Stories

Can a place that sees 9 million visitors a year really have any surprises? You bet. We found three hikes full of unexpected history, scenery, and solitude.

It's as big as California, boasts more volcanoes than Alaska, and counts nearly as many geysers as Yellowstone.

Here's a detailed hiking planner that will take you to the hidden corners of Colorado's most scenic park.

Want a ceremony that reflects your passion for the outdoors? Here's everything you need to know to pull off a wilderness wedding.

With strong legs and an ambitious plan, you can see more wild country in 12 hours than some backpackers see in a week, and still make it home in time for dinner.

Aconcagua's West/Southwest Face offers climbers more challenge on the Western Hemisphere's highest peak.

The Obelisk offers a remote climbing challenge far removed from other Sierra hotspots.

Tuolomne Meadows monarch Mount Conness has been a classic Yosemite climb for years -- and for good reason.

Haystack Mountain offers a sweet climb in Wyoming's remote Wind River Range.

Try climbing the standout Banner Peak, just around the corner from Mammoth Lakes.

Matthes Crest features superb climbing deep in Yosemite's backcountry.

With an abundance of wolves and water--two rarities in the desert--Arizona's remote Blue Range may be the Southwest's best kept secret.

Hidden deep in Montana's high country lies the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, a seldom-visited range of cool forests and skyscraping peaks.

City life got you down? Head for the quiet hills of southeastern Washington, where the air is clean, the water clear, and bighorn sheep outnumber hikers.

Hiding in the arid plains of Nevada you'll find a cool refuge from the desert heat and room to let your imagination soar.

In Michigan's Trap Hills, you'll find space to wonder and wonder, and quiet rock outcrops with panoramas so wide you'll be blinking in disbelief.

This spire deep in Wyoming's Wind River Range serves as the climbing pinnacle of the Cirque of the Towers.

To get closer to the critters, you need to look like a tree and smell like a raccoon.

Face your fear of snakes and spiders in Australia's Royal National Park, and the bush will reward you with the journey of a lifetime.

The Bossi Bivouac Hut offers culture and comfort at the base of the Matterhorn.

Jungles, coral-reef wading and rocky scrambling await Tahitian adventure hikers.

Southeast France's Gorge Du Verdon provides backpackers with miles of narrow canyon walls, river wading, and strenuous hiking.

Deep in the cloud forests of Costa Rica, you'll learn to dodge fireballs and poisonous frogs while tracing a circuit around a living volcano.

You'll have a hard time keeping track of all the critters along Mississippi's Black Creek Trail.

A trip along Washington's Olympic Coast is one whale of a day at the beach.

Hike the Myakka Trail for a glimpse of the Sunshine State's wild and grassy past.

In Minnesota's Boundary Waters, thousands of blue routes await those willing to dip a paddle.

Time spent in California's Death Valley can be a life-enhancing experience.

Shady hiking and cool waters make the San Pedro River an oasis for desert trekkers.

Follow the Pacific Crest Trail through Washington's volcano country and discover the high life.

In the Paria River canyon, adventure and breathtaking views await around every narrow bend.

How to hike safely across frozen lakes and ponds

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Ohio.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Illinois.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in North Dakota.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Hawaii.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Nebraska.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in New Mexico.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Florida.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Montana.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in New York.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Delaware.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Missouri.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Nevada.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Colorado.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Mississippi.

With fossils present in all states (although New England tends to be fossil poor), you can get a glimpse of the past almost anywhere you backpack.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Arkansas.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Michigan.

You could be walking on an ancient seabed or a swamp where dinosaurs played. Look closely and you'll see history in the rocks.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in California.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Wyoming.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Arizona.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in New Hampshire.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Pennsylvania.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Wisconsin.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Georgia.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in West Virginia.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Connecticut.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Washington.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Iowa.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in South Dakota.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Alaska.

Say hello to North America's newest long trail.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Maryland.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Maine.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in South Carolina.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Alabama.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Tennessee.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Rhode Island.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Louisiana.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Kentucky.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Utah.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Oregon.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Kansas.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Idaho.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in North Carolina.

Check out Annette McGivney's author page.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Indiana.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in America.