Stories

Gaze into a 2,000-foot-deep tub of snowmelt.

Enjoy solitude and fixed-rope scrambling on the East's highest mountain.

Coming face to face with the biggest predator in North America might just alter your worldview.

Stand alone atop Washington's Glacier Peak--a summit that others rarely see, let alone climb.

Walking a high ridge with countless views and no people is the stuff of dreams. Make it real in Olympic National Park's Bailey Range.

See a week's worth of scenery in 24 hours, and redefine your idea of what's possible.

The only thing equal to a life-list trip? An image that brings it back to life.

World-class scenery, luxe camping, and easy paddling await your family on the Green River in Canyonlands. Your kids will remember this forever.

Get a taste of the vertical alpine world--no experience required.

A lifetime of weekend trips is like trying to live on appetizers. Get real sustenance with a two-week trek through the best of the Sierras on California's John Muir Trail.

Get out this weekend to explore open meadows and ridgelines at night.

Contemplate the south's wild side on the trail that launched America's greatest wilderness champion.

What crowds? Lose yourself in the Lamar Valley on this weeklong hike.

Score wildlife sightings daily, choice views hourly--and at least one juicy burger--on this weeklong circuit.

Explore a granite wonderland, cross two little-used passes, and score High Sierra solitude on this point-to-point hike.

Pack an extra memory card for what is, mile-for-mile, the most photogenic hike in the Southwest.

Dive into the heart of the Lower 48's wildest park.

Ever dreamed of exploring another planet? Hike here.

Trek to shoreline campsites through woodlands rife with moose and birds.

Walk from lush rainforest to wide-open glacier views on this 43-mile sneak route.

Surprise: This park's busy corridor trails offer a fast track to a private slice of heaven.

Climb from sublime desert to pine forests and peaks with 100-mile views.

Rise above the crowds and earn solo views of elk, wildflowers, and summit sunsets.

The only problem with cancer survivors and rockers joining forces for a fund-raising concert on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro? It's hard to cheer when you can't breathe.

Discover aspens and alpine hiking, plus views of the Grand Canyon, on this trek up Arizona's 12,633-foot highpoint.

Discover the world's tallest geyser, North America's smallest bird, and the country's best shade tree on these three treks.

Find these nocturnal animals at dawn.

Look high for huge nests when trying to spot these beauties.

Walk 100 or more years back into history--and deep into wilderness outposts now reclaimed by nature--with these routes to three abandoned frontier communities.

walk 10 miles of demise carved in stone.

Hike to a hotel with no visitors.

If seeing bears or bighorn sheep, moose or mountain lions is on your life list check out our tips for where, when, & how to catch an eye full.

Check out the top spots to find these three quirky creatures

There are some fundamental rules to follow when seeking out wildlife.

Elk mostly travel in herds making them easier to spot.

Head to the Southeast to spot alligators.

Mountain lions can be found from Central America to the Pacific.

Moose love water and hate black flies–two good tips for spotting them.

It's true that bears love their berries and fish. Find them, and you've found a great place to catch a glimpse of them.

Scout high deserts and mountains for these scrambling sheep.

Get lost in these spectacular reader photos of the Grand Canyon

No one loves maps more than a backpacker, and the USGS's central repository in Denver is a veritable cartographic paradise.

Four cutting-edge cartographers--from Google's explorer-in-residence to Tom Harrison himself--help us chart the course of the next revolution in wilderness mapping.

Climb to two killer views, see the South's best flowers, and hike to secluded falls. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)

Hike across a state, gain the country's best foliage view, and top alpine balds. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)

Spot a grizzly, basecamp amid Fourteeners, and relax in secluded hot springs. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)

See moose, bag a high-desert peak, and sample a quiet long trail. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)

Hike to the world's best tropical campsite, see elephant seals, and trek through poppies. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)

Tackle our toughest and least-crowded routes in the Grand Canyon with this interactive map.

Our army of reader-reader scouts mapped 59 local hikes from South Carolina to Northern California. See their favorites, then learn how to download tracklogs and waypoints.

See five volcanoes, camp at secluded lakes, and hike through a swarm of butterflies. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)

Bag a peak every day (and a view every step) on the country's highest-elevation footpath.

Whether you're looking for Coastal, Canyon, Peak, Forest, or Urban hikes, we have those. Plus some paddling (Water) trips for good measure.

Hike amongst the trees in these Washington, California, and Vermont hikes.

Hike high points on Mt. Rainier, Mt. Washington, and Mt. Whitney.

Marvel at Mother Nature on these canyon hikes in Utah and North Carolina.

Hit the water, and see plenty of wildlife and scenic views, on these paddling trips in Alaska, Florida, and Minnesota.

Learn where solitude reigns--and why. Plus: Tackle the hardest Big Ditch route we've ever published.

How to beat the crowds and find solitude in the Rockies

The top peaks for every type of hiker.

Looking for animals? This Minnesota paddle is a sure bet.

See the Everglades by boat on this 23 mile trip.

Paddle along Glacier Bay's dynamic shores.

Hike Lake Superior's shoreline in this 12+ mile hike.

This 26-mile trek along California's coast should have been a highway...except it was too riddled with cliffs to build on.

Find your hike on the country's highest footpath.

This picturesque Utah hike features natural arches and ancient petroglyphs.

Head to Asheville, North Carolina for this beautiful gorge loop.

Hike, swim, and scramble in this 16-mile slot canyon route.

If you don't mind the potential of extreme weather and wind, Mt. Washington is your hike.

Check out the Mountaineer's Route of Mt. Whitney if you're looking for a challenge.

This challenging climb on Mt. Rainier gains almost 2,000 feet per mile.

This epic trip is hard, dry, steep--and gorgeous. The Cranberry Route--the final leg of this challenging loop--is the boldest, hardest scramble our scouts have done in the Grand Canyon. Study the key steps of this eight-mile section and see more details a

If you think you missed the age of exploration and discovery, you haven't tried the latest mapping tools. Join our tech scout as he learns how to hike like a cartographer--and sees the wilderness in an entirely new way.

Find solitude and Adventure in the Big Ditch.

Find solitude and adventure in the big ditch.

Find the best trail for your backcountry skills.

Score your own private paradise with this insider's guide to uncrowded areas in Grand Canyon National Park.

See giant sequoias, including General Sherman, on this great family hike.

This Olympic National Park trail features serious elevation gain and switchbacks galore.