Stories

With Arctic ice reaching record lows, Eric Larsen and Ryan Waters completed what many say could be the last human-powered expedition to the North Pole. Now, viewers can relive it with them.

Maximize your winter fun with a backcountry basecamp where you can spend all day skiing or snowshoeing, and all evening lounging by the fire.

On a trek through Arizona's Paria Canyon, a young mom discovers that, contrary to her fears, motherhood has made her an even better adventurer.

Articles and Photo galleries from the Road Team on the NPS100 Tour

Jason Mark goes into the wilderness to find clarity and ends up having to rescue himself in this excerpt from Satellites In the High Country

The underappreciated Bighorn Mountains hide some of the Lower 48’s best alpine scenery.

With towering sandstone bluffs, herds of Rocky Mountain elk, and hundreds of waterfalls, it’s easy to see why this 135-mile stretch of free-flowing, crystal-clear water was the country’s first National River.

Savor the last warm days of the year by exploring these watery wilds by boat.

A mom's lesson to her 8-year-old son yields a lifetime of wisdom.

Hollywood takes on the Appalachian Trail in the cinematic adaptation of a hit travelogue

If you want a predictable family trip, go to Disneyland. Who knows what'll happen on a National Park adventure?

Off-trail hiking can feel like the best idea ever—until it suddenly doesn't.

When the Boy Scouts let in openly gay boys, dissenting leaders formed their own group. Which raises the question: Is there a right way to get kids outdoors?

Take an adventure north of the border with these stunning Canadian national park hikes that are closer than you think.

Get the most out of America's most patriotic holiday with our pro tips.

Make plans to be in the backcountry for these awe-inspiring night sky events this season.

You've probably heard of America's 59 national parks, but what about the other 348 areas run by the Park Service? Discover stunning scenery and undisturbed solitude in these underrated cousins of our national parks.

Want to support your favorite park? Go beyond a simple donation.

America’s national parks boast thousands of stunning trail miles, but some are just a hair more amazing. Find the top 100 miles in the entire system on these 13 hikes.

Once a national park, always a national park? Think again. These 10 lost national parks (and monuments) got kicked out of the club. May they rest in peace.

Like your favorite neighborhood watering hole, you can count on these hikes to deliver exactly what you need, exactly where you need it.

Most people look at Colorado's Sangre De Cristo Mountains and see a line of peaks. Our scout saw an opportunity: pioneering the range's first end-to-end traverse.

From sacred Native American sites to remote settlements, these historic NPS units are worth exploring on foot.

For almost two decades, Donna Saufley opened her home to PCT thru-hikers at the legendary "Hiker Heaven." But was this trail angel a victim of her own success?

The early season wilds might be cold, but getting out there is always worth it.

In 1863, a legendary Navajo headman evaded the U.S. Army in the desert. David Roberts goes in search of the Southwest's best-kept secret.

David Roberts ventured into Utah's tortuous canyons to solve the mystery of Hoskinini's escape.

Deep in British Columbia's backcountry, our crew put the season's best gear to the test.

From goats to ghosts, our editors pick their favorite reads of the year.

A national park vacation is great, but the real fun starts when you get to call the park home.

Venture away from beaches and into Maui's massive shield volcano inside Haleakala National Park.

What makes a great hiking partner? It pays to choose wisely.

Patience, persistence, and a smart plan of attack can make a difference.

Experts are hopeful for wilderness expansion in the future, but there are some concerns.

If you were made steward of a popular wilderness, how would you handle things?

A trek through the Dolomites just might be the most romantic hike in the world. If you're lucky.

You don’t need to tackle the Iditarod to enjoy this fast and fun winter adventure.

Go on a Halloween hike, leaf-peep in the Smokies, soak in Colorado hot springs, visit a gear expo, spy whales in the Pacific, and plan for four more adventures near you.

Grab your paddle to explore a watery wilderness where solitude reigns.

Little rain and stable weather make fall the ideal time to go canyoneering.

