Opinion

Is natural beauty always in the eye of the beholder?

When companies don't offer plus sizes, that sends a message about who is and isn't welcome in the outdoors.

The Western U.S. is rife with forests and deserts that you can't visit. A new law could fix that—if we're willing to fight for it.

There are a lot of good reasons to fight racism. Let’s add one more: We can’t protect the climate without ending it.

We can do better for the environment.

Supportive social media posts are a start. But as the country protests yet another Black man’s murder, the outdoor industry has to take a stronger position against structural racism.

With even local trails getting clogged, our editor has some advice for you that he hoped he’d never have to give.

Goodbye, spring, summer, fall, and winter. Backpackers need new seasons that help us understand what actually matters: daylight.

Online bullying isn’t going to make our public lands better, says writer Morgan Sjogren.

We do need to prioritize the parks, but not among each other, writes former National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis.

National Parks may be America’s best idea, but we’ve created more preserves than we can take care of. It’s time to rightsize the system.

Hunters fund conservation through taxes and tag fees. As their numbers decline, it’s time for hikers to step up.

Use some elbow grease to give back to the land you love.

A new report from a UN committee says that one million species worldwide are threatened with extinction by humans. What does that mean for the wilderness experience?

The longest government shutdown in history reminded us how we can be better stewards of our national parks—and each other.

Cutting off of a muddy trail may seem harmless, but it has real consequences.

One reason we love backpacking is because it’s hard—but those lessons shouldn't end when we get back to the car.

Whatever you celebrate, do it up different.

Maples and aspens are nice, but you better look down if you want to see fall's best color show.

Do we need trail markers where they're not needed or wanted?

We all slip, trip, and fall. So what's with all the embarrassment?

Is playing music through a speaker while you hike considered noise pollution?

Do our wild places really need so much infrastructure? M. John Fayhee thinks they'd be better off without it.

Can you have too much of a good thing? Let’s pressure our pols to designate new parks.