Kim Phillips
Rip & Go: Sage Creek Loop - Badlands National Park, SD
Explore off-trail in a wilderness with more bison than boot prints.
The Best Outdoor Electronics 2015
The best new backcountry cameras, long-lasting GPS units, and our picks for the hottest new portable power.
Spring's Best National Park: 5 Tips for Hiking Big Bend
Our expert's top tips for hiking Big Bend National Park in spring
![Scaling this short, steep trail up the east-facing cliffs of Champlain Mountain takes more than just cardiovascular fitness. You'll need some courage, too. The route gains nearly 1,000 feet of elevation in less than a mile by linking a series of challenging natural and man-made features. Climb sheer rock walls on ladders and iron rungs, and tightrope walk across exposed ledges. Catch your breath with summit views across Frenchman Bay and Mt. Desert Island. [image: Garden State Hiker/Flickr]](https://www.backpacker.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTQ0OTE0MTc4Njk1MjQzMzI5/precipice-trail-acadia-national-park-me.jpg)
![The hooded petals of this blue and violet flower resemble the serene pose of a monk's head bent in prayer. But don't be fooled by its tranquil appearance: If ingested, the toxins found in this plant's leaves and roots can cause paralysis of the respiratory system, muscle spasms, vomiting, and even death. Monkshood grows in moist woods and along creek banks in mountainous areas throughout most parts of the country. [image: utahwildflowers/Flickr]](https://www.backpacker.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTQ0OTE0MTA5OTc1MzA3ODQx/monkshood-aconitum-spp.jpg)
10 Wildflowers That Can Kill You
Here are 10 poisonous and otherwise hazardous flowers to watch out for on the trail.
Mountain Map: Adirondacks - The High Peaks
Get a field-scouted tour of the High Peaks.
Best Week: Continental Divide Loop
Tour glacial valleys and navigate to off-trail lakes and waterfalls on this six-day circuit.
Best Day: Longs Peak via Clarks Arrow and the Keyhole
Scramble up a 12.7-mile sneak route to Rocky Mountain National Park's highest peak.
Rocky Mountain Adventure Guide (2012 National Parks Series: Part 2 of 6)
Our map team scouted more than 500 miles of trails and cross-country routes to bring you a summer's worth of escapes in the Rockies.
Best Day: Mt. Rainier, Camp Muir (Summer Route)
Trek to a lofty, iconic basecamp on Rainier's snowy slopes.
Best Week: Wonderland Trail
Explore Mt. Rainier from nearly every angle on this hike from Fryingpan Creek to Mowich Lake. The classic route tags the subalpine meadows of Summerland, crests 5,000-foot Cowlitz Divide, and links dozens of crystalline lakes and waterfalls.
Mt. Rainier Adventure Guide (2012 National Parks Series: Part 1 of 6)
We mapped nearly 300 miles of trail to bring you the only resource you'll need to jump-start your adventures in this premier park.
Gear Guide 2012: Mophie Juice Pack Plus Outdoor Edition
A bomber iPhone case that also recharges the battery.
Readers' Choice 2012: Your Neck of the Woods - West Hikes
Climb an 11,000-foot peak, hike to a secret summit, see the glacier-capped Cascades, soak in hot pools, and explore the ruins of a 100-year-old resort.
Readers' Choice 2012: Top 3 - West Hikes
The region's best picks from our top field correspondent, who's notched more than 1,800 trail miles throughout the West and mapped 116 trips.
Rip & Go: Rocky Point to Round Lake - Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, MN
Glide through back-to-back lakes on a classic North Country canoe trip.
National Parks: North Cascades
Come for the sheer, glaciated peaks, but be mesmerized by rain-fed waterfalls that pour down on all sides.
Local Hikes: Northwest
The best hikes in Northwest, as suggested by the best local hiking clubs.
Local Hikes: California
The best hikes within two hours of California's major cities.
Rip & Go: Mt. Eielson Loop
Explore pure wilderness on this two-day circuit in the Alaska Range.