Essays

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.

Not sure what kind of adventure lies ahead? Pick a pack that lets you do anything.

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.

For two decades, Rick Sanger worked as a backcountry ranger in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. When it ended, it took his sense of meaning with it.

I've never triggered my personal locator beacon. But I'm going to keep carrying it all the same.

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.

Growing up at the beach gave me a love for nature, and a desire to protect it. Now, I want to pass that on.

Does the peacefulness of solo hiking translate into a social setting?

A month of travel through Nepal proves just as enriching as second grade math, science, English, and history. Maybe more.

Plant a group of kids in cabins in the mountains, and watch them grow.

Give me some dirt, or snow, or sticks to glue them together.

When her son experienced a health scare in the mountains, Lisa Jhung had to examine the unknowns of backcountry travel.

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

The secret to a good night in the wilderness? The right bag for the job.

A mom learns something new about her son on the short, crowded trail to the summit of Oahu’s Diamond Head.

All I want for Christmas is to be outside with my family.

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.

A backcountry neophyte discovers the importance of buying the right bedding.

Just you, the squirrels, and your shortcomings.

There's more to my pack than old-school chic.

Like nature, it's all too easy to throw a road trip with the kids off-balance.

Should we have trail markers where they're not needed or wanted?

Editor-in-Chief Dennis Lewon reflects on an alpine education.

As kids across the country head back to class, Lisa Jhung reflects on the joys of being a student of nature.

Skill: Turn strangers into friends. Tool: One pair of snowshoes.

When the trail leads to unfamiliar terrain, you can always count on your boots to help you get your footing.

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

Sharing is caring—but not when it comes to your tunes.

Do our wild places really need so much infrastructure?

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

Eliminating entrance fees probably won’t change the economics behind a park visit—but it just might change how we think and feel about the experience.

Some adventures grab hold of you and never let go.

After a lifetime plumbing the backcountry of the Southwest, David Roberts finds himself face to face with mysteries past and present.

It’s the perfect time for the Big Hairy One to consider rebranding.

This week, BACKPACKER is putting the focus on the women of hiking. Guest editor Kassondra Cloos explains why that matters.

You may not be able to ski jump or drive a bobsled, but you're a master at hanging bear bags, gorging on ramen, and smelling really, really bad. Win a medal at one of these 11 events.

When we ran a story about the beauty of trail-less hiking, some of our readers objected. BACKPACKER Editor-in-Chief Dennis Lewon responds.

More than 600 million acres. Mountains, forests, and plains. Canyons, coasts, and deserts. It’s the American birthright. And it’s at risk.

Eight instructors, guides, and pros share the wildest things they’ve seen on the route less traveled.

Hiking in the Instagram era gives your followers great memories, but can rob you of your own. Our scout takes a break from the social hamster wheel—and likes it.

Wild places can be a space for reflection and healing. By shrinking protected lands, writes Rob Vessels, Secretary Ryan Zinke is taking that from us.

Can a couples backpacking trip help a pair of newlyweds work out their differences?

Is it always rude to dash off as soon as slower hikers catch up? Maybe the slinky stop has its place.

Too little time and too much to see? Go faster.

You can never step in the same river twice. Stepping into the same forest, though? That's a different story.

The best way to leaf-peep is by boat—as long as you don't end up in court.