Trips

Head to this preserve's Greenstone Ridge Trail for a deep-wilderness experience in the Midwest.

Bans will also affect national forests.

We asked readers to pick the best mountain in their state. This is what they said.

See the best of the Catskills in one 22-mile hike.

Visitors can access park's most popular sector beginning at 9 a.m.

Des Plaines resident charged with hate crime following June 14 verbal abuse

Was clinging to Haystack rock formation

The loop around Lake Tahoe is a classic adventure—and one of the best moderate long trails in the world. Tackle it with our guide.

The Centennial State's namesake route offers a tour of some of the country's best high alpine scenery in one monthlong hike. We break down the prep, practice, and travel you'll need to bag it.

We’re all for tagging summits, but the best way to experience a peak? Hike around it. You’ll see a mountain’s many faces on a single, peak-circling loop. These 14 trips circumnavigate the best of the best.

Traveling in bruin country can bring out any parent's inner grizzly.

Last month, Lisa Jhung hit the road with her husband and two sons. Their mission: go on the most epic national parks road trip that they could in two weeks.

After wildfire forced the closure of Yosemite Valley, tourists head to the adjoining national parks instead.

And why you should keep hiking them

Want to have Randy Propster and the BACKPACKER Get Out More Tour stop by your shop? Apply below.

A 20-year-old man slipped and fell into a gorge last weekend.

In the '80s, fewer than 100 otters lived here; now, we have about 30,000. Here's a peek at what'd behind the conservation success.

A new history organization hosted a walk at Beaubien Woods.

The man slid about 100 feet in Larrabee State Park.

The 22-year-old was swept away in the West Fork of the White River.

Even with multiple heat-related rescue calls this summer, Parks and Recreation says hikers can keep hiking.

The new Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary could open as soon as February.

Politicians invite the agency to consider the Centennial State as it eyes a relocation to the West.

Venture into the bush to see Africa’s wildlife the wild way.

Rainfall and the upcoming monsoon season reduced fire danger across Arizona.

Someone spray-painted seven iconic cacti last week.

Lightning zapped them in the Central Cascades near Skykomish, Washington.

Popular destinations like Angel's Landing and Upper Emerald Pools are inaccessible due to mudslides and rockfall.

The man fell about 90 feet after reportedly climbing on the butte's lookout.

Crews rescued the woman with a helicopter after she climbed 30 feet to escape the wolves.

Savor summer’s bounty on these four treks to berry havens.

The Cook County officer was scheduled for a disciplinary hearing on his role in a racially charged harassment case that went viral.

Parts of the Coconino, Kaibab, and Tonto National Forests are now welcoming hikers and campers as wildfire threat eases.

Campers have fled Havasupai Campground and will be helicoptered out of the Grand Canyon, reports say.

Biologists aim for an accurate population estimate for California's cougars in a highly ambitious survey.

Extreme heat is interfering with search efforts for the missing woman, who disappeared in early June.

The case began when a woman shared a video of a man harassing her in a Cook County preserve while the officer looked on.

One goat in particular grew bold in its search for salt.

The Fort Collins man disappeared after a dayhike up Mt. Meeker.

The group that sued to restore the Yosemite valley to its natural state vows to take the case to the California Supreme Court.

Rescuers airlifted the pair off a steep slope at 8,800 feet.

Health officials found the virus in mosquitos in Auburn and Worcester.

Crews used ropes to extricate the man, who plummeted 20 feet.

For more than 100 years, our national parks have provided life-list experiences, adventures, and stop-in-your-tracks views. But not all parks—or hikes—are equal. So what’s a trekker to do? Start with these 25 trips, the new classics of the system. Consider them the merit badges of a very well-traveled backpacker.

The 29-year-old autistic man endured some of the year's hottest temperatures.

The 16-year-old is the second fatality there in two weeks and the sixth waterfall death in Western North Carolina this year.

