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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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.
Your gear is your lifeline. Pack it right and maintain it correctly for a fun, hassle-free trip.
James L. Jordan will be transferred to a psychiatric facility.
Capture some of North Carolina’s best views as you hike into the Linville Gorge Wilderness on this spring-perfect trek.
Backpacker's Get Out More Tour is coming to a place near you!
From Catalonia to California, our staff picks their top trails of the year.
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.
Find home anywhere, one leaf at a time.
Relive our celebration of peaks with these mountaintop shots.
Push through big climbs and banish quad burn by increasing your lactate threshold.
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.
When it comes to backpacking destinations, Hells Canyon takes the cake.
This week, BACKPACKER is putting the focus on the women of hiking. Guest editor Kassondra Cloos explains why that matters.
From burly leather boots to a useful multitool, these are our favorite pieces of gear this season.
Backpacker's Get Out More Tour is coming to a shop near you!
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?
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
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.
Nine-year-old Christian "Buddy Backpacker" Thomas completed the Continental Divide Trail this year to claim the title.
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.
Destinations Editor Maren Horjus shares four spooky, Halloween-ready tales from her new book, Haunted Hikes.
More and more people are hiking all 1,420 miles of AMC's "Guide to the Paths and Camps in the White Mountains."
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?
Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia
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.
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.
Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.
Keep yourself (and your supplies) from freezing this winter with tips from Philip Werner, an Appalachian Mountain Club leader and founder of sectionhiker.com
Dreaming of tackling the AT after graduation? Liz "Snorkel" Thomas has some advice.
Check out Morgan Tilton's author page.
In Canyonlands’ backcountry, a family learns that the wonder of our parks belongs to anyone who goes looking for it.
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?
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.
Learn to control your mind, explore the Gates of the Arctic, survive with tent poles, and more in this issue.
East Coast Alps, White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
Three parks, two state, one weekend: You’ll accomplish a lot in this Charlotte-based weekend mission.
Get the closest to the Alps without leaving the States—by traversing the Presidentials, including Mt. Washington, in winter. BY RYAN WICHELNS
With a high school reunion coming and a gut to lose, our writer tries to remake himself on the trail.
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.
Maximize your winter fun with a backcountry basecamp where you can spend all day skiing or snowshoeing, and all evening lounging by the fire.
Tour bluffs surrounding Arkansas’s Buffalo National River before nabbing a view of the tallest waterfall between the Rocky and Appalachian mountains.
Score local color without the crowds.
Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, Tennessee/North Carolina
Take an adventure north of the border with these stunning Canadian national park hikes that are closer than you think.
Picking the best campsites in the national parks is a hard task, but these 19 backcountry sites are the cream of the crop.
From sacred Native American sites to remote settlements, these historic NPS units are worth exploring on foot.
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.
Climb the peak with the infamous moniker "Home of the World's Weather" in winter.
Avoid winter a little longer on this fall hike through an Appalachian region.
What makes a great hiking partner? It pays to choose wisely.
It’s a zoo out there. Snag close-ups of bears, birds, and elk on these late-summer dayhikes.
Here are 10 poisonous and otherwise hazardous flowers to watch out for on the trail.
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.
All the safety tips you need to be "bear aware" in one convenient location
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Climb to a cool oasis in the Citico Creek Wilderness on this 7-mile 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.
Gather blueberries along a vista-packed loop in the state's largest wilderness.
Test your limits on this New York backcountry challenge.
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.
A classic Appalachian ridge hike, this 11-mile shuttle tackles numerous knobs and summits under heavy canopy with occasional Blue Ridge views.
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.
Bag three peaks above 4,000 feet on this classic 8.2-mile Franconia Ridge Loop in the White Mountains.
Circle an upland swamp rich with views, solitude, and wild edibles.
Ski (or snowshoe) hut-to-hut in the East’s wildest preserve.
Plunge deep into quiet Appalachian hollows and traverse narrow ridgelines with views across row upon row of forested peaks.
Climb sandstone outcroppings and spot raptors on this wildlife-packed ridgeline.
Bag six of the state's loftiest peaks in a single, stout day on the Long Trail.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Three hikes with scenic wildflower vistas
Why should a backpacker want anything other than a tent? Michael Lanza can think of five good reasons.
Follow fern-lined trails to scramble up a rocky pinnacle.
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.
Our trail scouts' top local hikes
Plunge deep into quiet Appalachian hollows and traverse narrow ridgelines with views across row upon row of forested peaks.
By replacing just five key items from this reader's Army surplus kit we helped him save over 10 pounds of unnecessary weight.