Stories

Is the reward always equal to the effort? Uh...maybe, says this bloodied, bruised, and bandaged reader.

Editor in Chief Jonathan Dorn heads deep into the Alaskan backcountry and comes back with the ultimate fish story in this gallery.

A weekend full of clouds couldn't hide the beauty of sea kayaking near Kenai Fjords NP

Take a look at the world around you in a whole new way.

See the world of Ansel Adams though the eyes of our readers in these Ansel photo retakes.

Take the 5.5 mile trek up Bellows Pipe Trail to the summit; while you're there, enjoy a local cocktail and a cup of chowder at Bascom Lodge.

The all-time best. That's what every hiker wants on a national park trek, and that's what you'll get if you tackle one of these 25 trips.

Hawaii's Nakalele blowhole rivals Old Faithful. Plus: Trek to Oregon's salmon run and California's wine country.

If less people, more elk has become your mountain mantra, check the Guadalupe Mountains backcountry camping sites and trails and get that so sought after alone time.

Don't go up, go around. Rainier's Wonderland Trail loop offers the marathon hiker two weeks of backpacking bliss.

Zero in on your perfect hike, from thrilling slots to soak-awhile hot springs.

Live longer, take the North Circle Route. Glacier's highcountry views and crisp alpine air are rumored to add years to a backpacker's being.

Beat the crowds by tackling this classic dayhike by moonlight.

The Tanner Trail in the grandest of U.S. canyons is a camping classic.

Who ever said out of sight, out of mind was certainly not referring to the wealth of wildlife that are making some big noise in Thorofare Valley.

Traverse alongside delicate ecosystem, open tundra and hit nine summits on this "grand slam" of cross-country treks.

Smelling the flowers doesn't require slowing down your trek (though you might want to) through the explosion of wildflowers that cover the Great Smoky Mountains each year.

Swap summits for sand scrambling along nearly 18 miles of quiet coastal terrain.

No crowds. No frills. No cakewalk. This hang-on-for-your-life climb is not for the meager-hearted.

Wine making and hiking come together perfectly in the Sonoma Valley, where California meets the Mediterranean.

Every year the salmon of the Pacific Northwest return to their birth place to spawn. See this natural phenomenon and a river of fish on an easy hike through tall pines.

Get sprayed by an oceanic geyser. Erupting every few minutes under perfect conditions, this is a natural wonder you can't miss.

The legendary shooter once said that photographs were "usually looked at, seldom looked into." Take a look into three hikes that inspired some of Ansel Adams greatest photos, and take a few pictures yourself.

A new Switzerland-based company, bluesign, is trying to regulate green manufacturing claims.

Fly these classic hikes in 3D with our guided tours.

Haunted mountains? Vanished campers? Bloodthirsty creatures? An evil wind that lures hikers over a waterfall? We dare you to hike America's scariest trails.

The scariest thing about these stories from Backpacker editors and readers? They really happened.

Bigfoot? He's a softy compared to the other menacing monsters lurking in the woods near you.

Lost? Murdered? When the wilderness swallows people without a trace, who's to say what happened?

Alpine views and starry skies are nice, but on these unsettling hikes you might see something really stunning.

When bodies can't be buried, do their spirits ever rest? Hike to the scene of this wreck and find out.

Go ahead and hike to this park's famous lakes and waterfalls. Just watch your step–and your back.

With 25+ years of nature photography experience, Paul Rezendes has amassed quite a few fall foliage photos. Here are BACKPACKER's favorites.

Be the first to thru-hike an exploratory route from Portland to the Pacific.

The Dartmouth Outing Club targets an Appalachian Trail hiking record.

What's better than hiking every weekend? Hiking every day. Here are the best big-city escapes from New York to Los Angeles. Plus: Bill Donahue explores the remote reaches of Portland's Forest Park and discovers secrets even locals don't know.

When urban trails blend with raw wilderness, the sum is much greater than the parts.

The perfect metro-area trail: close, wild, uncrowded. Here are 10 major city options.

It's not the smallest peak in the Smokies, but spend a night on its summit (no tent required), and you'll agree it's the finest.

Washington, Arkansas, and Georgia are host to these three life-list phenomena treks.

Close your eyes and hear the bullets fly: These three routes pass through parks drenched in United States military history.

Catch these highlights from The National Parks: America's Best Idea, then download maps to hike to them yourself.

On the eve of his much-anticipated documentary, Ken Burns discusses the heroes and history of America's most precious wildlands–and the new challenges they face now.

