Take Your Family Outdoors
Camping with kids can plant a wild seed in them that will grow as they do-but only if you get them Out There.
Displaying 1441 - 1520 of approximately 1712 results
Prayers Answered In Virginia's Priest Wilderness
In Virginia, a miracle occurs and hikers get some new wilderness, thanks to The Priest.
Navigating From Lost To Found
How one perpetually disoriented hiker found her bearings, thanks to some backwoods navigation pros.
Two Shades of White Mountains
Lines at backcountry outhouses. Hikers competing for tent sites. Is there any solitude left in New Hampshire's White Mountains? Lots of it, if you know where to go.
Do A Thru-Hike, Sans Pack
All it takes is $7,000 and a man named "Pittsburgh" to become a weightless thru-hiker.
North Carolina's Southern Nantahala Wilderness Area
A rugged land of sweet-smelling wildflowers, bald mountains, and stone Indians.
Delaware Water Gap, New Jersey & Pennsylvania
A peaceful rest stop in the shadow of the nation's largest city.
Michigan's Sylvania Wilderness
Hike up and down oak- and hickory-covered ridgetops, or explore underground.
Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
Lose yourself in the past on part of the Buckeye, America's longest loop trail.
South Taconic Mountains, Connecticut
Connecticut's South Taconic Mountains have bald peaks, deep, forested gorges, and trees as old as the Mayflower.
New York's Shower Of Color
Have your camera ready near dusk, when sunlight warms the landscape with intense color.
Avoiding Mosquitoes
Ah, spring, the season of the blessed bloom-and maddening mosquitoes. If you don't like slathering yourself in DEET, then you'd better learn how to avoid the pests.
Boating With Bald Eagles
The typical Delaware River float trip offers the opportunity to spy more bald eagles than people.
Splendor In Vermont's Green Mountains
Enjoy Vermont's autumn colors while you can -- they disappear all too quickly, and the Green Mountains recover their namesake hue in the spring.
Hiking At A Berry Slow Pace
Figure on 9 days to do the entire 100-mile hike—unless you're slowed drastically by all the blueberries.
Virginia's Berrypicking Paradise
When hiking on Virginia's high, exposed heath balds in late summer, leave gorp and other snacks at home.
The Prophet Of The PNT
With the fervor of a pulpit-pounding evangelist, Ron Strickland has wandered the land, preaching the gospel of the Pacific Northwest Trail he hoped to create.
Virginia's Crest Zone: Basking In Moonshine
Pine Mountain and Wilson Ridge command high-country vistas stretching across rock-strewn meadows.
Hike All Year
Okay, so the weather stinks and so does the hiking. Change both by heading down the road to where the sun shines and the trail beckons.
Great Smokies Showcase: Maddron Bald
In a park full of natural wonder, the route to Maddron Bald hits the high points.
Breaking Virginia's Tree Barrier
Virginia's Iron Mountain Loop nearly breaks treeline in the east.
Maine's Saddleback Range Traverse
Get above treeline in Maine's wild Saddleback Range.
Hoosier High Country's Uplifting Experience
You won't get a nosebleed on the Knobstone Trail, but you will get a taste of Hoosier high country.
Pennsylvania's Michaux State Forest
With all of the trail options in Pennsylvania's Michaux State Forest, it's hard to pick just one.
Katahdin In One Day
For some, reaching Maine's Mt. Katahdin is the end of a life-altering 2,100-mile pilgrimage. For others it's a lark. We captured the extremes, and a little bit of everything in between, one day atop Maine's "greatest mountain."
South Carolina's Blue Ridge Scene Stealer
The 76-mile Foothills Trail takes in all of the Blue Ridge's scenic wonders.
Go Now! The Wilderness Life List
The 10 once-in-a-lifetime adventures any backwoods fanatic should have under his hipbelt before hanging up the ol' pack.
Virginia's Massanutten Range
The 50-mile-long Massanutten range in Virginia may be D.C.'s top-secret hiking getaway.
Ultralight: The Ray Jardine Way
He rocked the world of climbing, challenged the accepted wisdom in sea kayaking, and now Ray Jardine turned his renegade way of thinking to backpacking.
International Hikes: The World Awaits
Grab your passport and follow these 25 hikes where wild winds Blow, strange animals roam, and even the alpenglow adds to the adventure.
Bear Mountain: NYC's Urban Antidote
Harriman/Bear Mountain State Park is only an hour from Manhattan, but you'll feel like you're worlds away.
