JR Stockwell is the King of the Mountains
If there was a championship of local hiking, New Hampshire native JR Stockwell would be a lock for first place—except he never tells anyone about his singular adventures in the White Mountains.
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You’re Doing it Wrong: Gear
Your gear is your lifeline. Pack it right and maintain it correctly for a fun, hassle-free trip.
Alleged AT Killer Not Competent to Stand Trial
James L. Jordan will be transferred to a psychiatric facility.
Hike of the Week: Tablerock Mountain, NC
Capture some of North Carolina’s best views as you hike into the Linville Gorge Wilderness on this spring-perfect trek.
2019 Get Out More Tour Schedule
Backpacker's Get Out More Tour is coming to a place near you!
BACKPACKER's 5 Favorite Hikes of 2018
From Catalonia to California, our staff picks their top trails of the year.
3 Exercises to Train for Carrying Heavy Packs
Whether you need to carry a full load of winter gear or just an extra camp chair, train your muscles to take the weight with these three exercises.
Why Hikers Should Know Their Plants
Find home anywhere, one leaf at a time.
The Best Reader Photos from National Summit Day
Relive our celebration of peaks with these mountaintop shots.
How to Train for Steep Hikes
Push through big climbs and banish quad burn by increasing your lactate threshold.
The 11 Best Wild and Scenic River Trips in America
Some of the best wilderness in the country has no trail at all. Grab a paddle and get ready for the ultimate summer on the water with these 11 trips down National Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Why Hells Canyon is Better Than the Grand Canyon
When it comes to backpacking destinations, Hells Canyon takes the cake.
Editor’s Note: Why We Need to Tell Women’s Stories
This week, BACKPACKER is putting the focus on the women of hiking. Guest editor Kassondra Cloos explains why that matters.
Editors’ Choice 1994: The Best Backpacking Gear of the Year
From burly leather boots to a useful multitool, these are our favorite pieces of gear this season.
2018 Get Out More Tour Retail Schedule
Backpacker's Get Out More Tour is coming to a shop near you!
What New Offshore Drilling Means for National Parks
The Department of the Interior's plan to open up more of America's waters for drilling has conservation groups worried, but the government agency in charge says their concern is misplaced. What does the future hold for coastal parks?
Evening Snowshoe Tour
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
The 4 Best Sunrise Hikes to Celebrate Daylight Savings Time
Yes, 'springing forward' means it's dark an hour later. But that just means you've got more time to catch the sunrise from one of these four perfect lookouts.
Colorado Kid Breaks Record for Youngest Triple Crown Hiker
Nine-year-old Christian "Buddy Backpacker" Thomas completed the Continental Divide Trail this year to claim the title.
Not In Boston, But: Hiker Rescues Rooster on the AT!
Heather Bolint, 1,124 miles into her hike, came across a fancy rooster near the Mason-Dixon Line. She carried him 42 miles to safety.
Are You Brave Enough for These 4 Haunted Hikes?
Destinations Editor Maren Horjus shares four spooky, Halloween-ready tales from her new book, Haunted Hikes.
"Redlining" the White Mountains Becomes More Popular
More and more people are hiking all 1,420 miles of AMC's "Guide to the Paths and Camps in the White Mountains."
The Most Popular Program in the Outdoors is in Danger
The Land and Water Conservation Fund has bought land for national parks and long trails, and doesn't cost taxpayers a thing. So why does the White House want to cut it?
The Best Day Hikes in America: Mt. Rogers via Massie Gap
Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia
The Backcountry Swimming Hole User's Manual
How do you find the best secret spots to take a dip? When is it OK to go naked? Backpacker answers all your summer swimming questions.
Make Hiking Great Again
Putting one foot in front of the other isn’t the most extreme activity, but damn if the original outdoor pursuit isn’t the sexiest.
Hike: Wachusett Mt. to the White Mountains Series, Mt. Galehead
Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.
