your family’s new favorite holiday tradition.

Burnout can affect participants of any sport—including hiking. Here’s how to identify, prevent, and cure hiking burnout.

Affordable earbuds, slimming thermals, and an eye-popping camping blanket: Here’s what our editors brought with them on their fall adventures.

Still settling for those tasteless supermarket white button mushrooms? Expand your palate with these ’shrooms found in the U.S.

The outdoors are powerful medicine—and the Refugee Women’s Network is helping displaced hikers get back to it.

One visitor died and another required medical attention after attempting to tackle a popular trail in unusually cold conditions.

Adrenaline can be a life-saver. But how does it work?

Adventure-ready features and planet-friendly materials make this watch a win-win

Our hiking columnist knows firsthand that buying gifts for the hiker in your life can induce anxiety. These affordable finds from independent companies can’t miss.

No more running out of gas in the middle of cooking with these methods.

Yes, a $25 tchotchke can be an indispensable backcountry tool.

From stunning alpine routes to the environments where high-altitude herbs thrive, tap into the healing power of nature in the mountains of Switzerland

The increase is part of a larger program of fee hikes aimed at covering costs as visitors soar.

Indian Garden will be known as Havasupai Gardens following a government decision.

Garmin's new small satellite communication tool is simpler, but it's their new app that makes the real difference

Animal attacks are rare, but it's best to arm yourself with knowledge and know-how before you step foot in the backcountry. Here's how to know when four common animals are about to get defensive.

National Park Service doesn't suspect foul play in the death of Il Hun Ro.

Through the past five decades, there have been a lot of trend-setters and trailblazers. These are the best of backpacking.

Outdoorsy folks get stoked on gear year-round, but the holidays are a chance to surprise your favorite trailblazer with the latest and greatest items for their gear closet.

Goodbye clunky plastic containers and disposable packaging: This is how I'm rehydrating my meals from now on.

The park is giving up on its 3-year-old timed entry program, but says it's still committed to finding ways to keep visitor numbers manageable.

Nick “Chezwick” Gagnon became the fastest person to circumnavigate the enormous route, which takes in sections of five major thru-hikes

These made-in-the-U.S.A. layer, packs, and boots are designed to stand up to the rigors of combat. But how do they stand up to civilian hiking gear?

Go from shivering basketcase to four-season badass in eight easy steps.

Camping in winter will never be comfortable. Camping in winter will never be entirely safe. Sorry, we totally forgot where we were going with this.

Digging, lifting, and sawing in the hot sun take a toll on the body.

Listen to a hair-raising account of terror and salvation on one of America's deadliest peaks.

We appreciate a good post-hike (or pre-hike, or mid-hike) sandwich. Soon you'll be able to find one—plus a pair of hiking boots, a stove, or whatever else you need—at The Happy Goat.

In pictures, Greenland’s backcountry ski terrain looks spectacular. In person? It’s even better.

Lightweight gear isn’t just for Triple Crowners

Seven years after the Trump administration ordered an end to it, the National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service announced they would once again investigate bringing grizzlies back to the mountains of north-central Washington.

Check out Adam Roy's author page.

A tarp, sun hoodie, and pee rag are her secret weapons.

Hiking is hard, but it shouldn’t be painful. Focus on the fun by achieving all-around fitness and preventing common aches.

Prepare your mind and body ready to fend for yourself in the backcountry.

Here’s how to prep your body for linking big days.

You don't need to white-knuckle your way through your dream high-altitude trip. Here's how you can feel your best.

The National Park Service has advised hikers to avoid direct exposure to water colonized by cyanobacteria.

Document your adventures in a whole new way with the 4K Skydio 2+ drone

Forget a new tent: Backpacker's editors sound off on the trips they'd like someone to buy them in 2023.

Shorter days are no problem with these night hiking tips.

After a decade in Seattle, I grew tired of the Cascades. After gaining a new perspective, I love them more than ever now.

"Nature is not a hobby to me, or even something I really think about. It’s simply part of who I am."

Backpacking’s changed a lot over the years. Is its heyday behind us, or is it yet to come?

Contrary to popular belief, wilderness is a made-up concept. Here’s why it could be harming our planet.

Sonoran desert toads are one of the largest species of toads in North America, and threatened across parts of their range. Unfortunately for them, some national park visitors have discovered that they also get people high.

Choose a brighter future with this eco-friendly new headlamp

After some amazing interactions with polar bears, Alysa McCall of Polar Bears International decided to dedicate her career to conserving this animal and its ecosystem.

Some advice doesn’t age well. It’s time for an upgrade.

Backpackers were once big on making their own gear. Do those projects hold up today?

Knowing the difference between fact and fiction might just save your life.