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After a category 4 hurricane tore through the southeast, a third of the Appalachian Trail faced significant damage. Volunteers are bringing it back to life.

A backcountry cocktail kit in a box, a 5-ounce library, and a cornhole set you can fit in a daypack: This is the gear our editors absolutely don't need to pack, but keep bringing anyway.

Beetle larvae taste "nutty" and scorpions are like "softshell crab" according to expert bug forager Aly Moore. Ready to try nature's trail mix for yourself? Here's how to do it.

Madeira doesn't land at the top of most hikers' life lists. But after experiencing its thick forests, quad-burning ascents, and soaring seaside hikes, we're ready to say: it should.

Nestled in the heart of the North Cascades, the Goat Lake Trail is a perfect dayhike to see waterfalls, dense old-growth trees, and some snippets of an old mining settlement.

The Conservation Fund announced this week that it had purchased 480 acres of formerly private land on Mount Bross—including a key portion of one of Colorado's most popular high-alpine trails.

Falcon Guides's new book, "Surviving the Trail," taught our associate editor how to survive better. In this review, she explains what she learned.

How many backpacks are in our senior editor's gear closet? Watch her tour here.

Even the longest hikes are too short to spend worrying about how you look.

Garmire finished the trail in just over 45 days, raising $29,000 for the Trevor Project in the process.

Harrod hiked an average of 41 miles per day for nearly two months to break the 10-year-old record.

In our opinion, sugar can be a hiker health food. Pair it with your electrolytes for better hydration and performance.

On your days off the trail, would you rather get a slice of pizza with your tramily? Or relax all on your own? Take our quiz to identify the best trail town for you.

We paid a visit to Colorado's Butterfly Pavilion to learn more about Joro spiders, the AT's newest residents.

The giant salamanders make their homes and lay their eggs under rocks.

Some cooking hacks are easy. Some are delicious. This particular one is neither.

Level up with these smart backpacking accessories, all of which cost a Hamilton or less.

Pennsylvania's 501 and Eckville shelters have amenities like solar showers and on-site caretakers and provide a crucial stopping point for hikers on the AT—but they're scheduled for demolition next year.

The Ursack AllMitey is a lightweight alternative to bear canisters that's tested against grizzlies and smaller critters too—and it's on sale right now.

A 29-year-old solo hiker suffered "significant but non-life-threatening" wounds after the attack on the Turbid Lake Trail.

With their easy access to adventure, gorgeous scenery, and electric vibe, mountain towns can feel like an outdoor paradise from the outside. But moving to—and staying in—one can be trickier than it looks.

When hikers get lost in the wilderness, newspaper headlines often credit their survival to subsisting on their own urine. The reality? It’ll just kill you faster.

Self-rescuing can be a good idea—just make sure the SAR team looking for you knows you're doing it.

Check out Adam Roy's author page.

North Carolina's Mount Mitchell State Park had been closed since Hurricane Helene wrecked part of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

On her new podcast "Gear Abby," Shawnté Salabert debunks this and other outdoor myths.

Is there a bigger gray area than the uphill right of way rule?

Fat Bear Week, the annual contest to find Katmai National Park and Preserve's chunkiest ursine resident, is nearly upon us. Brush up on the highs, lows, and shockers of this battle of the titans.

Move over, duct tape: An outdoor-specific sewing kit—and the know-how to use it—might just be the most useful repair gear you bring.

Baxter State Park officials are asking for the public's help identifying the person or people who defaced the sign at the Appalachian Trail's northern terminus.

No time to hike the Triple Crown? These trail trios are epic adventures for every type of backpacker.

Stay calm, assess the situation, and use what’s in your pack.

Whether you’d prefer to summit a craggy peak or go for a riverside ramble, these are the most stunning trails in the National Park System.

Lets just say I don’t spring out of my sleeping bag as fast anymore.

In two separate incidents in Arizona and Colorado, police say that three individuals walking dogs assaulted or threatened other hikers after getting into disputes over their pets.

Visitation to the park jumped 7 percent over the same period last year, while rescues rose 40 percent.

Thanks to its space-age materials, the Editors' Choice-winning Mystery Ranch Radix 57 carries serious weight while coming in at a pound less than similar haulers.