From camping with wolves to fly-fishing smarts this insider's guide has you covered.

Disappear into Yellowstone's secret northern fringe, where you'll find a rejuvenated landscape and total solitude (except for the bison and grizzlies).

In an attempt to hike the continent's wild divide, one ultrahiker does something he's never done–quit.

The Castner Glacier proved a picturesque teaching ground for glacial terminology. Photos by Katie Herrell

Hit Mt. Adams, for a climb of one of Washington's premier stratovolcanoes.

Parks czar Ken Salazar talks trails, nixes ANWR drilling, and defends his boss's controversial guns-in-parks decision.

Hike these paths before the masses find them.

Descend into Colorado's Black Canyon for a park that has everything: life-list scenery, challenging terrain, a revitalized river, and very few hikers.

Explore these redrock mysteries safely with expert tips on gear and technique.

Take a historic train to the trailhead and climb this Colorado beauty, nestled deep in the Weminuche Wilderness.

These three treks to life-list phenomena will take you to Bryce Canyon, Florida gator land, and fall foliage in the Texas desert.

Pack up your brood for a day in the outdoors with these kid-friendly trails.

From secret spots to the perfect campsites, this insider's guide has the goods on the Smokies.

A unique route linking historic homesteads yields an exciting Smokies adventure for hikers and history buffs alike.

Romero climbed Denali at 11 and has bagged five of the Seven Summits. He hopes to climb Everest in 2010, but is mountain climbing good for a growing kid?

For our 2010 Readers' Choice issue we want to know your favorite trail in America.

Invisible but dangerous, airborne pollutants are a danger to the West's most iconic national parks

The first couple days of an Alaskan backpacking trip were filled with organizational efforts and one false start, plus plenty of stunning scenery.

During a one-month August journey, BACKPACKER undertook multiple crowd-free Alaskan backpacking routes and returned with extensive photos, video, & GPS.

In September 2005, BACKPACKER editor Jonathan Dorn joined the magazine's Northwest sales rep Nick Freedman and his friend, Susan, for a weekend hike in the little-known Tatoosh Range before a summit attempt on Mt. Rainier. (Photos by Jonathan Dorn)

In May 2006, BACKPACKER editors Jon Dorn and Kris Wagner made an early-season summit attempt on the highest peak (14,255 feet) in Rocky Mountain National Park. (Photos by Jonathan Dorn)

BACKPACKER editor Jon Dorn and his wife have a tradition: They've been celebrating New Year's Eve in the backcountry for almost a decade. In 2009 they did a 40-mile, 5-day hike beneath the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. (Photos by Jonathan Dorn)

In spring 2006, BACKPACKER editors Jon Dorn, Peter Flax, and Kris Wagner joined a group of readers for a weekend of hiking and mapping in a remote slot canyon. (Photos by Jonathan Dorn)

Considered by many the toughest dayhike in the Northeast–and possibly the Lower 48–this 24-mile classic features 18,000 feet of elevation gain and loss. (Photos by Jonathan Dorn)

Photographic evidence of our intrepid blogger getting out from under his desk to hike, bike, and flyfish in Grand Targhee on the west side of the Tetons.

Get national park-caliber scenery without crowds (or entry fees!) in these dead ringers for Great Smoky Mountains, Zion, and Yosemite.

From the best guiding service to ultimate summit routes, Washington's highest peak is still the greatest.

From the top day hike to the key skills you'll need, we'll have you ready for the Rockies in no time.

Follow a long-forgotten loop in Rocky Mountain National Park across the Continental Divide, through moose-infested meados, and up Longs Peak via a rarely climbed route.

Marcus Woolf explores history and wilderness during a six-day trip through the Smokies.

By crunching numbers on the thousands of lost hiker cases in the backcountry each year, Robert Koester hopes to keep you on track.

Feeling inspired by your hike? Here's how to protect more land.

Follow our fool-proof three-stage guide to getting your kids as psyched as you are about getting outside.

Get outside earlier and faster by taking less with you. Here's how to ditch excess gear and pack light, tasty food.

Team trips will help get you outside faster than solo outings.

If you want to hit the trail before everyone, you'll need to get your gear in gear. Here's how.

We guarantee you can triple your trail time this summer. How? Our step-by-step guide solves every challenge–work overload, gear chaos, no partner, family demands–so you can enjoy more of what you live to do every weekend: hike.