Adventure is out there! Our writers have brought it here with outdoor stories from around the country, the continent and event the globe. Find the next great adventure with their help as your read their stories of mountain rescues, river madness and tales from the trail that you won’t soon forget.
Adventure is out there! Our writers have brought it here with outdoor stories from around the country, the continent and event the globe. Find the next great adventure with their help as your read their stories of mountain rescues, river madness and tales from the trail that you won’t soon forget.
This 8-mile out-and-back makes for an excellent early-season romp up a narrow river canyon, boasting three gorgeous waterfalls, an ample serving of primitive campsites, and options for longer loops and side trips.
Go to hiker heaven on Canada’s finest high-country path.
Climb through towering evergreens to in-your-face Cascade views.
Leave the crowds behind on this secluded 5.2-mile forest hike to the top of Washington's Larch Mountain, with views of Silver Star, the Columbia Gorge and Mt. Hood.
Find caribou, moose, and bald eagles on a hut-to-hut trek through the rugged McGerrigle Mountains on this 15.6-mile point-to-point in Parc National de la Gaspésie.
Link two gorgeous cabins by scrambling through craggy alpine country.
Routefind across precipitous ridges to an ice-filled lake.
Escape time as you glide through an endless chain of connected lakes.
Hit four technical summits in the birthplace of North American mountaineering.
Bushwhack up a glacier-carved fjord to a lake-spangled subarctic plateau.
Paddle and portage fish-filled waters past wild cascades to the greatest of lakes.
Hug pebbly beaches and cliffs along Superior shores in Ontario's Pukaskwa National Park.
Follow serpentine barrens and stair-steep tracks to a rugged volcanic sea coast.
Hike through classic Southern-Alps scenery on a 37-mile route that has everything but the crowds.
Sea kayak beneath soaring mountains in waters that scared off early explorers, with dolphins and penguins for company.
Discover a local favorite: paddling through the heart of a Maori historic homeland.
Explore a colorful moonscape in the North Island’s geothermal hotbed.
The Great Walks are New Zealand's premier walking tracks. They take the walker on an incredible journey through some of the best scenery in the country.
Beachside trek meets pub crawl meets castle tour on Europe's newest long trail, the 870-mile Wales Coast Path, officially opened in May 2011. We have the beta on its highlights.
Climb hiker-friendly 16,000-foot summits--and maybe nab a first ascent--on a shoestring budget, plus get an unchaperoned glimpse of Tibetan culture.
A slick drop-bottom feature sets this tough, smooth-rolling duffel apart.
Test yourself on these wild routes.
Explore spectacular places by air, land, and sea.
Take your pick of adventures from this major ferry stop about three hours from Natales: Beach camp next to a private glacier or paddle to a gem lake.
Escape to trekking and horseback riding nirvana on Patagonia's high plains.
Explore peak-lined Chilean waters by boat or by foot—in solitude.
Explore Chile's mind-bending terrain without joining the throngs on the popular trekker circuit. On this paddle/hike/horse adventure, you'll have glacier-chiseled fjords, sky-piercing mountains, and best-ever camping all to yourself.
Want to set a big goal to give your training more focus and direction? Sign up for one of these mettle-testing trail events.
If you've hiked the park's established paths, it's time to raise your game. Explore the South Rim's wilder side with this 41.1-mile, off-trail trek. The challenges: routefinding, exposure, class 3 scrambling. The rewards: riverside beach camps, big views, solitude.
Scramble through remote ravines, soak up private riverside vistas, and tour from rim to river on this stout, 25.1-mile circuit.
Start early for sunrise in the canyon and crowd-free hiking on this 13.4-miler that descends to the gorge's mezzanine level.
Find world-class scenery and challenges (no passport required) with our scouts' top day, weekend, and weeklong routes in the Big Ditch. Whether you're a canyon-country pro or a first-timer, we guarantee you'll find terrain that tests your boundaries.
See more wildlife--and capture it better on film.
Read these tips to make your kids more comfortable on the trail.
Tips for overcoming jetlag, gathering beta, and getting your summit gear to foreign peaks in one piece.
Always looking for a way to go farther and faster? Get ready with these tips to take your hiking to the next level.
