News and Events

Northbound thru-hikers will have to backtrack to Harts Pass after Canada stops issuing permits allowing hikers to enter at the northern terminus.

Usually, America's southernmost long trail is a safe haven from winter weather. But this week, Florida Trail hikers along the Panhandle woke up to a once-in-a-lifetime sight: several inches of snow.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s thru-hike registrations are down by nearly 30% compared to this time last year—and a look at last season reveals a potential reason why.

A leak released chlorine, used for water treatment at the park, forcing park authorities to close several trails.

A pair of hikers took separate slides down the side of Hollyburn Mountain earlier this week, resulting in an ankle injury and a suspected leg fracture.

On January 7, Kai Cranmore was on a dayhike near Pacific Palisades with a group of his friends when one of them smelled smoke. Minutes later, they were fleeing as a wildfire spread through the canyon around them.

In 2020, Colorado voters approved a measure to bring gray wolves back to the state. But as reintroduction efforts continue, opposition remains strong.

After four decades of running outdoor adventure trips and educational courses, REI is eliminating more than 400 jobs to focus on its core retail business, the company’s CEO said on Wednesday.

At 1,454 miles long, the Buckeye Trail is a grand tour of Ohio—and the government is considering adding it to the National Trails System.

The EXPLORE Act aims to address the housing crisis in gateway communities, increase outdoor access for veterans, kids, and marginalized groups, develop more long-distance bike trails, and about a dozen other issues

State officials say they're worried about bison passing on disease to cattle outside the park—but wildlife managers say it's never happened before.

Last month, two Las Vegas hikers tackled 11,916-foot Mt. Charleston via the 16-mile South Loop Trail, one of them in a pair of Crocs. It went fine—until the snow began to fall.

Massive celebration of outdoor culture returns to Denver with an all-star musical lineup, a bigger footprint, and an energetic mix of speakers, gear, films, food and fun

Trail conditions on Mount Charleston’s South Loop Trail have led to a number of falls and serious injuries from hikers who Las Vegas police described as unprepared.

Eight years after the White House slashed its size by more than 85%, the recently-restored Bears Ears National Monument may be back on the chopping block—and legal experts say the entire national monument system could be in jeopardy alongside it.

A solo hiker was wandering around Summersville Lake when he became trapped in thick mud.

AT thru-hikers today are more likely to finish the trail and less likely to get their food stolen by a bear—and more than ever before are coming from outside of the United States.

After two near-misses in the mountains north of Vancouver, a search and rescue team is urging hikers to research routes they find online more carefully.

Two months after Hurricane Helene, miles of storm-impacted trail, including a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, have begun welcoming hikers back. Others remain closed until further notice.

A pair of Massachusetts hikers were prepared for winter conditions in the Whites until they fell into Lincoln Brook, while a local took a fatal fall despite wearing microspikes.

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy just purchased a parcel of land to permanently protect a small region south of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. 

More than 80 firefighters and emergency personnel are currently working on the Butternut Fire in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

In a park where black bear sightings were rare, Zion visitors saw more bears in 2024, specifically between May and June.

The North Dakota governor has promoted outdoor recreation in his state. Opponents worry about his connection to the oil and gas industry.

An outdoors podcast reports that the celebrated backpack brand will sunset its consumer line next year—but a source with knowledge of the company’s plans says that at least some products will be available longer.

Joro spiders, a much-maligned species of arachnid with a leg span that can top 3 inches, have officially been spotted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Scientists say they’re harmless to humans—but their effect on the environment is still up in the air.

The park won't enforce the timed-entry system between July 7 and August 27, 2025. 

After SAR rescued two heavily laden, inexperienced hikers from the Lower 48's highest peak, they had some strong advice to share with anyone thinking of following in their footsteps.

A "very small subset" of REI members flagged for misusing the outdoor retail giant's return policy will no longer be able to bring back or exchange their purchases.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

A suspected Norovirus outbreak is the likely culprit of the incidents that closed the Kalalau Trail.

Authorities are considering whether to file charges against a man whose suspected harassment of the bear led to the fatal encounter.

Colorado Fourteeners Initiative points to closures, population growth patterns, and aging baby boomers as possible reasons behind trend.

From flash flooding to excessive heat, some experts say climate-fed weather patterns may be contributing to deaths in one of America’s most popular national parks.

Hike, bike, paddle, swim, fish, snorkel, camp—do it all in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

The Easy Fire closed the section of trail leading to Hart’s Pass in late July, threatening to block hikers' route to the finish.

A corporate retreat went bad this week after a 15-person hiking group left one of their own behind on Colorado’s 14,231-foot Mt. Shavano.

The $100 million gift from the Lilly Endowment could fund infrastructure and education projects.

Seek out challenging waters with powerful experiences that both test your limits and offer a way to protect our oceans—then follow them with a wine that’s done the same

The Canadian woman was found safe after spending four days lost in the Colorado Mountains.

Although experts aren’t yet certain why the arch fell, they have some good guesses.

The bear came in through the window, cracked open the kids' earthquake emergency kits, and started devouring granola bars.

Move aside, pack mules. This duo of highly trained llamas is here to steal the spotlight.

Yes, canoeing is in the Olympics—and the races are happening now. Here's what to expect, plus how to watch the races for yourself.

We're headed to Kathmandu for two weeks of school-building, teahouse trekking, and incredible Himalayan views. Want in?

Hundreds of PCT hikers face last-minute reroutes as wildfires close in on the critical resupply town, which is only accessible by boat, foot, or plane.

The evacuation call came late at night, causing chaos and confusion as locals and tourists tried to leave the park en masse

A recent explosion in Yellowstone National Park left Biscuit Basin boardwalks "extensively damaged."

After setting a new co-ed record in Colorado, this hiking couple shares their secrets for stronger trail partnerships.

Officials beg hikers to extinguish coals after finding dozens of still-smoldering campfires across the state.

California's Shelly Fire is just 8 percent contained and closing in on the town of Etna—but that's not the town's only problem.

All visitors are required to pack out used toilet paper; burying it is no longer an option.

On Sunday, a hiker collapsed just 100 feet from the end of the trail. It was the third death in the park in three weeks.

Kyle Curtin only slept about 12 hours total over the course of his Colorado Trail thru-hike. When he finished, he could barely walk.

The 22-year-old hiker was reported missing after his friends left him behind in Monadnock State Park.

Wouldn't it be nice if your boots did the hiking for you? The host of Failure Is an Option engineers a solution.

On Tuesday, a horse slid off the side of a popular backcountry trail, falling 30 feet into a ravine.

Scientists have discovered some friendly new bacteria in the waters of Bath, England, which was once the Romans’ favorite soaking spot. What else is lurking in the deep?

Seven of the kids were hospitalized.

The fall triggered an hours-long technical rope rescue.

With some relaxed restrictions, driving the iconic road will be easier this year, as long as you follow a couple new regulations.

This June 19, national parks are waiving entry fees for all visitors in honor of the Juneteenth holiday.