Should You Buy Backpacking Insurance?
Buddy is a new startup offering by-the-day accident insurance to people who love to play outside. Will hikers bite?
Displaying 961 - 1040 of approximately 1735 results
10 Feel-Good Summer Hikes
Craving sunshine on your shoulders? Consider this your hit list.
Meet the Artist: Nika Meyers
Meyers fell in love with thru-hiking after discovering Vermont’s Long Trail. Over 9,000 miles later, she still can’t stop.
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The 6 Most Remote Places in North America That You Can Actually Explore
Get away from civilization in these accessible wild places.
The 10 Rules of Solitude
Use these tips and trips to find backcountry peace and quiet, no matter where you live.
Master the Basics of Thru-Hiking
You don’t have to be a planner to start a thru-hike, but you’ll turn into one if you want to finish. Such is the wisdom of Amanda “Zuul” Jameson, who has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, and Grand Enchantment Trails and now helps fellow trekkers dial in their gear.
LEKI Micro Vario Carbon Black Series CLD
Most durable carbon poles
America's Most-Visited National Park is Getting its First Female Chief Ranger
Lisa Hendy will assume post at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in April.
Thru-Hiker Heather "Anish" Anderson’s Big Year
In 2018, Anish became the first woman—and sixth person overall—to hike the Triple Crown in a single calendar year. Doing it would take a lot of sweat, and 8,000 miles on the the trail.
Record-Breaking Kids of 2018 and Beyond
From big fish caught to big mountains summited, kids can do the darndest things.
Leave No Trace Confessional: I Cut an AT Blaze Off a Tree
A hiker's conservation sin leaves him lost.
How to Go Winter Hiking with Toddlers
You can do it! Here’s how—with tips from Scott and Jenny (and Raven and Evergreen) Jurek.
13 Ways to Make Hiking Better This Giving Tuesday
Because no matter what gear you have, the outdoors are the best gift.
How Heather “Anish” Anderson Finished the Triple Crown in a Single Year
In just over eight months and almost 8,000 miles on the trail, Anish became the first woman to complete America’s marquee long paths in a calendar year. Doing it took a lot of guts—and about 16 pairs of shoes.
Swiftkick Pursuit Heavy Hike
Warmest sock from the Fall/Winter 2018 Gear Guide.
Why I Still Carry an External-Frame Pack
There's more to my pack than old-school chic.
12 Little-Known National Park Hikes That Should Be On Your Bucket List
The perfect dozen: Embark on one of these 12 treks, and turn America's most iconic preserves into your own private paradise.
Confessions of a Reluctant Highpointer
More people have climbed Mt. Everest than have highpointed every state in the U.S. But does that mean it's really hard or really crazy—or both?
The Best Peaks in America
We asked readers to pick the best mountain in their state. This is what they said.
Hike Like a Local in Atlanta
Atlanta has plenty of nicknames, but the best one is The City in a Forest. Atlanta urban center boasts a higher density of tree cover than almost any other major city in the country—meaning quality trail time is hardly farther than your doorstep.
Plan for Power Line Across Kennebec Gorge Remains Controversial
A green electricity proposal finds fierce critics among Maine's wilderness lovers.
Passaic County Park Gets Hiker-Friendly Upgrades
Highlands Preserve's new bridge improves access to its trail network and beyond.
Cross the "Virginia Triple Crown" Off Your Hiking Bucket List
The saying goes, "Virginia is for Lovers," but it could just as easily be "Virginia is for outdoor lovers."
The Man Who Hiked it All
Photographer Bart Smith, 58, has hiked nearly every mile of every National Scenic and National Historic Trail designated under the National Trails System Act. We caught up with him before his latest outing—a 3,700-mile trip on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail—to talk about the hiker mind, trail magic, and seeing the elephant.
The Second Annual BACKPACKER Cover Contest
Submit your photo below for a chance to be on the BACKPACKER cover!