Learn these skills for trips that involve more than just hiking.
You don't have to travel across the world to get off the map. British Columbia's Haida Gwaii boasts uncharted coastline, seaside hot springs, and more sea lions, whales, and bears than you can count.
Norway's Jotunheimen National Park bristles with glacier-clad peaks amid northern Europe's highest mountains, but a five-star hut system makes it a place you can bring your kids. And mom.
Go high and wild in Europe's other Alps.
Dine lavishly in the homeland of huts.
Score iconic Kiwi scenery without lining up.
Explore the best of Yoho National Park.
Climb to a view over all of the Dolomites.
Carry a small pack, eat like a king, and get the best sleep of your life on the world's top11 hut treks.
Trek to the Peruvian high spot where the planet's most powerful river is born.
Norway's Jotunheimen National Park bristles with glacier-clad peaks amid northern Europe's highest mountains, but a five-star hut system makes it a place you can bring your kids. And mom.
Beachside trek meets pub crawl meets castle tour on Europe's newest long trail, the 870-mile Wales Coast Path, officially opened last May. Want to be among the first to hike it all--or its highlights? We sent our scout to find the best sections before the guidebook even hit the shelves. He returned with beta on two 100-mile routes that each fit neatly in a week's vacation, plus a few surprising lessons about backpacking in King Arthur's homeland.
Pass waterfalls, cross empty peaks, and visit monster-size trees.
For BACKPACKER'S Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2012, Kristin tested tons of gear. Here are a few of her special favorites.
A bomber traction device that's durable and versatile.
Ultralight, oblong, zippered sacks to help you keep all your traveling gear organized.
A lightweight, rolling duffel bag with plenty of compartments to keep you organized.
A perfect pack for the world traveler.
You won't get far in the backcountry without pushing through challenging conditions and terrain. But perseverance can be your worst enemy, and turning around the only way to succeed. Mark Jenkins explores the fine line between daring and doom.
When Karl Bushby set out to hike 36,000 miles across four continents, he vowed he would only return to his native England on foot. Which could be a real problem if he ever wants to get there.
Trek among giraffes, rhinos, lions, and elephants in one of the world's premier wildlife parks.
BACKPACKER editors start training for the 160-mile Grand-to-Grand Ultra, the first backpacking stage race in North America.
This culture activist is bringing diversity to the outdoors.
Well, maybe 105. But who's counting? Contributing editor John Harlin defies conventional wisdom with a 1,400-mile circumnavigation of this mountainous kingdom.
Don't miss these affordable services, local haunts, and cultural highlights recommended by adventure-travel experts. Plus, bargaining 101.
Our bags logged thousands of miles–through airports and atop donkeys–and we came back with these top picks, from gigantic rollers and impervious duffels to laptop carriers and packable organizers.
This spacious shoulder bag holds a surprising 45L of goods.
This cargo hauler is outfitted with a surprising number of organizational features.
If you're mixing business with adventure travel, this is the bag for you.
This stable roller bag handles curbs and rough terrain with ease.
These ultralight storage sacks, made from water-resistant and strong Ultra-Sil fabric help you stay super organized.
Going far and going big, hauling monster loads? This is your bag.
From Nepal to New Zealand, we have stories and tips to help you plan the perfect 'life list' backpacking trek abroad.
Sea kayaking unlocks a new world of solitude and scenery.
Kick it up a notch with these quick fixes.
Discover a higher world.
Create a story-driven video that engages you on the trail and offers a fresh perspective on trip memories.
Tired of the same old weekend loops? Looking to create memories your grandkids will talk about? In this how-and-where guide, we serve up 15 extraordinary escapes that will shatter your expectations of "normal." From adventure moviemaking to canyoneering, we'll take you places you've never been—but will long to visit again soon.
Hiker heaven, redefined, is a month-long hike/paddle/camp in Adventureland.
Follow serpentine barrens and stair-steep tracks to a rugged volcanic sea coast.
Paddle and portage fish-filled waters past wild cascades to the greatest of lakes.
Discover solitude on the Swiss border with this highlights tour of John Harlin's favorite trips—rope not required.
See the Himalayan giants—and cross three passes more than 17,000 feet high—on this off-the-radar route through the Khumbu region
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.