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The Western U.S. is rife with forests and deserts that you can't visit. A new law could fix that—if we're willing to fight for it.

Save on this warm, stretchy puffy.

After 18 years of backpacking, boating, and skiing, a mother and son confront letting go.

National forests in five Colorado counties are closed due to extreme fire danger.

When you’ve stepped onto a long trail, you never really leave it.

Combine the best of car camping (spacious tents, comfy chairs, frosty margaritas!) and the best of backpacking (deep solitude, outrageous scenery, swimming holes!) with these 15 accessible hideaways.

Local firefighters and search and rescue teams rescued the man in a nine-hour operation.

Hike wilderness trails in the middle of the Corn Belt.

Plan, navigate and share your adventures!

Banish worries about pack space and morning shivers on your next cool-weather trip with these lightweight insulated jackets.

The gear a hiking lifer can't leave home without.

Kauai’s Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park is a hiker’s haven, with cliffs plunging to the Pacific and waterfalls hidden in narrow valleys. The 11-mile Kalalau Trail, the area’s only thoroughfare, is by reservation only. Here’s how to do it best.

Travel to the unpeopled fringes of America’s first national park.

As she nears the end of her journey on the Colorado Trail, our writer reflects on some of the people she’s met along the way.

Keep your gear dry with this waterproof pack.

Neck gaiters have become popular DIY face coverings for runners and hikers. But researchers designing equipment for testing masks found some evidence that not only do common models not work as well as other options, there's even a chance they could be "counterproductive."

Rest your feet by a backcountry oasis on one of these nine hikes.

This ultralight item boasts outsize convenience.

A chance encounter with a group of friends on an annual, women-only backpacking trip leaves our Colorado Trail correspondent reflecting on how her own life changed her attitude towards the trail.

Good conditions and better timing make this Washington spot a gorgeous place for photographs.

This rugged Michigan landscape is better than any treasure.

There are many challenges to backpacking, but packing your sleeping pad shouldn't be one of them.

Thru-hiking lingo isn’t just code, it’s a window into how people backpack.

If you only have room in your budget for one pack, this jack-of-all-trades can handle almost everything.

This month's exclusive discount is brought to you by Therm-A-Rest.

On short trips or epic expeditions, clean water is a must. Here's how to pick the right filter or purifier for you.

Save on this minimalist tarp.

What do hiking the Colorado Trail and childbirth have in common? Sometimes, you just need to trust your body to get you through it.

Victim flown to hospital after incident at crowded lake.

Long days and big views make this a trip you'll never forget.

An inside look at the Dyneema-loving, ultralight-preaching manufacturer.

Fire up something delicious with these efficient burners.

Stand up to any storm with this durable, portable shelter.

See the wilder side of the Sunshine State.

We used to have to choose between supportive boots and light ones. No more. These six models are agile enough for day missions and casual outings, but will keep your feet happy as the miles pile up.

Save on this small-yet-mighty multitool.

Bill would provide billions for deferred maintenance backlog, fully and permanently fund Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Plan your trip to the alpine as the snow melts out from meadows and ridgelines

Making art on the trail helps you appreciate the landscape in a new way.

Is all that extra breathability worth exposing your feet to sun, bugs, and toe stubs?

After a series of mistakes left her dehydrated on the Colorado Trail, our writer learned that making it on a long trail is about more than guts or skill.

Ohio's northwest hides a treasure trove of rare plants and animals. See it on this overnight trip.

Want to go really, really light? Take a hint from a guy who finished the Long Trail in less than 5 days.

From cell phones to GPS devices to headlamps, rechargeable electronics are becoming increasingly common on the trail. Stay powered with this strategy guide.

Keep your gear going strong with a great deal on this cleaning kit.

From wildflowers to whitewater rafting, Cody, Wyoming offers a home base for anyone looking for a summer or fall adventure.

In the Los Padres National Forest, some of America's most impressive mammals roam alongside you.

We know our forests are special places. But for the Native Americans who have lived among them for centuries, they are more than that. Trees are family membersthat give, heal, provide, protect, and nurture. Trees are sacred. Listen to the trees.

Hiking a long path is hard. As Patricia Cameron discovered while getting ready for the Colorado Trail, doing it in the era of COVID-19 adds a whole new level of difficulty to the process.

There are a lot of good reasons to fight racism. Let’s add one more: We can’t protect the climate without ending it.

This bag stretches, but your wallet won't.

Tribe hopes to protect vulnerable populations by blocking crowds from the park's eastern entrance.

Each week BACKPACKER Get Out More TV will be giving away a backpacking prize pack to one lucky winner.

The craggy spines of the west Appalachians provide some of the most spectacular views in the range.

The trail is for everyone. Experience it your way by learning your limits and planning ahead.

Before you hit the trail, try these exercises to build leg strength and stamina.

With non-essential visits banned until at least July 21, some visitors are using a loophole to get to the country’s national parks.

This simple backcountry messaging device was a hit with our tester.

Citing cost of litigation, builders call off project just three weeks after Supreme Court ruled in its favor.

Ditch the heavy pack and hiking boots for the life aquatic.