How to Beat the Cold While Hiking in Winter
Keep yourself (and your supplies) from freezing this winter with tips from Philip Werner, an Appalachian Mountain Club leader and founder of sectionhiker.com
Ask a Thru-Hiker: Tips for a College Student
Dreaming of tackling the AT after graduation? Liz "Snorkel" Thomas has some advice.
West Virginia – Wardensville and the Lost River Trading Post
Check out Morgan Tilton's author page.
A Kid's First Journey in Ed Abbey's Utah
In Canyonlands’ backcountry, a family learns that the wonder of our parks belongs to anyone who goes looking for it.
America's Next National Park
There are more than just 59 beautiful wild lands in the States. But which areas have the best shot at earning coveted national park status?
Pass/Fail: Hammock Camping
If you’ve come across campers hanging blissfully above the cold, hard ground, you might have wondered: How hard can it be? Our scout finds out.
May 2016 Table of Contents
Learn to control your mind, explore the Gates of the Arctic, survive with tent poles, and more in this issue.
Brave the "World's Worst Weather" on the Crawford Path
East Coast Alps, White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
The Ultimate 64-Hour Weekend: Blitz the Border of the Carolinas
Three parks, two state, one weekend: You’ll accomplish a lot in this Charlotte-based weekend mission.
Boston, MA: Mt. Washington in Winter
Get the closest to the Alps without leaving the States—by traversing the Presidentials, including Mt. Washington, in winter. BY RYAN WICHELNS
What Happens When You Hike Every Day for a Month?
With a high school reunion coming and a gut to lose, our writer tries to remake himself on the trail.
4 Ways to Make Packing Out TP Less Gross
Yes, the idea of carrying out your nasty, used toilet paper is a little gross. But in many places, it's also the right thing to do. Here are some tips to make it painless and smell-free.
Skier's Paradise: Backcountry Hut & Yurt Destinations
Maximize your winter fun with a backcountry basecamp where you can spend all day skiing or snowshoeing, and all evening lounging by the fire.
Buffalo National River, AR: Hemmed-in Hollow Falls
Tour bluffs surrounding Arkansas’s Buffalo National River before nabbing a view of the tallest waterfall between the Rocky and Appalachian mountains.
Three Amazing Foliage Hikes To Do in a Day
Score local color without the crowds.
The 20 Best Backcountry Lakes: Calderwood Lake
Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, Tennessee/North Carolina
6 Amazingly Close Canadian National Parks
Take an adventure north of the border with these stunning Canadian national park hikes that are closer than you think.
These 19 Backcountry National Park Campsites Are the Best in America
Picking the best campsites in the national parks is a hard task, but these 19 backcountry sites are the cream of the crop.
9 Historical Parks That Hikers Can Fall in Love With
From sacred Native American sites to remote settlements, these historic NPS units are worth exploring on foot.
10 Amazing Backcountry Picnic Spots
Big mileage days are great and all, but sometimes you just want to stop, smell the roses (er, wildflowers), and picnic with a spectacular view.
Boston, MA: Mount Washington via Lion Head Winter Route
Climb the peak with the infamous moniker "Home of the World's Weather" in winter.
Weekends: Archer's Fork Loop, Ohio
Avoid winter a little longer on this fall hike through an Appalachian region.
Find the Ultimate Hiking Partner
What makes a great hiking partner? It pays to choose wisely.
Wildlife Hot Spots in America
It’s a zoo out there. Snag close-ups of bears, birds, and elk on these late-summer dayhikes.
10 Wildflowers That Can Kill You
Here are 10 poisonous and otherwise hazardous flowers to watch out for on the trail.
No Permit? No Problem
Bless the planners of the world, with their tight itineraries and advance reservations. This story is not for them. Here are your go-to, last-minute getaways.
Bear Safety: Every Tip You'll Ever Need
All the safety tips you need to be "bear aware" in one convenient location
Little Rock: Hemmed-In-Hollow Falls via Buffalo National River
Paddle the Buffalo National River into a narrow valley pinched by steep rock walls, then hike up to the largest waterfall in the Midwest on this 9.9-mile trip.