The Best Hiking Boots for Backpackers
Need a little extra support on the trail? These mid-cut boots are here to help.
For Thru-Hikers, This Year's Dry Winter Means Water Woes
With snow totals in the western US bleak, seasonal water sources are drying out—and that’s bad news for the backpackers who rely on them.
Renewable Energy Plan Would Build Power Lines across Maine Wilderness
A proposal to bring Canadian hydropower to Massachusetts would require cutting through a swath of pristine North Woods.
The 4 Best Knives and Multitools of 2018
From fixed-blade knives to versatile multitools, these are the top tools for backpackers.
6 Women Adventurers Who Are Changing the World
These explorers’ exploits go beyond just summiting a mountain: They're using the outdoors to preserve Native culture, protect the environment, and more.
Presentation: Thru-Hiking & Bikepacking the Triple Crown
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
The 7 Best Sleeping Bags of 2018
Bed down better in the backcountry by picking one of these comfy bags.
Editors’ Choice 2006: The Best Backpacking Gear of the Year
Cutting-edge technology, category-defining comfort, and exceptional value earn these 12 new products the BACKPACKER seal of approval.
Editors’ Choice 2002: The Best Backpacking Gear of the Year
After a gnarly hike down California's Lost Coast, these pieces shone.
Editors’ Choice 2001: The Best Backpacking Gear of the Year
Lightweight cookware and a revolutionary headlamp are among the highlights of this look back at 2001's best equipment.
Editors’ Choice 1998: The Best Backpacking Gear of the Year
Socks with frying pan technology, a pack built like a taco, boots that would make Darth Vadar smile. Innovation abounds in this year's "Best New Gear" Awards.
Editors' Choice 1996: The Best Backpacking Gear of the Year
After 18 days near the Arctic Circle, these boots, socks, packs, canoes, and more came out on top.
Editors’ Choice 1993: The Best Backpacking Gear of the Year
To find out where marketing hype ends and true excellence begins, we trolled the aisles at trade shows last fall (where new gear debuts) and drew up a list of likely candidates. Then we took samples into the woods and beat the heck out of them. When the dust settled, the survivors made it onto this year's best-of-the-breed list.
Conservation Groups Oppose Hotel on Mt. Washington
The proposed Skyline Lodge would sit 1,000 feet from the New Hampshire summit.
New York City's Top 5 Dayhikes
The best Big Apple escapes, as selected by BACKPACKER Local scout Justin Bailey.
Atlanta's Top 5 Dayhikes
The best local trails, as selected by BACKPACKER Local scout Stan Gentry.
Right to Roam: In Scotland, Hikers Can Go Anywhere
The U.S. may have pioneered land protection, but Scotland leads the charge when it comes to accessing wild terrain. Can we learn from one of the most hikeable countries on Earth?
AMC Book Club
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
Meet the 9-Year-Old Hiker Who Just Finished the Triple Crown
Christian "Buddy Backpacker" Thomas finished his hike of the CDT this month—making him the youngest person to finish America's three most famous long trails.
America’s Best Huts: Doyles River Cabin
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
America’s Best Huts: Roan High Knob Shelter
Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee
Boston College Grad Smashes AT Speed Record
Joe McConaughy, a former cross-country runner known as Stringbean, finished the trail with a 37-hour push.
Ask a Thru-Hiker: What Are The Wildest Food Challenges?
You could eat a half-gallon of ice cream in one sitting, or hike 100 miles eating only Pop-Tarts: On a long trail, anything goes.
Thru-Hike Basics
Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.
5 Threatened National Monuments to Backpack While You Still Can
The federal government is considering changes to national monuments around the country. Hike these trails to get a ground-level view of what's at stake.
Brave the White Mountain Superhike
Forget the comfort zone. Let ambition be your guide.
Atlanta Accounting Firm Hiking All of Georgia's AT
The firm Bennett Thrasher has organized a series of summer hikes for employees covering 79 trail miles.
