12 Tips for Taking Your Tween or Teen Backpacking
How to make it more bonding than battle zone.
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Hike of the Week: Ka'iwa Ridge, HI
Beat the crowds by getting to this Oahu favorite extra early.
Gear of the Week: Salomon OUTline Low GTX
Go far and stay cool in this light hiking shoe.
A New Hiking Trail is Open in Korea’s DMZ
South Korea, UN hope that paths will eventually span the border.
Hike Ancient Dwellings in Navajo National Monument
Climb high and see 800-year-old canyon homes on this overnight trip.
3 Leg Exercises to Jumpstart Your Hiking Season
Strengthen your legs for early-season hikes, which often involve postholing in lingering snow up high and crossing run-off swollen rivers down low.
The Best Comfort Backpacking Gear, According to BACKPACKER's Gear Editor
Backpacking should be about pleasure, not pain.
The 5 Habits of Highly Successful Thru-Hikers
Out of every 100 people who attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, 73 will give up. Beat the odds—and save your budget—by following these rules from a gear shop owner who sees thousands of hikers every season.
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The 6 Most Remote Places in North America That You Can Actually Explore
Get away from civilization in these accessible wild places.
Hike at Night, and See the Wilderness Like Never Before
Turn off the light for a trek you'll never forget.
VIP Perks at Events
Get special perks at the BACKPACKER Get Out More Tour, and at other BP events throughout the year!
The 10 Rules of Solitude
Use these tips and trips to find backcountry peace and quiet, no matter where you live.
BACKPACKING 101 – SETTING UP CAMPSITE
Outward Bound School Instructor Sienna Fry cover the best practices for selecting and setting up a campsite for your next backpacking trip.
SURVIVAL 101 – RABBIT STICK
Learn how to find the perfect multi-use rabbit stick, including tips on sourcing the tool, a variety of uses, and more.
Survival 101: Make a Solar Still
No water? No problem.
The Best Piece of Gear I'll Never Use
I've never triggered my personal locator beacon. But I'm going to keep carrying it all the same.
Meet the Artist: Heidi Nisbett
As she thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, Nisbett grew to love long stretches of hiking through green tunnels.
Navigate Like a Pro
Navigation tips from an Appalachian Trail pro.
PODCAST: Mauled By a Grizzly
Your chances of being attacked by a bear are around one in two million. Todd Orr was mauled by one twice in a single day. Listen to his story in the latest episode of our podcast.
Hike of the Week: Tablerock Mountain, NC
Capture some of North Carolina’s best views as you hike into the Linville Gorge Wilderness on this spring-perfect trek.
Hike Like a Local in San Francisco's Golden Gate National Recreation Area
See butterflies, redwoods, whales, and some of the most beautiful coastline any major metro area has to offer.
See a Magical Crater Lake—and an Active Volcano—on Mt. Rinjani in Indonesia
Get up close and personal with a force of nature.
What Could Americans Learn From the Way Koreans Hike?
South Koreans hike in droves. And they like it that way. An American who craves solitude joins the party.
Meet the Artist: Latasha Dunston
Denver artist Latasha Dunston paints details she would have missed with photographs.
Meet the Artist: Dave Bonan
As Bonan draws the world around him, he becomes intensely curious about the way it works.
How to Choose the Right Backpack
Finding the right backpack isn’t always a quick or easy process, but you’ll thank yourself later for investing the time now.
BACKPACKER Editor Dennis Lewon Picks His Favorite Budget Gear
Spend less, hike more with a system that prioritizes affordability and durability.
Protect Your Gear In These 3 Extreme Environments
Don’t let fear of ruining your belongings keep you from getting out.
Get the Shot With This Hike-Ready Photography Kit
Channeling your inner Jimmy Chin is easier than ever thanks to light, affordable camera gear. Here's what you need to get started in adventure photography.
PODCAST: Stranded on a Ledge
A fatal accident is the beginning of a six-day-long wilderness ordeal in the second episode of BACKPACKER's Out Alive podcast.
Yosemite Valley Loop Trail, CA
Get up close and personal with North America’s tallest waterfall and Yosemite Valley’s greatest hits on this 20.6-mile loop.
FBI Agent: Appalachian Trail Murder Suspect Threatened to Burn Hikers Before Attack
Alleged killer played guitar, argued with victims, affidavit says.
Vote now for your favorite trail-inspired design
The winning design will be printed on a t-shirt benefitting The Conservation Alliance.
5 Things You Should Never Forget to Pack for Summer Backpacking
These must-haves for hiking and backpacking season can make or break your trip.
One Hiker Killed, One Injured in Attack on Appalachian Trail
Suspect arrested as section of Appalachian Trail closed through Sunday morning.
The First Public Lands Plan of the 2020 Race Is Out. Here’s What It Means for Hikers
Senator Elizabeth Warren is the first presidential contender to come out with a comprehensive set of public lands policy proposals – here’s what they could mean for your future trips.
Lost, Injured, and Cold
For George Brown, 68, a morning trail run in August 2018 became more than 40 hours stranded in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness with a broken leg.
This Six-Year-Old Climbed Whitney
Eva Luna Harper-Zahn kicked off her alpinism career with the Lower 48’s highest peak.
National Summit Day FAQs
You have questions about National Summit Day on August 1, 2020. We have answers.
When the Mayor of the Mountain Disappeared
On California’s Mt. Baldy, Sam Kim found spirit, grace, and fulfillment summit after summit after summit.
LISTEN: Out Alive, Backpacker’s Survival Podcast
The wilderness is full of dangers. This podcast tells the stories of the people who survived them.
The End of Wildlife
A new report from a UN committee says that one million species worldwide are threatened with extinction by humans. What does that mean for the wilderness experience?
The 20 Best Waterfall Hikes in the United States
No two waterfalls are exactly alike, but these will always capture our imagination.
The Hiker's Code of Conduct
The longest government shutdown in history reminded us how we can be better stewards of our national parks—and each other.
The 9 Best Mother's Day Gifts for Hikers
Forget the flowers: Show Mom you care with a gift that helps her hit the trail (and recover from it).