Philadelphia: Wind Gap to Smith Shelter
This 8.8-mile, out-and-back wooded hike runs the spine of the Appalachian Mountains to one of the most remote AT shelters in Pennsylvania.
Boston, MA: Ponkapoag Pond Loop
This scenic 4.2-mile hike in the Blue Hills Reservation loops under pines and passes by a rare Atlantic white cedar bog, home to 17 endangered species.
Birmingham: Cheaha Mountain
Hike 'Bama's longest trail to reach its highest peak on this 20.6-mile out-and-back near the southern anchor of the Appalachian Mountains.
Atlanta: Stone Mountain
Wooded lakeshores. Civil War hotspots. A giant granite mountain. This 7.4-mile hike tops out with peerless views of rolling green Piedmont from the summit of an open dome east of Atlanta.
Tellico Plains, TN: Crowder Branch/Mill Branch
Climb to a cool oasis in the Citico Creek Wilderness on this 7-mile loop.
Middlebury, VT: Mount Wilson Loop
On the way up to three Green Mountain summits, this strenuous 12.4 mile loop scampers along ridgelines and rewards with expansive views of Lake Champlain.
Portland, ME: Speckled Mountain
Gather blueberries along a vista-packed loop in the state's largest wilderness.
Albany, NY: Devils Path
Test your limits on this New York backcountry challenge.
Manchester, NH: The Bonds
Climb a trio of peaks with bird’s eye views of the Presidentials on this 20-mile out-and-back in White Mountain National Forest.
Atlanta, GA: Duncan Ridge (Section 2A)
A classic Appalachian ridge hike, this 11-mile shuttle tackles numerous knobs and summits under heavy canopy with occasional Blue Ridge views.
Asheville, NC: Green Knob
In the shadow of Mt. Mitchell, this 5.6-mile ridgeline hike climbs through hemlock and chestnut oak to a watchtower overlook of Blue Ridge and Pisgah peaks.
White Mountain National Forest: Franconia Ridge
Bag three peaks above 4,000 feet on this classic 8.2-mile Franconia Ridge Loop in the White Mountains.
Monongahela National Forest, WV: Cranberry Wilderness Loop
Circle an upland swamp rich with views, solitude, and wild edibles.
100-Mile Wilderness, ME: Little Lyford to Gorman Chairback
Ski (or snowshoe) hut-to-hut in the East’s wildest preserve.
Knoxville, TN: Citico Creek Wilderness Loop
Plunge deep into quiet Appalachian hollows and traverse narrow ridgelines with views across row upon row of forested peaks.
Rip & Go: North Fork Mountain, Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, WV
Climb sandstone outcroppings and spot raptors on this wildlife-packed ridgeline.
Grand Traverses: Monroe Skyline
Bag six of the state's loftiest peaks in a single, stout day on the Long Trail.
June 2013 Table of Contents
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
First Night Out: Flora
Three hikes with scenic wildflower vistas
The High Life: Hut, Hut, Hike!
Why should a backpacker want anything other than a tent? Michael Lanza can think of five good reasons.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Chimney Tops via Newfound Gap
Follow fern-lined trails to scramble up a rocky pinnacle.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Mid-Smokies Circuit
String together the Appalachian, Benton MacKaye, and Mountains-to-Sea Trails for a 48-mile instant classic that hits the park's best views and backcountry campsites.
From the Field: East
Our trail scouts' top local hikes
Rip & Go: Citico Creek Loop, Cherokee & Nantahala National Forests, TN/NC
Plunge deep into quiet Appalachian hollows and traverse narrow ridgelines with views across row upon row of forested peaks.
Reader Extreme Makeovers: Lighten a Heavy Load
By replacing just five key items from this reader's Army surplus kit we helped him save over 10 pounds of unnecessary weight.