Backcountry Diarrhea: Treating The Runs
When diarrhea strikes in the backcountry and there's no porcelain for 20 miles, the proper response can save your trip.
Massachusetts' Mt. Greylock
A mysterious ravine, old-growth forest, and big climbs -- only at Mt. Greylock Reservation.
Would You Eat These Bugs? 8 Edible Species Hikers Should Try
Beetle larvae taste "nutty" and scorpions are like "softshell crab" according to expert bug forager Aly Moore. Ready to try nature's trail mix for yourself? Here's how to do it.
The Best 50 Dayhikes, Backpacking Trips, and Thru-Hikes in the National Parks
Whether you’d prefer to summit a craggy peak or go for a riverside ramble, these are the most stunning trails in the National Park System.
Why a Self-Professed Health Nut Packs Butter on Every Hike
I was a nutrition snob. Then I learned how to meld pleasure with practicality in my backpacking food stash.
Being Forced to Use Rec.gov Just to Go Camping Is Psychological Warfare
Millions of campers and hikers around the U.S. are using recreation.gov to book their next vacation—and by the time they’re done dealing with its confusing navigation, broken interface, and inflated fees, most will need one.
Your Most Unhinged Hiking Takes Made Even Our Editors Uncomfortable
Is it OK to dig a cathole with your spork? Should we all start hiking barefoot? Is bug spray a scam? Watch Backpacker's editors react to your wildest hiking takes.
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America’s First National Park City
The outdoors is never far away in Chattanooga
Night Hikes Can Help Your Kids Be Braver In Life. Get Started With These 5 Expert Tips.
When one mom took her family on the nocturnal trail less traveled, could nature help her daughter overcome a fear of the dark?
Mud Season Is Coming. Are You Ready to Survive It?
First step: Accept that mud is inevitable on any trail.
The 6 Best New Year’s Resolutions for Peakbagging Hikers
Need a hiking resolution for 2025? Pick one of these lists.
The 10 Best Trips Stories We Ran in 2024
From unforgettable dayhikes to crowd-free international treks, these were the best trips we wrote about this year.
This Hated Holiday Food Is the Ultimate Hiking Snack
Made the butt of jokes and relegated to the discount aisle post-holiday, fruitcake may be the most disrespected confection of the Christmas season. But backpackers in the know understand this treat’s true power.
How Boomers Reshaped Backpacking—and What Happens When We’re Gone
The most dominant group in hiking history is fading to gray. But they’re not disappearing just yet.
A Nonprofit’s Land Purchase in Appalachia Ensures Permanent Land Protections
The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy just purchased a parcel of land to permanently protect a small region south of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
6 Great Voids to Scream Into This Election Season
Can’t take it anymore? We can't either. Step up to the void and scream it out on these six trails.
Do Hikers Have to Pay for Search and Rescue?
Getting carried or helicoptered off a mountain is already stressful, but the idea of paying for the privilege is enough to set any hiker’s teeth on edge. And while most subjects of a wilderness rescue will never face a bill or a fine, there are a few exceptions.
A Closure on the Last Stretch of the PCT Finally Reopens to Thru-Hikers
The Easy Fire closed the section of trail leading to Hart’s Pass in late July, threatening to block hikers' route to the finish.
5 Berry-Picking Hikes Where You Can Forage Right Now
These trails are currently laden with ripe fruit, but the foraging season won't last long.
Teacher Finds Bear in Classroom Munching on Kids’ Granola Bars
The bear came in through the window, cracked open the kids' earthquake emergency kits, and started devouring granola bars.
Meet the 4-Year-Old Who Has Climbed More Mountains Than You
After spending her infant years ascending New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks in a carrier, Lydia Pearson recently accomplished the challenge on her own two feet—summiting all 48 of them
7 Life-Changing Pieces of Hiking Gear Under $5
Revolutionize the way you hike with these 7 affordable must-haves.
Ramp Up Your Camp Meals With Appalachia’s Most Pungent Onion
This odiferous allium pops up annually in Appalachia throughout April and May and its allure is as palpable as its taste is polarizing.
Ask A Bear: Where Do You Stand on The ‘Man or Bear’ Viral TikTok Debate?
Would you rather be stuck in the woods with a man or a bear? Here's what our resident bruin would prefer.
The Best Women’s Hiking Shirts for Sweat, Sun, and Wind
Nine testers donned dozens of tops to find the best shirts, midlayers, and wind shells for hiking.
The Best Women’s Hiking Pants for Fit, Stretch, and Durability
Eight testers ran, trekked, and squatted in dozens of products to find the best bottoms for hiking.
