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For Bear Month, we teamed up with the Tooth and Claw Podcast to bring you this story of daring determination in the face of a grizzly attack.

Learn the history of bear spray and how it "shuts off" bears' ability to perceive the world around them in this interview with bear biologist and podcast host Wes Larson.

Long, sunny days, aimless ambles, the thrill of discovering somewhere new: These hikes pack in our favorite things about the warmer months.

For the first time since floods closed it five years ago, the full length of the Chilkoot Trail, which crosses 33 miles from Alaska to British Columbia, is open to hikers. But a closure at the border could stop backpackers from doing the whole thing.

Thirteen testers hiked, scrambled, and power-napped to find the very best pants and shorts for hiking and backpacking.

From sculpted desert rock formations to high peaks to the mossy rainforest of the Oregon coast, these three long-trail segments are a treasure trove of gorgeous views—and you can do each of them in a day.

Every hiker has a summit that they can't stop thinking about. In honor of National Trails Day, the Backpacker editors are sharing ours.

Keep your blade polished and primed for cutting anything from sausage to twigs with this beginner-friendly maintenance guide.

It’s cheap, lightweight, and performs adequately in wind. Can it edge out the competition?

An astonishing 43 percent of Backpacker's readers say they would eat a human being if it were the only way to survive in a wilderness situation. Get a few tips on how to do it right in this classic Backpacker video.

After finding two dozen unattended campfires and three human-caused wildfires in the Pike-San Isabel National Forest and Comanche and Cimarron National Grasslands, Forest Service officials are urging campers to extinguish their fires thoroughly.

Kelli Morris was hiking on an unmaintained trail in Alaska when a boulder the weight of a Harley-Davidson pinned him facedown in a creek for three hours.

No deterrent has as good of a record in grizzly country as bear spray. But if you're counting on it to save your life, you need to know how to use it—and most hikers don't.

New York state authorities received a report that a hiker had died in the Adirondacks’ High Peaks. When a ranger showed up, he found one very alive hiker—and his two friends, who were allegedly tripping on psilocybin and having an extremely bad time.

Never-blister socks, a perfect trail tee, and more: This is the gear that Backpacker's editors loved this month.

You’re on the priority list. You just might come after their tent.

Check out Emma Veidt's author page.

In a park like this, there's a lot of competition for the 'best trail' title. These are the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Finding love on the trail isn’t easy. Here are 19 lines that probably won’t make it any easier.

Sometimes you travel without a rental car, and sometimes trailhead parking lots fill up quick. Whatever the reason, you can access these trails via local public transit.

Authorities are investigating after several people came down with symptoms of norovirus, the highly-contagious, sanitizer-resistant stomach bug that's sickened hikers on the Triple Crown in recent years.

Trail runners, a budget bag, and a high-end tent: These are the deals we’re excited about.

Memorial Day deals? More like Memorial Day steals. Stock up on tents, packs, and more with these Backpacker-approved discounts.

It's time for a showdown as Jeff Larson, co-host of Tooth and Claw podcast, ranks the world's bear species. Which ones are just OK, and which is his number-one, all-time favorite animal?

The Kammok Sunda 2.0 can pitch as a 2-person tent or a backpacking hammock, and REI members can grab it now for nearly 60% off.

Outdoor advocates celebrated the removal of a budgetary measure that would have sold off federal land across Utah and Nevada, even as they expressed concern about other elements that expanded drilling and mining near national parks.

Whether you're after a caffeinated alpine start or a lazy brunch, we’ve found the best cookware for your wild culinary adventures.

Staffing cuts at federal agencies and slashed budgets are slowing down maintenance efforts on the long-distance trail.

Maximize your dog’s active years with advice from veterinarians and high-quality nutrition

The decision, which allows “wild camping” to continue in Dartmoor National Park, puts an end to three years of legal wrangling that pitted hikers against a pair of wealthy landowners.

Established last year, North Dakota’s Three Affiliated Tribes National Park blends culture with history and geographical beauty—and when it comes to hiking, its caretakers have big plans.

The outdoors is never far away in Chattanooga

From all-in-one systems to pocket-sized powerhouses, these are the best burners for whipping up a meal in the wilderness

Deaths from extreme heat are climbing—and hikers are especially vulnerable. Here's what you need to know about keeping yourself safe during the hottest months of the year.

Answer a few quick questions and let Backpacker tell you which of the world's bear species most closely matches your personality.

Lisa Benish found her calling introducing kids in Virginia’s rural coal country to the joys of backpacking and nature.

You won't have to sacrifice beauty for solitude on these crowd-free national park hikes.