The two fledglings hatched at Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve near Elgin.

Fort Sheridan debuts new accessible trails, educational exhibits, and trailhead amenities.

The Weld County woman found the rabid raccoon in her backyard.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife vets are treating the bear for severely burnt paws.

Hundreds of millions of people visit the national parks every year. Lucky for backpackers, you just have to know where  they go to avoid them.

The City of Angels: land of brunch, tanning, and of course, celebrity sightings at the local coffee shop. For hikers who want to explore trails in places that don’t start with “Runyon,” the options are as sprawling as the city.

Pity the poor Seattle hikers: On any given day, they must decide whether to explore one of three national parks, venture into the Central or South Cascades, head north into the Canadian Coast Mountains, or just stick around Puget Sound and the Pacific. But before decision paralysis sets in, try one of these can’t-miss picks.

This desert kingdom claims some of the most diverse terrain of any urban center in the country. Explore redrock canyons, cacti-studded wildernesses, and subalpine mesas bristling with Douglas firs—all within striking distance for a day outing.

The Mile High City enjoys great beer, food, and a border with the Rockies. But get beyond the foothills for grander sights: From the sheer granite faces of Rocky Mountain National Park to the underrated Tenmile Range to the high lakes in the Indian Peaks, there’s an embarrassment of riches within a few hour’s drive of the state’s capital.

While known for its lake views, modern architecture, deep-dish pizza, and those World Series champion Cubs, the Windy City is also close to some of the Midwest’s best hiking trails. Glacier-scraped terrain, hardwood forests, and meandering rivers are all within two hours of the Magnificent Mile.

Atlanta has plenty of nicknames, but the best one is The City in a Forest. Atlanta urban center boasts a higher density of tree cover than almost any other major city in the country—meaning quality trail time is hardly farther than your doorstep.

New York City may be the height of American urbanism, but that doesn’t mean you have to drive for hours to get your wilderness fix. Soaring views over rocky peaks, quiet lakes, steep scrambles, and wildflowers galore await on these nearby trails. The best part? Public transportation hits them all.

Beantown: city of colonial history, collegiate culture, and premium access to the mighty peaks of New Hampshire—but not a ton of hiking within city limits. Luckily, Hub hikers can easily go from Government Center to New England summits for the day, with hike options ranging from waterfalls to lakes to peakbagging missions—sometimes all in the same hike.

Some months, Ted Alvarez spends more night in a tent than beneath a roof, but his mom had never backpacked. A mother-and-son road trip through all five of Utah’s national parks in one week would be the perfect way to make up for lost time—or court disaster.

A woman's golden retriever took a snakebite to the face on an Arizona trail.

From the Thorofare to Yellowstone’s East Entrance, Cody has something for everyone.

Party attempted descent, called 911 due to slow progress

Popularity of series hasn't helped recruitment efforts

Cramps were the culprit, say officials

Check out BACKPACKER Editors & Contributors's author page.

The paddling trips will incorporate plant surveys and a stop at the new River Island.

500 dockless bikes will make it easier for people to pull off a cruise in the woods.

The measure would fight to prevent extinction for the iconic butterfly.

The 730-acre parcel of old-growth trees is bigger than Muir Woods.

A huge increase in visitation is causing overcrowding and safety issues at the iconic overlook.

Arizona Game and Fish moved a healthy, 75-pound bear to the Galiuro Mountains.

Researchers will plumb the underwater depths for chunks of a meteorite that fell last March.

Backers of a plan to reintroduce the state fish to the Poudre River team up with the Fort Collins brewery and get a special-edition brew.

The WWII military training camp in Eagle County is part of a larger wilderness expansion bill.

Rescuers responded to an injured ankle, severe cramping, and a head injury between last Friday and Monday.

Adventure resort in NH state park may be sold to private entity

Governor’s council challenges residents to exercise

Pair had no map, limited food, water

Actor Don Cheadle is segment's special guest