Issues

Just don't do it.

America’s next long trail should cross the Great Plains, says the path’s pioneer, Steve Myers. Will hikers share his vision?

With snow totals in the western US bleak, seasonal water sources are drying out—and that’s bad news for the backpackers who rely on them.

Does the BSA have what it takes to serve its newest members? The Girl Scouts of the USA doesn't think so.

The DOI's plan to open up more of America's waters for drilling has conservation groups worried, but the government says their concern is misplaced.

Whether you’re up for a two-minute phone call or a two-hour meeting, follow these tips to save the lands you love.

Being American makes you part owner of some of the finest terrain in the world. Better get a handle on your portfolio.

Protecting land is only the first step. Hikers need trails, and trails don’t build themselves. Grab a Pulaski and create new paths and restore lost routes on these 10 trips.

In Arizona, the National Park Service and the Navajo government are building a better way to run a park.

When three parks in Alaska were on the brink of closure, Valdez Adventure Alliance stepped in to help.

The U.S. may have pioneered land protection, but Scotland leads the charge when it comes to accessing wild terrain. Can we learn from one of the most hikeable countries on Earth?

Not since the days of the Wild West has the public land picture seemed so unsettled.

The Navajo Nation and four other tribes are going to court to restore Bears Ears National Monument's original boundaries. If they fail, it could change American public lands forever.

President Donald Trump is expected to announce plans to shrink Bears Ears. We go over the history of America's most controversial monument.

A fight is brewing over the country's most endangered bruin.

Can a rare breed of highly trained, Russian-bred dogs help keep hikers—and bears—safer? Land managers around the country are betting on it.

On a trip to Kenya, Dennis Lewon sees how LifeStraw is using its tech to clean up students' drinking water—and finds that it isn't the only brand trying to use outdoor gear for good.

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?

As attorney general of Oklahoma, Scott Pruitt sued the EPA over its rules. Now he’s in charge of the agency.

Appalachian Trail advocates say the Mountain Valley Pipeline is a disaster in the making.

Presumptive Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke says he'll never sell America's public lands—but his record on wilderness, drilling, and "local control" has many advocates worried.

The Trans-Alaska Trail would be America’s wildest path—if a determined group of Alaskans can make it happen.