It might not be a “technical fabric,” but linen is the best choice for scorching, dry climates.

In 1957, a sloth bear in Mysore, India caused the deaths of at least 12 people and injured 24 more. In this Bear Month podcast, the hosts of Tooth and Claw delve into why—and discuss what it and similar incidents can teach us about one of the world’s lesser-known bear species.

Trailfunds aims to get hikers more involved with the nonprofits that stweard the trails they love.

If you'd rather tote a little extra weight for a more livable sleeping experience, then the Marmot Limelight 3 may be for you.

With the Madison Gulf Trail footbridge in New Hampshire's White Mountains unsafe to use, hikers now face a detour that eliminates 4.3 grueling but beloved miles of the AT—and officials will need to decide whether to make an exception to wilderness rules to allow for it to be replaced.

The grizzly—the first since 2017 to be trapped and killed for safety reasons—repeatedly broke into bear-proof dumpsters to gain access to human food.

Officials in Aspen recorded nearly twice as many bear encounters as usual this spring. Could it be an early indicator of a busy bear season in the high country?

Bears have some of the strongest stomachs in the animal world. But that doesn't mean they can eat anything with no consequences.

In order to save polar bears and preserve the Arctic, the tourism industry has to change. Here’s how.

For the first half-century after its founding, Glacier National Park didn’t see a single fatal bear attack. On August 12, 1967, that changed when food-conditioned grizzlies killed two campers 10 miles apart. Bear biologist and host of Tooth and Claw podcast Wes Larson reflects on the legacy of the ‘Night of the Grizzlies.'

On a journey up the Appalachian Trail, Maggie Slepian learned just how hard it can be to weather other people's judgement—and how difficult it is to stop worrying about it.

Plus more takeaways about this year's NOBO hikers from data gathered at AT Basecamp.

The Outdoor Research Shadow Wind Hoodie finds a sweet spot between weather resistance, comfort, and light weight.

Rescuers in Arizona braved a storm to save a hiker who became stranded after cairns led him astray.

A year after Hurricane Helene knocked down thousands of trees, flooded miles of trail, and heavily damaged some of the Appalachian Trail's most beloved towns, hiker Grayson Haver Currin headed back to see whether it had recovered.

CleanTrek founder John McShane wants to clean up America's trails—and he thinks his new invention could help do it.

Smart updates to the Gregory Paragon/Maven make this previous Editors’ Choice Award Winner comfier than we thought possible.

When should you prioritize your safety over your desire to finish your hike? Always. Six hikers explain how they knew it was time to call it.

Lottery losers can still have a great trip to Zion National Park on these five trails.

The White House released its budget request for 2026, and the plan calls for the Park Service to hand over control of some federal parklands to states

Hike alongside basalt cliffs, through lush meadows, and between tiny towns in this lesser-traveled region of Ireland.

Black Diamond's Distance series excel on fast-paced missions in tricky terrain—and right now, you can get them at a steep discount.

We put the latest, lightest pad pumps to the test.

When you're traveling on firm snow, an ice axe is an essential piece of gear. A certified mountain guide tells us why.

Cinnamon, the black bear, is a known presence around Kings Beach, but had never before broken into Tahoe Time Ice Cream & Coffee Shoppe.

Visitors will need reservations beginning on Memorial Day weekend, with bookings opening up on May 6.

Take-anywhere tamales, burly radios for the backcountry, and one great guidebook: Here's the gear we loved this month.

Extreme adjustability and a cushy ride made the Talon/Tempest 33 our favorite day hiking pack of 2025

You'll find wildlife, rugged trail miles, and scenery for days on this remote, point-to-point hike.

When this Backpacker editor joined the magazine's annual trip to Nepal, she was excited about the trail itself. What delighted her more were the high-altitude dance parties, game nights, and the moments of connection between the miles.

Since a massive storm ravaged the AT in September 2024, hikers have worried the iconic trail may be unusable in 2025. To find out, we sent a veteran thru-hiker to do its worst-hit miles.

Whether you're an absolute beginner or a trained artist, the Sketchbook app is a free and easy way to capture your favorite memories on the trail without carrying any extra weight.

Over the years, we've written countless stories about survival. These are a few that we will never forget.

Park officials had written that the campground would close "indefinitely" for unspecified reasons.

How can a backpacker make the most of a night in town? Residents share their best tips.

The kids of the Mountaineers Adventure Club are tackling serious peaks—all between classes and homework.

A $2.4 million grant will go towards maintenance, reconstruction, and stewardship across the state.

When one mom took her family on the nocturnal trail less traveled, could nature help her daughter overcome a fear of the dark?