10 Top Animal Viewing Tips
There are some fundamental rules to follow when seeking out wildlife.
Stories
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.
Wildlife: Where to See Elk
Elk mostly travel in herds making them easier to spot.
Wildlife: Where to See Alligators
Head to the Southeast to spot alligators.
Wildlife: Where to See Mountain Lions
Mountain lions can be found from Central America to the Pacific.
Wildlife: Where to See Moose
Moose love water and hate black flies–two good tips for spotting them.
Where to See Bears
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.
Wildlife: Where to See Bighorn Sheep
Scout high deserts and mountains for these scrambling sheep.
Inspirational Grand Canyon Photos
Get lost in these spectacular reader photos of the Grand Canyon
The Map Vault: Inside the USGS Repository
No one loves maps more than a backpacker, and the USGS's central repository in Denver is a veritable cartographic paradise.
The Future of Maps
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.
Local Hikes: Southeast
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.)
Local Hikes: Northeast
Hike across a state, gain the country's best foliage view, and top alpine balds. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)
Local Hikes: Mountain West
Spot a grizzly, basecamp amid Fourteeners, and relax in secluded hot springs. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)
Local Hikes: Midwest
See moose, bag a high-desert peak, and sample a quiet long trail. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)
Local Hikes: California/Nevada/Hawaii
Hike to the world's best tropical campsite, see elephant seals, and trek through poppies. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)
3D Interactive Grand Canyon: Our Toughest Routes
Tackle our toughest and least-crowded routes in the Grand Canyon with this interactive map.
Local Hikes: New Hikes Near You
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.
Local Hikes: Northwest
See five volcanoes, camp at secluded lakes, and hike through a swarm of butterflies. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)
Life List: Colorado Trail
Bag a peak every day (and a view every step) on the country's highest-elevation footpath.
Zones: 6 Topographies, 18 Amazing Trips
Whether you're looking for Coastal, Canyon, Peak, Forest, or Urban hikes, we have those. Plus some paddling (Water) trips for good measure.