Ticks Are Changing the Way We Hike
Thanks to the warming world, Lyme infections are on the rise in the Northeast—and hiking there might never be the same again.
Environment
Fixing the Appalachian Trail’s Overcrowding Crisis
A group of dedicated trail lovers are working to protect America’s favorite wilderness footpath from the hordes of people who walk it each year
Latest in Environment
When the Colorado River Came Back to Life
The natural world has a lot to say, if we’re willing to listen.
Preview: Should a River Have the Same Rights as a Person?
Environmental activists are pursuing legal steps that would allow natural entities to sue in their own defense through a human spokesperson. But maybe it’s the conversation, and not the law, that matters most.
Should a River Have the Same Rights as a Person?
Environmental activists are pursuing legal steps that would allow natural entities to sue in their own defense through a human spokesperson. But maybe it’s the conversation, and not the law, that matters most.
Bears Ears is Still in Limbo—and Oil and Mining Companies are Circling
With Biden’s oil and gas moratorium derailed, Bears Ears is back on the chopping block. Here’s the latest.
Why Hikers Should Kill Invasive Plants
Humans have unmatched power to alter natural landscapes. Let’s use it for good
On the Front Lines With the Wildland Firefighters Protecting the West
The new era of wildland firefighting is a war with no end in sight.
Colorado’s Fire Seasons Are Worse Than Ever. But There’s Reason for Hope.
Just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, a fire ecologist reckons with damage and recovery after last year’s calamitous wildfires.
In the Woods of Oklahoma, Researchers Are Helping to Rebuild a Bear Population
Researchers tracking bears resettling in the southeast watch and learn their habits to help humans adjust to their new neighbors.
This Is What Happens When You Strap a GoPro to a Bear
There are hundreds of thousands of black bears in America, and we know precious little about what they do with their time. The researchers of the #BearsEyeView project are trying to change that.
Stop Throwing Your Banana Peels on the Trail
Yes, apple cores and banana peels are "biodegradable." But tossing them into the woods isn't just gross, it's bad for wildlife too.
The Backpacking Scientists Who Are Watching a Glacier Die
Three scientists chronicle life, death, and the last stand of the Grizzly Glacier.
LNT Confessional: I Dropped a Case of Beer Cans Into a Creek
An accidental litterer receives their penance in this edition of Leave No Trace Confessional.
Leave No Trace Confessional: I Killed a Skunk
We're not going to lie to you: This is bad.
How to Advocate for Public Lands
Whether you’re up for a two-minute phone call or a two-hour meeting, follow these tips to save the lands you love.
Interactive Map: America’s Public Lands
Being American makes you part owner of some of the finest terrain in the world. Better get a handle on your portfolio.
The Battle Over America's Wilderness
Not since the days of the Wild West has the public land picture seemed so unsettled.
Bear vs. Bear Dog
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.