Quadriplegic Woman Tackles PCT Thru-Hike
Computer-powered leg braces help Stacy Kozel cover up to 30 miles a day.
Hiker's Body Found Near Amicalola Falls State Park
Foul play is not suspected in the death of the 54-year-old Kentucky man.
How to Layer For Hiking: Insulation
Your warming layers can be different materials and thicknesses, but each one does the same thing: trap body-warmed air. Learn which ones are best suited to which conditions, and never be too cold—or too hot—again.
The Insider's Guide to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Get to know Maine's brand new national monument with a little help from an insider.
The Fight Against a Hotel on Mount Washington
When the owner of the Mount Washington Cog Railway announced plans to build a hotel near the summit of the Northeast’s highest peak, local hiking groups went to war.
Loudoun Heights Loop, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, West Virginia
Explore a confluence of American history and Appalachian landscapes.
Oboz Crest Low BDry
Most durable
Will Ryan Zinke Save the Outdoors—or Ruin Them?
The new Secretary of the Interior says he'll never sell America's public lands—but his record on wilderness, drilling, and "local control" has many advocates worried.
To Go Faster, Hike in the Zone
Put in enough miles, and feet hike on their own.
10 Unforgettable Trips to Make a Backpacker for Life
Go hiking at one of these ten reader-suggested destinations, and you'll never stop.
January 2017 Table of Contents
Check out lara's author page.
Ask a Thru-Hiker: Hiking Around the World
Travel the world or go for a long walk? You don't have to choose.
Ask a Thru-Hiker: Planning a Mid-Career Thru-Hike
Quitting your job for the trail doesn't necessarily spell doom for your career.
The 2016 Holiday Gift Guide
From clothing to coffee to climbing gear, here are 33 perfect gifts for the hikers on your list.
November 2016 Table of Contents
Suit up for winter with our semiannual gear guide.
Remembering Donn Fendler, the Boy Who Survived 'A Mountain in Maine'
For nine days in 1939, the search for a nine-year-old New York boy captivated America.
The 20 Best Colleges for Hikers
Education and recreation meet on these campuses, with thriving outdoor programs and nearby trails and mountains.
Obama Declares New Katahdin Woods and Water National Monument
Controversial new unit established on eve of NPS's 100th birthday.
Thru-Hiking 101 Online Course
Want to go on a thru-hike but not sure where to start? Take our course to learn how.
Protecting the Future of Our National Parks
It’s not all sunsets and s’mores. If the parks are going to last another century, we need to renew our effort to protect and preserve them. From garbage to global warming, here are the challenges—and solutions—ahead.
Out Alive: Attacked in the Woods
Deep in the Virginia woods, David Stephen Wingfield's father fights off an unseen assailant. But the truth is stranger than he could have imagined.
New York, NY: Movement for Migration (Stokes State Forest, NJ)
Amble past amber maples on Kittatinny Ridge as golden eagles and hawks soar overhead on this overnight loop. BY KATRINA ROSSOS
Paddling and Hiking North Carolina's Nantahala National Forest
Looking for a multisport trip? You couldn't do better than this stretch of wilderness on the east coast.
Ask a Thru-Hiker: What’s the Triple Crown of Hiking?
Ticking these three prestigious trails off your list is worth the time—but it'll take a lot of it.
June 2016 Table of Contents
Experience and appreciate a century of parks in our National Park Service special Centennial issue
Out Alive: Free Falling in a Utah Canyon
Niki Rellon, 40, fell 45 feet during a canyoneering expedition in November, 2013.
Asheville, NC: Hike with Elk (Cataloochee Divide Loop, Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
While Great Smoky Mountains might be the most visited park in the system, Cataloochee is far from the crowds—with a bit of luck, you can see as many elk as people.
8 Gadgets and Apps for Thru-Hikers
Hitting the trail? These products will help keep you just the right amount of connected.