Rip & Go: Sage Creek Loop – Badlands National Park, SD
Explore off-trail in a wilderness with more bison than boot prints.
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Kim Phillips
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Black Diamond Ember Power Light
We used this new take on the old school light as a backup for headlamps and also to revive dead smartphones on multiday trips.
The Best Outdoor Electronics 2015
The best new backcountry cameras, long-lasting GPS units, and our picks for the hottest new portable power.
Anker 2nd Gen Astro 6400
For the size and weight of an energy bar (and the cost of a box of them), you get 6,400 mAh (enough for four iPhone 4 charges).
iBattz Mojo BattStation Optimus 20400
This 20,400 mAh brick is ideal for people going out for more than a weekend but who don’t want to fuss with solar.
Goal Zero Venture 30 Solar Kit
This rugged, waterproof 7,800mAH portable power pack survived all the abuse we could throw at it in the backcountry.
Garmin fēnix 2
This watch's long-lasting battery makes it easy to collect a wealth of data.
Garmin GPSMAP 64st
This GPS unit is rugged, reliable, and comes with preloaded maps.
Tamron 16mm-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro Lens
This all-in-one lens is lighter—and has a larger zoom range—than its predecessor (which we’ve long loved).
Nikon D750
You don’t have to be a pro to covet this camera's impressive features.
Canon PowerShot G16
This camera gives you DSLR quality images in a compact, 12MP point-and-shoot package.
Sony a5100
This mirrorless camera has the ability to change lenses, giving you more creative control—and it’s more packable than a DSLR.
Spring's Best National Park: 5 Tips for Hiking Big Bend
Our expert's top tips for hiking Big Bend National Park in spring
The Best Hikes for Thrill-Seekers
Wild, adventurous, and possibly dangerous trails.
10 Wildflowers That Can Kill You
Here are 10 poisonous and otherwise hazardous flowers to watch out for on the trail.
Best Day: Horseshoe Canyon
Wind through an isolated gorge with ancient art.
Mountain Map: Adirondacks – The High Peaks
Get a field-scouted tour of the High Peaks.
Gear Review: First Ascent MicroTherm Down Hoodie
A featherweight, 800-fill puffy
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 Weekend: Northern Loop Trail
See scores of wildflowers, waterfalls, and peaks.
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: Backcountry Solutions Geek Pocket
A backpacker-friendly smartphone or GPS case that doesn't block signals
Gear Guide 2012: Mophie Juice Pack Plus Outdoor Edition
A bomber iPhone case that also recharges the battery.
Gear Guide 2012: Garmin GPSMAP 62stc
A top-performing GPS unit with photo-location capabilities.
Editors' Choice 2012: inReach by DeLorme
Send and receive with the ultimate backcountry communicator.
Gear Review: Pearl Izumi syncroFuel XC Trail Shoe
A trail runner that can handle day hiking with ease
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.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010: Navigation Devices
Stay on track with the best GPS units. Plus, awesome navigation apps.
3 Top Navigation Apps
Stay on track with these three navigation and hiking apps.
Gear Review: SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger
Never go missing with this personal locator beacon.
Gear Review: Magellan eXplorist GC
Geocaching just got easier with this palm-size GPS unit.
Gear Review: Mophie Juice Pack Reserve
Stay connected with this keychain-size battery charger.
Gear Review: Garmin GPSMAP 62st
The pinpoint accuracy of this GPS system will keep you on track even in the most narrow valleys.
Local Hikes: Spokane, WA
The best hikes near Spokane.
Local Hikes: Portland, OR
The best hikes near Portland.
Local Hikes: Anchorage, AK
The best hikes near Anchorage.
Local Hikes: Boise, ID
The best hikes near Boise.
Seattle Hikes
The best hikes near Seattle, WA.
Local Hikes: Santa Barbara/Ventura
The best local hikes near Santa Barbara/Ventura.
Local Hikes: San Francisco
The best hikes near San Francisco.
Local Hikes: Las Vegas, NV
The best hikes near Las Vegas.
San Diego Hikes
The best hikes near San Diego.
Sacramento Hiking
The best local hikes near Sacramento.
Local Hikes: Los Angeles
The best local hikes in LA.
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.
Print & Go Weekend Trip Planners
Free Print & Go PDFs give you turn-by-turn trail instructions and photos embedded on a usable topo map. Also: Gear checklists, driving directions, and geo-references for finding the nearest campground, restaurant, gas station, and grocery store.
Rip & Go: Mt. Eielson Loop
Explore pure wilderness on this two-day circuit in the Alaska Range.