See the Caribou Migration in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Hit the river and see some of the best wildlife Alaska has to offer.
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Paddle the Beardslee Islands in Glacier Bay National Park
See life-list wildlife from a secluded beach Alaskan camp.
Find a Private Mountain Refuge in Gates of the Arctic
Discover an alpine paradise—and get it all to yourself—in northern Alaska.
Trek a Glacier the Easy Way
Head to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park to explore a beginner-friendly glacier.
House Bill Seeks to Simplify Permit Process on Public Lands
Rep. Doug LaMalfa introduced the Guide and Outfitters Act last January and hopes for a floor vote soon.
Anti-Litter Activist Fights Back Against National Forest Polluters
Organizing volunteer cleanups is just the start for one Northern California man.
Flash Flood Kills 9 at Cold Springs Swimming Hole
Fast-rising waters swept away an extended family last weekend in the Tonto National Forest.
Historic Spruce Railroad Trail Reopens in Olympics This Weekend
The 100-year-old McFee Tunnel trail segment is on the north shore of Lake Crescent.
Hiker Dies in Fall on Sauk Mountain
The 69-year-old woman slipped while hiking a popular trail in the Mt. Baker National Forest.
Officials Save Thousands of Fish from Arizona Wildfires
Game and Fish crews have stocked thousands more fish in area lakes in recent weeks.
Woman Cited After Dog Dies on Hot Hike
The pit bull, its owner, and two other hikers were treated for heat-related illness on Scottsdale's McDowell Mountain.
Paddlers Gather to Clean Up Ocmulgee River
Float Daze paddling crew yanks everything from soda cans to mattresses from the water.
Hiker's Body Found Near Amicalola Falls State Park
Foul play is not suspected in the death of the 54-year-old Kentucky man.
16 Exercises to Help You Train Like a Guide
Train like a pro to perform like one. Bryan Pope of Earth Native Wilderness School recommends these exercises with high reps and low weight to build the strength and endurance of a mountain guide.
Weather Helps Firefighters Gain Upper Hand in Some California Blazes
Cooler temperatures and humidity led to higher levels of containment for several wildfires this week.
Senior National Parks Pass Price to Go Up
Rising from $10 to $80
Volunteer Opp: Invasive Species Removal
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Class: Intro to Sea Kayaking
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History Lecture: The Lafayette Trail
Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.
Thoreau 200th Birthday Hike
Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.
Class: Hiking in the White Mountains
Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.
Hike: New England Trail Section 5
Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.
LA: Get Ready for the Summer Olympics
Changes at the International Olympic Committee mean LA will very likely host the Games in 2028.
Boy Scout Leader Dies on Troop Hike
Heat exhaustion appears to have played a role in the scoutmaster's death near San Rafael.
GoPro Hero5 Black
Best for shooting difficult terrain
Sony RX100 V
Best performance in a small package
Nikon D500
Best for capturing action shots
Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark II
Most versatile
LowePro TopLoader Pro 70 AW II
Keep your camera close
BioLite PowerLight
Juice up
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack
Protective Bag
Peak Design Shell
Camera Cover
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Best overall performance
Thule Versant 50L
Feature-Rich Pack
100 Days Outdoors: Montana Summer, An Adventurer’s Dreamland
From white water to granite handholds to pine tree hangs—Leaving Montana wasn’t easy.
Chicago's Parks 11th Best in the U.S.
This year, improved park access helped the Windy City jump higher on the Trust for Public Lands list.
Suburban Cyclists Still Face Challenges, Study Finds
Multiple barriers make safe, easy bike rides harder outside of Chicago.
Bear that Attacked Teen Trapped and Killed
Wildlife officials captured the black bear in the same campground where a 19-year-old was dragged from his tent last week.
Boulder County Seeks Donations to Reopen Popular Trail
The Anne E. White Trail was closed after the 2013 floods.
Yosemite Ranger Rescues 7 Lost Hikers in 1 Night
All 7 hikers got off-track in deep snow near Tuolumne Meadows.
Fire Department to Manitou Incline Hikers: Don't Get in Over Your Head
A surge in rescues of unprepared hikers prompted the warning.
Bear "Crunches" on Sleeping Teen's Head
The 19-year-old camp counselor escaped with minor injuries.
Voormi Access NXT Pullover
Double Midlayer
Howler Brothers Gaucho Snapshirt
Everyday Shirt
Club Ride Shaka Flannel
Technical Flannel
Columbia Montrail Titan Lite Windbreaker
Ultralight Windshirt
Topo Designs Breaker Shirt Jacket
Versatile long sleeve
Patagonia Nano-Air Light Hybrid Jacket
Workhorse puffy
Columbia Shimmering Light Short Sleeve Shirt
Technical T-shirt
Club Ride Two Timer
Midlayer
KÜHL Renegade Pant
Do-it-all pants
Columbia South Canyon Casual Rain Pant
Bargain rain pant
Dynafit Transalper Light Dynastretch Pant
Fast-and-light pants
Black Diamond Alpine Light Softshell Pants
Most breathable
Arc’teryx Sabria Pant
Best Mobility
Columbia Silver Ridge Pull-On Pant
Bargain pick
Arc’teryx Psiphon FL Short
Durable shorts
Royal Robbins Coast Short
Fast-Drying Shorts
ExOfficio Sol Cool Boxer Brief
Cooling underwear
tasc TTFN Studio Bra
Most comfortable
Patagonia Active Mesh Bra
Quick-dry
Stio Modis Hooded Jacket
Breathable Shell
Watch the Milky Way Sink Behind Mt. Rainier
Mesmerizing time-lapse video show the galaxy spinning alongside The Mountain.
Guide Breaks Record for Mt. Rainier Summits
An RMI Expeditions guide notched 520 ascents this summer.
First Baby Fisher Confirmed in South Cascades
The newly reintroduced population of furry carnivores is reproducing in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
New Online Paddling Guide to Illinois Launches This Week
The free site covers more than 500 miles of water trails in 10 waterways.
Google Street View Coming to Passaic County Trails
Project will cover about 2,000 miles of North Jersey hiking trails.
Atlanta Named #5 Best City for Recreation
Wallethub's list considers recreational facilities, park lands, and weather.
How to Bake in the Backcountry
No oven? No problem. Here’s how to put cookies, muffins, and brownies on the menu.
Does Your Jacket Leak?
Read the hang tags, know the lasting performance of the gear you are purchasing.
The 14 Most Extreme Places in America
From remote lakes to forests of giant trees, it doesn't get bigger, further, wetter, or taller than these spots.
Famous OR-7 Wolf is Grandfather to Lassen Pack
Biologists confirm that new northern California pack traces back to the first wolf spotted in the state since 1924.
Denver Lands Major Outdoor Gear Show
The Outdoor Retailer trade shows will move to Colorado starting in January 2018.
Fundraising Nearly Done for New Squannacook Trail
Construction on the 3.7-mile trail between Townsend and Groton could start as early as this fall.
Wildfire Kills Endangered Pygmy Rabbits
About 70 endangered rabbits were killed when the Wenatchee-area fire burned a state breeding facility.
How To Cross Rivers Safely
Will that river kill me if I try to cross it? Den Mother helps you assess fast-moving waters.
Otters in the Loop?
WBEZ investigates otter sightings in and around the downtown Chicago River.