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Days are getting shorter. That doesn’t mean hiking season is over.

Election day is next Tuesday, and we're all feeling the heat. Take a breather on these trails, but only after you've turned in your ballot.

The Nemo Disco 15 Endless Promise is a comfortable, sustainable bestseller—and right now, it's on sale for 40% off.

The floodwaters may have receded, but for outdoor businesses and residents in trail towns, there are more challenges ahead. Writer and guide Steven Reinhold reflects on his own experience riding out Helene—and the surprising support and community North Carolina's Appalachian Trail towns found in the wake of it.

Extend the life of this crucial piece of gear with these tips for care and cleaning.

Atypical design, material-choice, and geometry make this tent appealing to ultralighters and weekend warriors alike.

These are the creatures that keep our national parks expert up at night.

Made out of the same fabric many tents use, the AirPot is designed to make going number two in the woods more comfortable—and solve hiking’s burgeoning poop problem.

The most stressful day of any aspiring PCT thru-hiker's life is just around the corner.

Need a break from the world? Take a (virtual) hike with Backpacker’s editors to the North Island of New Zealand.

A pair of customized socks, a smartly-designed water bottle, and a cozy camp blanket: this is the gear that helped our editors get outside this month.

The Outdoor Research Foray II / Aspire II has long been one of our favorite shells for backpacking thanks to its generous venting and light weight. Snag it right now for up to half off.

Harrod's route offers a fresh perspective on the American West. Now she wants you to hike it, too.

After Hurricane Helene, large swathes of North Carolina and Tennessee’s Appalachian Trail were left devastated. Some hikers are looking to these southern routes as alternatives—and their volunteers and managers say they can handle the new visitors.

What’s better than leaf-peeping? Leaf-peeping with Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada as a backdrop.

Don't shove your warm-weather gear in the back of the closet for winter. Here's how to ensure you're ready to hit the trail as soon as spring arrives.

The new, puck-sized gizmo can send photos and voice-memos at relative lightning speeds.

Hikers have to clean up after dogs—why don’t equestrians have to do the same?

Music lovers might wear headphones while hiking. However, by doing this, they're potentially putting themselves at risk on the trail.

In response to a shrinking budget, the land management agency is suspending seasonal hiring next year. Public lands will bear the cost.

There are plenty of resources at your fingertips, as long as you know where to look.

Appalachian Trail Days will continue as planned in 2025. This is the largest event hosted each year in Damascus, Virginia, which is currently recovering from significant Hurricane Helene damage.

The REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ is a light-enough, comfortable-enough workhorse that's good for beginners and experienced backpackers alike—and it's on sale right now.

The Lakeshore Trail offers 4 days of stunning views along Lake Superior.

At under two pounds, the brand’s latest mattress offers car camping comfort at backpacking weight.

When Nikki Bettis and 13 of her kids set out on the AT, they had no idea how transformative the experience would be.

Experience fall splendor with the Colorado Mountain Club's top autumn adventures, from colorful road trips to scenic hiking and biking across the state

While bear spray is an effective deterrent, it's bred a false confidence among hikers that can be harmful to both humans and bears. Wildlife biologist and podcaster Wes Larson explains.

Can’t take it anymore? We can't either. Step up to the void and scream it out on these six trails. 

After the storm wiped out buildings and canceled fall hiking season, some hostels and guides are searching for a way forward.

Apple’s new satellite communication feature is a handy addition to an already-common device. But it has at least one flaw that's too big to overlook.

Abandoned, poop-filled WAG bags are multiplying on trails. Why does this keep happening?

Today, parent company Red Wing Shoe Company announced that the 60-year-old stalwart would halt production.

Getting carried or helicoptered off a mountain is already stressful, but the idea of paying for the privilege is enough to set any hiker’s teeth on edge. And while most subjects of a wilderness rescue will never face a bill or a fine, there are a few exceptions.

This kind of overuse injury can present itself in many ways. Steer clear of injury with these tips.

Snag a pair of Altra Lone Peak 7s or another zero-drop, lightweight hiker at a steep discount.

An on-camera killing, infanticide, the disappearance and probable death of two fan favorites: 2024 was the year that fans of Katmai National Park and Preserve’s annual bear beauty contest got an uncomfortable dose of reality. And maybe that’s a good thing.

For decades, Dartmoor National Park was the only place in England where backpackers could dispersed camp without landowner permission. Now, a multimillionaire hedge fund manager who bought one of the park's largest estates is arguing it should be banned there, too.

