Trip Finder: Waterfall Hikes
Nine ways to get your cascade fix from Tennessee to Montana.
All Content
Where Can I Find The Highest Designated Campsite?
Head to the RMNP for the highest designated camp–find out where below.
Top 3 Fire Tower Hikes
Want a backcountry room with a view? Climb these lookouts from Vermont to Washington.
Quick Fix: Apostle Islands
You don't need a boat to see this spectacular national lakeshore. Here's how to explore the best of its bluffs and beaches by foot (and paddle).
Endangered Species Act Changes Deemed 'Bad Science'
Bush administration threatens to remove scientific oversight
3 Poached Treasures
Backcountry crooks ransack public lands, stealing the natural prizes most coveted by collectors–and vulnerable species and hikers alike suffer when these icons vanish from the trails to resurface on the black market.
Is Inadequate Funding the Main Problem Facing the National Park System?
This question fuels the debate regarding how to help the aging national park system improve.
See More Vultures
Learn the secrets of nature's greatest recyclers
Phenomenon: Glacial Relics
The Ice Age left its mark from Acadia to Yosemite. Here's scenic evidence.
Road Warriors: Hikers Versus ATVs
Hikers and ATV riders hit the ground in a new battle over trail access.
The Big Hike Prep Quiz
Before you hit the trail, take my 5-step quiz to find out if you're primed for action or disaster
Cascades Hikers Stranded On 18-inch Ledge
Bad weather holds back rescue teams
WiFi in Idaho State Parks
'Sorry, wildlife — Gotta check those emails'
USGS Photographic Archive Rules Your Eyes
Massive free collection gives a peek into the past
Havasupai Falls in Grand Canyon Closed
Dam break and flood closes popular spot until 2009
Pikas In Peril
Climate change threatens obscenely cute mountain rodents
Poles on a Plane?
How can you take along trekking poles when flying a commercial airline?
Favorite Emergency Shelter?
I take long dayhikes (20-30 miles) and am looking for an emergency shelter to use in case I don't make it out before nightfall. Will a waterproof bivy sack on its own be sufficient in case of rain?
Can I Keep My Backpack in My Tent?
You can safely bring 100 packs in the tent with you, but what I think you're really asking about is food...
Cow Compass
Cattle and deer might sense Earth's magnetic field
Backpackers Don't Care About Sex
Showers, food, and beer come first, naturally
Who Goes Outside Anymore?
Only the white, middle-aged, and well-off appear engaged in sports
Senator Misses DNC Because of Hiking Injury
A broken ankle near Tahoe keeps Calif. Sen. Dianne Feinstein at home
The Nature of Expertise
A vanished backpacker and two ice tunnel collapses illustrate that most expertise is merely local knowledge
Wide-Footer Hiking Boots
Do you know of a boot maker who makes really wide boots that are true to size?
Can I Eat Snakes or Eels?
I hear about people eating rattlesnake all the time: Are all snakes edible? And what about eels?
Keep Your Feet Dry
On a consistently wet, rainy 3-day trip, I experienced softened skin that cracked. I never was able to get dry shoes or socks. Each day my feet would be soaked within minutes. What can I do in the future to help stop this?
Human Body Water Absorption
Does the human body absorb cold water or body-temperature water faster?
The Everyman's Taper
Both elite athletes and weekend hikers benefit from a taper
AT Underpass is Coming to PA
Will keep hikers from becoming roadkill
AT Ultrarunner Hits A Speedbump
Vows to continue despite stress tendonitis, trenchfoot
News Flash – Flood Season Has Arrived
Havasu Canyon gets a power flush, stranding nearly 200 campers
Return of the Survivor: Q&A with Steve Friedman
In this exclusive Q&A, Steve Friedman talks about trying out the techniques of TV's survival show hosts Bear Grylls and Les Stroud in the (real) wild.
Fame! Headlines! Endless riches!
Okay, maybe not riches. But our first Retailer of the Year contest will put your favorite outdoor store on the map.
Survival Skills: How to Prevent Hypothermia
Prevent the deep chill by learning how to spot and treat hypothermia in the backcountry.
Survival Skills: How to Safely Cross a River
Whether you're solo or with a group, the BACKPACKER editors show you how to safely cross a raging river–no bridge necessary.
How to Use a Bear Canister
Learn what to put in a bear canister–and where to hide it–to keep your meals safe.
How to Align Your Compass with Your Map
It's OK to admit it: you've logged hundreds of miles in the backcountry without really knowing how to use your compass and topo map together. Watch our video tutorial to catch up on this essential backpacking skill.
Survival Skills: Get Un-Lost with GPS
Find your way using only a topo map and a GPS.
