National Park Slideshows
See scores of stunning images from the Grand Canyon, Denali, Yosemite, and more.
Spend your life on the trail, and one thing’s for sure: You’ll come away with plenty of hiking stories. From survival stories to personal essays to stories to adventure tales from the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail, this is where you’ll find backpacker’s favorite yarns.
See scores of stunning images from the Grand Canyon, Denali, Yosemite, and more.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
If it bleats, chirps, or roars, our readers have captured it.
If it bleats, chirps, or roars, our readers have captured it.
Got a burning ursine question? Ask our resident bruin expert in our new weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Got a burning ursine question? Ask our resident bruin expert in our 'Ask A Bear' column.
Got a burning ursine question? Ask our resident bruin expert in our new weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Usually, our bear answers burning ursine questions, but this week he's dropping off a holiday gift.
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our 'Ask A Bear' column.
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in out weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Check out BEAR's author page.
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our 'Ask A Bear' column.
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our 'Ask A Bear' column.
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
You choose! Look through the slideshow and at the end cast your vote to help decide which one will be the winner for BACKPACKER's September 2011 issue.
A new theory might solve the mystery of how these mountains formed.
For sheltered scenery high above the trees, there's no better place than a fire tower. Try one of these editor-approved hikes to backcountry rooms with a view.
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Hike Denver's lost wilderness, a twofer of peaks in Idaho, lava tubes in New Mexico, Zion's sneak route, and Bozeman's trout-filled lake.
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Does God love camping? A new church movement foot-soldiered by wilderness-loving young people could transform the way conservative Christians perceive and protect the environment. We hit the trail with the new green evangelicals.
Make one simple resolution–to hike more in 2011–and we guarantee you'll lose that spare tire around the middle. Here's the proof, the plan, and the inspiration.
See Yosemite's river of ice, witness there-and-gone meteor showers in Hawaii, and mark your calendar for eight more fleeting natural wonders.
Peakbag in the White Mountains—without lugging in water.
Hike through a wild water park in Enchanted Valley.
Notch the best northern lights show in the Lower 48.
Witness a river of slush flow through Yosemite Valley.
See shooting stars from a five-star backcountry observatory.
Hit Idaho's Owyhee River just right, and you get one of the West's best paddles to yourself.
See these colorful flutters fuel up for the long flight to Mexico.
Hit the leaf jackpot on these classic footpaths.
Soar with the world's largest migration.
Wait for El Nino and cruise through mesmerizing fields of seldom-seen desert blossoms.
Ascend Rocky Top in Tennessee; spot herons and Pelicans in a Florida bayou.
Discover east Texas's longleaf pine forest; see the Boundary Waters on foot.
Check out Michael Lanza's author page.
Check out Michael Lanza's author page.
Check out Michael Lanza's author page.
Check out Michael Lanza's author page.
Check out Michael Lanza's author page.
Check out Michael Lanza's author page.
Check out Michael Lanza's author page.
Check out Michael Lanza's author page.
Check out Michael Lanza's author page.
Check out Michael Lanza's author page.
The only thing better than enjoying the life-list scenery in the country's premier national parks? Getting that same scenery, minus the crowds. Find it in these 10 backcountry hotspots, along with no-hassle permits, choice campsites aplenty, and solitude to match the world-class terrain.
See California dunes, Nevada red-rock canyons, Alaska's deep forest, quiet Oregon Coast, and Washington's Cascade lakes.
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'