Sharing your adventures with other hikers is easier than ever with the newest feature to hit Backpacker and the rest of the Outside network.

Grab winter hiking pants, beefy trail runners, supportive insoles, or a high-capacity powerbank at a discount for the next two days.

From ingenious fleeces to fall beverages to a tent with a built-in woodstove, these are the products our editors and staffers are taking on the trail this season.

Instagrammers are swapping marshmallows for cheese. We think you should, too.

On Sunday morning, a park ranger responding to a distress call on Namakan Lake fell into the water and vanished.

In 2019, police killed Ethan Murray in the midst of a mental health crisis. In his memory, his mother, Justine Murray, decided to tackle two of the toughest thru-hikes in America.

Our hiking columnist phoned up experts along the iconic pathway to get a sense of the destruction left by Hurricane Helene

Want to eat like the famous bears of Fat Bear Week? Here are six salmon-packed recipes that will have you feeling like a bruin along the Brooks River.

Like humans, dogs have accidents in the backcountry. So what do you do if your canine hiking companion is in distress?

We tried out the ridiculously lightweight Deploy Down Hoody to see how it holds up in the real world.

Two born-and-raised Alaskans think the Bomber Traverse might be one of the best wilderness backpacking trips in the U.S. However, even experienced backpackers must be prepared for challenging conditions, including glacier travel, scrambling through boulder fields, and even midsummer snowfall.

We scoured grocery store shelves for pumpkin-flavored hiking snacks. Here are our favorites.

I brought my new-to-backpacking friend to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park for an overnighter. Here's what I got right and what I'd do differently next time.

A fight between two of Katmai's famed brown bears turned fatal on Monday, and livestream viewers watched it in real time.

Some of the AT’s most famous towns and their residents bore the worst of Helene’s damage. Hikers who were on trail discuss the moment that the storm struck—and locals contemplate the long recovery ahead.

From a sun-blocking car camping tent to a new favorite squeeze filter, these are our editors' top gear picks for September.

Parks and trail towns along the southern reaches of the AT are devastated. Here's how hikers can help.

Some southbound thru-hikers are facing tough choices on the AT after Helene left trails across the region damaged, flooded, or closed.

Back sleepers tend to have an easier time catching Zs while camping, but doing so doesn't always come naturally.

Katmai's famous Fat Bear Week contest is about to celebrate its tenth anniversary—but for the first time, its biggest star is nowhere to be found. We pay tribute to a true champion.

Two of the most popular ultralight brands make very similar packs—at least on paper. Our side-by-side test reveals the winner.

Here's why I'm bringing an inner tube, playing cards, and all the snacks on my next backpacking trip.

The Jones Ultra Re-Up Down Recycled Jacket was one of our favorite insulated pieces last year, and now it's on sale for 30% off.

Ultrarunner Tara “Candy Mama” Dower shaved 13 hours off Karel Sabbe’s previous record for hiking the iconic route

Park officials are warning hikers to be wary of bears during their fall "feeding frenzy" after a grizzly injured a man on the Highline Trail

We asked our readers about their favorite backpacking gear that's not on the market anymore. From ultralight tents to boots both light and burly, this is what they said.

Don't just chuck it in the trash. Here's the right way to get rid of your spent bear spray.

National Park Service says that it was "proud" to support effort to change name of Clingmans Dome back to Kuwohi.

Accidental beacon activations take a toll on rescue teams—but they are avoidable.

After our editor encountered a hiker in a concerning state on Mt. Whitney, she knew she had to step up.

Helmets are considered required equipment on some peaks and trails across the U.S. Here’s how to tell if you really need one.

A stuff sack full of clothes is often the last obstacle holding back new ultralighters.

Take it from me. By now, I've become an expert relocator.

Bear-proof lockers might look like garbage cans, but hikers really should know better.

The Mountain Hardwear Meridian 2 is the cheapest and most spacious tent in our test this year—and right now, it’s on sale for 30% off.

Sometimes, imposing limits on a hike can open up a whole new world of discovery.

There are lots of trails to pick from in Joshua Tree. Here are three local's favorites.

For years, tensions have run high between AT thru-hikers and rangers in Baxter State Park. One hiker wonders, could moving the terminus solve the problem?

Kirk S. Thomas Olsen went missing during a solo backpacking trip in the park late last month.

Pet owners have long been able to vaccinate their dogs against Lyme disease. Soon, a promising vaccine could give hikers the same protection.

After counting switchbacks, I like to count sheep.

Rocky Mountain National Park isn’t known for its secluded trails. Head to the west side, however, and you can have these nearby trails all to yourself.