The 501 “pizza” shelter and Eckville shelter are expected to be demolished between 2026 and 2027 due to an NPS policy that targets “nonconforming infrastructure.” Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club is mounting a last-ditch campaign to stop it.

Having a bad stomach isn't a trip-killer, as long as you follow these tips from a veteran hiker.

The Anchor Ranch had been at the center of a long-running land dispute involving two of Montana's largest landowners.

Are the unique shape and simple locking mechanism enough to set it apart?

Getting to Gates of the Arctic National Park takes significant effort—but adventurous backpackers will reap serious rewards.

This delectable is ready in seconds—and blows gloopy porridge out of the water.

A group of hikers had to call for help in New York's Catskills after taking shrooms and losing both themselves and their car keys in the mountains.

Falling in love with one of America's outdoor hubs is easy. Making a life there? Less so. Learn how to make the move to a trail town from hikers who did it.

Joro spiders’ large size and enormous webs have spurred public concern since the invasive species arrived in the United States in 2013. While they’re harmless to people, they may pose a threat to their new ecosystem.

On a backpacking trip in Alaska’s ultra-remote Gates of the Arctic, one writer learns to embrace discomfort, even if it means soggy feet for eight straight days.

Nothing heats up your relationship like a little DIY dermatology on a backpacking trip

Think you understand how headlamp brightness works? Get schooled at the Outside Gear Lab.

From rugged Upper Midwest forests to sweeping Appalachian ridgelines, the North Country Trail spans 4,800 miles across eight states.

Carbs are one of the hardest nutrients to get right on the trail. We interviewed two experts to learn the facts.

A herd of cattle reportedly trampled an 85-year-old man as he hiked with his wife and dog.

Hiking dietitians weigh in on how to meet your fueling needs without hauling the whole fridge.

Take a ferry or kayak to these campsites only accessible via water.

These adventures are perfect for class 2 and 3 first-timers.

From headlamp straps to trekking pole holsters, these hacks are cheap and (nearly) weightless.

A comfy sleeping pad, an insulated bottle to keep your drinks chilly, and a pile of fantastic backpacking food: This is the gear that helped our editors make the most of this past month.

There's a beauty (and importance) in the trail's smallest trekkers

A trail club of seniors has built dozens of miles of trails across their county, transforming how their community gets outside.

On a damp and chilly trip to Alaska, one Backpacker editor was especially grateful for this gear.

Backpacking for the first time might suck. That’s totally normal

With its new Trails app, Orijen pet food is partnering with the National Park Foundation to help pet lovers and their furry friends connect with the outdoors

The AT was rugged and sparsely traveled when Espy hiked it in 1951.

Snag savings of up to 60 percent on tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, and more.

Experience the state’s longest path—rich in beauty, history, and a strong hiking community, with events and trail magic along the way

From wild animals to dangerous terrain, the outdoors has its fair share of hazards. Test your survival knowledge against a Backpacker editor and see how you fare.

Heat stroke strikes quickly. Avoid it with these tips from wilderness medicine expert David Fifer.

Pistachio, tahini, and crunchy kadayif have proven to be a winning combination as a chocolate bar filling. But how do they work as part of a s'more?

Give your pack a much-needed shakedown by cutting these common but unnecessary items.

In bear country, food storage is key—but can be a huge pain. Here's how to ease the burden of rigid bear-proof containers.

Trapped and boiling alive—how did we get here?

Grooming standards in the outdoors are low. A little wipe down won’t hurt.

Make a classic backpacking dessert without a campfire using this simple recipe.

The Exped Megamat is a camping pad that sleeps like a full-on mattress.

We're not counting them, but we sure could use more.

Prosecutors in Colorado claim that a state park ranger searched for information about abdominal anatomy and injury payouts online before stabbing himself and trying to pass it off as an attack.

In the wake of a fatal snakebite on a Tennessee trail, Editor-in-Chief Adam Roy dives into one of their most common causes.

Plus tips on how to spend your golden years on the trail.

This family-friendly hike packs a visual punch. In less than an hour, you'll pass shaded forest paths, expansive overlooks over the lakeshore, and much more.

More than half of people in the U.S. recreated outdoors in 2024 according to a new report from the Outdoor Industry Association, with Black and Hispanic participants driving the biggest gains.