This Lightweight Hauler Can Handle 50-Pound Loads
Mystery Ranch’s Radix carries serious cargo without a weight penalty.
Is It Obnoxious to Sing While You Hike?
Our etiquette columnist weighs in on a contentious but common trail occurrence.
On a 1,000-Mile Trek Through Alaska, I Learned What Gear I Really Needed
Self-described Luddite Michael Engelhard preferred to ditch the gadgets and improvise what he required instead. Would a super-size adventure change how he packed?
15 Reasons to Never Date a Hiker
Their idea of a nice dinner is buying the expensive dehydrated meal, cuddling on a sleeping pad is awkward, and don’t get us started on their feet: There are a lot of great reasons to date a hiker, but there are also a lot of reasons not to.
The 101 Best Miles of Hiking in the National Parks
America’s national parks boast thousands of stunning trail miles, but some are just a hair more amazing. Find the top 101 miles in the entire system on these 16 hikes.
The Bad Hiking Habits We’re Keeping in 2024
New year, new us? Not quite. From hiking crowded trails to carrying gear we know we will never use, here are all the bad habits we plan to keep nursing this year.
Backpacker’s 5 Top Trips Stories of 2023
Want to hike in Middle Earth? Turns out you just need to go to this park in Ohio. Plus: What we think could be the new Triple Crown trails.
These 5 Outdoor Gift Certificates Are Perfect Last-Minute Presents for Hikers
Sure, you could send the hiker on your list cash—but these digital gift cards will show them you know what they’re about.
A Rescue Gone Wrong
In 1982, a daring rescue mission changed Joe Lentini's life forever. What began as a noble effort by Mountain Rescue Service volunteers took an unforeseen turn, leaving profound and lasting echoes in the lives of all involved.
Spooky Ghost Stories from 6 Haunted U.S. National Parks
A searching mother, a headless gunslinger, a mysterious light to show you the way: these national parks are home to hair-raising tales
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Vote Now on the 2023 Defender Service Awards Finalists
The top nonprofits win a customized Land Rover Defender 130 and a pile of cash. Cast your vote starting on September 15 to help choose this year’s winners.
The Gear That Backpacker’s Editors Loved in August 2023
From a bulletproof pair of rain pants to a sunscreen stick that helped us stay scorch-free, this was the gear we depended on in summer's final stretch.
The 10 Most Beautiful Hikes in U.S. National Forests
Our national forests are brilliant, underappreciated, and uncrowded compared to most national parks. Here’s the intel on where to hike in these stunning landscapes.
21-Year-Old Man Collapses, Dies While Hiking in New Hampshire
The cause of death has not yet been released.
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5 Nonprofits Making the World a Better Place
Winners of the Defender Service Awards save bears, train service dogs, feed people in need, and more. Meet last year’s honorees—and learn how to enter the 2023 contest now!
2073 Could Be Paradise for Backpackers—or a Hiking Hell
It's been 50 years since we published the first issue of Backpacker. What will the backcountry look like in another half-century? Our editor speculates.
New Hampshire’s Bad Search and Rescue Policy May Be About to Get Even Worse
New Hampshire is one of the only states in the nation that regularly makes hikers it deems negligent pay for their own rescue. Now, legislators are considering suspending their driver's licenses if they don't pay. It's a dangerous policy, our editor says.
Years After My Mentor Died in the Backcountry, I Retraced His Final Footsteps
Faced with risk and loss in the mountains, our writer grapples with what it means to lead a life well-lived.
This Is the Best Winter Ever to Visit Yosemite National Park. Here’s Why.
While California’s storms were devastating in many parts of the state, they blew epic snow and adventure opportunities into the park. Waterfall viewings are off the charts, there are fewer crowds, and conditions are primo for backcountry exploring.
10 Perfect Holiday Gifts to Get a Backpacker in 2022
Outdoorsy folks get stoked on gear year-round, but the holidays are a chance to surprise your favorite trailblazer with the latest and greatest items for their gear closet.
This Hiker Just Completed the 6,800-Mile Great Western Loop in Less than 200 Days
Nick “Chezwick” Gagnon became the fastest person to circumnavigate the enormous route, which takes in sections of five major thru-hikes
7 Incredible Trips to Gift the Hiker in Your Life This Year
Forget a new tent: Backpacker's editors sound off on the trips they'd like someone to buy them in 2023.
How I Fell in Love With Hiking in the Rain
Humans, like trees, grow best in damp soil.