After four decades of backpacking and climbing in Wyoming’s Wind River Range, 75-year-old Joe Kelsey is living proof that, while time may stop for no one, it might just slow down for hikers.

Cool off this summer with these shade-filled trails and swimming holes.

Want to fall asleep to the sound of lapping waves? Nab one of these prime waterfront campsites.

Who says rocks have to be boring? You can hike and/or paddle to these 10 geological wonders.

A new anthology features writings from Muir, Roosevelt, London, and more.

This month's Photo School photographer picks 10 of his favorite shots from around the world. See more of Jack's work at www.mountainphotography.com.

A hidden box of treasure. A cryptic poem from a wealthy Santa Fe art dealer. Four states’ worth of Rocky Mountain wilderness. Our reporter joins the hunt.

Bless the planners of the world, with their tight itineraries and advance reservations. This story is not for them. Here are your go-to, last-minute getaways.

The prettiest cascades in the country

Articles on nature and climate change as they relate to backpacking, and environmentally friendly backpacking gear.

From Rialto Beach to the Roan Highlands of North Carolina, our readers captured these stunning sunrises and sunsets.

What's the best backcountry guide service in Nepal? The best trail town in Chile? New Zealand's best hiker bar? Nominate your faves on every continent for our first-ever Adventure Travel awards!

If the scenic, scrappy Cabinets had buffed trails and sat near urban centers, they'd be as busy as New Hampshire's Whites or Colorado's Indian Peaks. Thankfully they have neither, and that makes them perfect for motivated trekkers who don't mind huffy climbs, and off-trail routefinding, like the route we found.

Trek along the country’s first national river in Arkansas, find solitude in Michigan’s Trap Hills, watch whooping crane chicks learn to fly outside Madison, WI, and plan for nine more summer trips.

Hike through wildflower-laden alpine meadows in Washington’s volcanic high country, see a meteor shower in dark-sky New Mexico, escape the crowds above Lake Tahoe, and more.

Stalk golden trout.

Snorkel among manatees.

Savor instant solitude.

Bust out beyond the beltway.

Hide out in Ozark Hollows

Hike New England's highest paths.

Scale Utah's mightiest mountain.

Escape to a high-alpine hideaway.

Soak in simmering springs.

Retreat into a watery labyrinth.

Tag two tough fourteeners.

Explore the Rockies' sharpest peaks.

Splash in swimming holes.

In our September 2013 issue we polled our experts on their favorite views in the U.S. What are your favorite views in each state?

Your region's go now guide: Find wild horses near D.C., spot 8 waterfalls on a family-friendly loop, view the "Niagara of the South" in Kentucky, and more.

Trace a West Virginia ridgeline in the Alleghenies, show your family eight waterfalls on one Pennsylvania hike, check out a rare moonbow in Kentucky, and go on nine more adventures.

Your region's go now guide: HIke with your kids in Missouri, watch the endangered whooping crane in Wisconsin, and more.

Trek along the country's first national river in Arkansas, find solitude in Michigan's Trap Hills, watch whooping crane chicks learn to fly outside Madison, WI, and plan for nine more summer trips.

Your region's go now guide: Explore the Pacific coastline in California, hike in isolation near Lake Tahoe, and more.

Hike through wildflower-laden alpine meadows in Washington's volcanic high country, see a meteor shower in dark-sky New Mexico, escape the crowds above Lake Tahoe, and more.

Of all the reasons to be jealous of Denverites (craft beer, deep powder, Peyton Manning), the Front Range's backyard peaks might top the list. These glacier-carved mountains straddle the Continental Divide and offer 133 miles of maintained trails, plus endless serrated ridges to explore. Local or visitor, venture into this land of massive crags with these routes that promise views from every vantage point—if you don't live here yet, you'll wish you did.

An after-hours trek on one of the Northeast's best hikes yields unexpected sights.

Help us decide the winner of the next photo contest

You're back from the trail with a bunch of beta--now show it off.

Pick the right case to shield your device, never lose touch, boost your juice, and conserve battery power with these tips and tricks.