The Ultimate "Survive This!" Archive
If you can imagine it, we've seen it-and offered expert analysis. From avalanches to volcanoes, this archive contains step-by-step plans for escaping a slew of mishaps that can befall weary travelers.
Pack Like a Pro: Pt. II Week Trip
Our Editor in Chief schools you on his packing secrets for long-trail comfort.
Pack Like a Pro: Pt. I Dayhike
Get the basics dialed. Our Editor in Chief shows you how to put together the perfect homemade survival kit. Get packing basics dialed. Our Editor in Chief shows you how to put together the perfect homemade survival kit.
Survival Skills: Start a Fire with One Match
Follow these steps and you're guaranteed the perfect campfire in no time.
Metallica 1, Hikers 0
James Hetfield blocks hiker access in Northern California
Survival Skills: Treating Broken Bones
In the wilderness, a broken leg can you leave you stranded–or worse. But if you know how to diagnose, treat, and build a splint with camping gear, you'll better your odds for survival.
Survival Skills: Treating Bloody Wounds
Don't panic: Severe wounds are part of the risks of backcountry travel. Learn how to treat bleeding cuts, and you just might save your hiking partner's life–or your own.
How to Survive a Bear Attack
Learn how to deal with a black bear or grizzly encounter with Shannon Davis and Ted the Bear.
How to Pitch a Tent
From choosing a tent site to pitching your shelter in a howling wind, the BACKPACKER editors show you the basics of setting up camp.
Outdoor Retailer: Green Scene Wrap-Up
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Dad & Son Attempt 55 14ers in Two Weeks
So Close, Yet So Far
Best Motivation Ever
A winning proposal helps an ultramarathoner finish Leadville
Weekly Mayhem Round-Up
Late summer chaos, with falls and lost hikers coast to coast
Running Adds 16 Years to Active Life
Study shows that regular jogs push back old-age disabilities
Run Your Car On Poop
Scientists engineer diesel-excreting e.coli bacteria
Science: Hiking (Can Be) Better Than Sex
Only one way to find out...
Dead Man's Best Friend
German shepherd guards master's body for six weeks
Win A Spot On U.S. Polar Race Team
Polar bears, -60 temps, and other fabulous prizes await
Smart Nutrition for the Trail
Or, how a bike race reminded me that you need to always eat for the future
Trend Reports from Outdoor Retailer
It's a wrap!
Arches Will Fall
Popular feature in Arches National Park succumbs to erosion
Water, Fire, and Food
A few nice finds on day three of Outdoor Retailer
Wool Keeps Coming Back
Two intriguing new entries in the layering game
Hot Stove News
A four season canister stove?
Cool Stuff, The Sequel
An afternoon update of equipment I'm lusting after.
Treasure Hunting
Finding diamonds in the rough at Outdoor Retailer
Gems Among the Weirdness
The so-far coolest stuff I've seen at OR
George Clinton Drops Some Funk on Outdoor Retailer
JanSport's annual Shake and Bake concert is one of best ever
The Real Survival Reality Show
The hell with avalanches and snake eating; Survive Outdoor Retailer!
Odd Gear from Outdoor Retailer
Hemp shorts, pee funnels, and liver-flavored biscotti
Summer Outdoor Retailer 2008: Heaven For Gearheads
The BACKPACKER team heads out in force to cover the biggest industry show in the nation.
Hundreds of brand-spankin'-new species discovered in the Smokies
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Mountain Lion Attacks Family Dog
Snatches Pet from the Foot of Owners' Bed
How to Recycle Your Fuel Canisters
Are the fuel canisters for backpacking stoves refillable or recyclable? Or are we just creating more waste when we purchase these stoves in the quest of lightness?
A Helmet for All Occasions?
Is there a multipurpose helmet out there I can use for skiing, climbing etc. or should I just plan on getting one for each season/sport?
Bag Capacity Confusion
I'm confused about the capacity figures that backpack manufacturers claim. With daypacks it seems that the figures advertised are always about 20 percent higher than what the pack actually holds. What gives?
Trouble Sleeping in Camp
I'm a side sleeper who can't get through a night on a sleeping pad without pain in my hips and knees that causes me to toss and turn. Any suggestions for remedying that?
Fight Off Mosquitos
What's the best spray to keep mosquitoes off of me?
Do Ferns Neutralize Poison Ivy?
My son came back from an outdoor camp and proclaimed that rubbing the liquid from the broken stalk of a fern on a sting from nettles, poison ivy, or poison oak will stop the stinging. Is it true?
Oxygen Intake Boost
I live at sea level, and am backpacking in Yosemite for 10 days. I've heard there are supplements that boost your oxygen intake, if you take them a week or so in advance. Is the hype true, and is it worth the money?
Benadryl for Snakebites?
What do you think about giving Benadryl as a sedative for a snakebite victim? Or just having it handy for panic situations?