Trips

Witness America's largest national park from the water on this

A packraft, a backpack, and some of the most beautiful scenery in Alaska are the ingredients for a bucket-list-level trip.

On a via ferrata, a new mom finds strength in the Dolomites' vertical terrain.

Trek Patagonia, see a grizzly, or hike the Grand Canyon in a single day: The choice is yours.

Backpacking abroad doesn't need to be intimidating. Plan, prep, and go on your next international adventure with confidence using our handy guide.

Skip the beaten path and make the most of your visit to southwest Utah with these tips from a local.

Make a modern-day pilgrimage to one of these sacred sites.

With hiking, cycling, and access to the Baltic Sea, there is something for everyone in Poland.

Step off the subway and into a wilderness sparkling with lacy waterfalls and craggy summits—all thanks to the Long Path, a 358-mile work in progress stretching from 175th Street to John Boyd Thacher State Park upstate and linking the Hudson Highlands, Shawangunks, and Catskills. The trail is inching its way to the Adirondacks (72 miles to go), but that’s no reason to delay a visit (or five) to its top-tier bits, all aflame with the fall palette this month.

The perfect dozen: Embark on one of these 12 treks, and turn America's most iconic preserves into your own private paradise.

Like your life and limbs intact? Then you'd better get skilled before visiting these trails.

Walk through history—and spice up your campfire stories—on these three hikes through abandoned communities.

Maples and aspens are nice, but you better look down if you want to see fall's best color show.

This shoulder-season cruiser delivers you to some of the best views in West Texas.

Wander through the world's largest gypsum dune field in New Mexico.

Jeep Arch is less than 2 miles from Corona, but feels like it's a million miles from its crowds.

Click your way through our adventure guide to Baja California, Mexico.

This day was everything from shocking to scary and now, even a little humorous.

The only thing better than hiking in one fall foliage hot spot? Hiking in two. Or three—or four. Use this itinerary to stage a road trip through New Hampshire’s White Mountains to reach the area’s most underrated treks for fall color.

Venture off the path to find solitude in one of America’s busiest parks.

Experience Mount Washington from bottom to top via one of the northeast’s most iconic trails on this 7.8-mile round trip.

While the crowds hit Arches National Park, take a detour for a taste of sweet fall solitude.

Go deep in Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park to find the heart of the country’s fight for freedom

Catch some September green along the New England Trail before the crowds arrive.

This climber’s peak should be on every hiker’s life list.

Get off the beaten path in the Ozarks.

Rocky peaks, meadows, and squeaky little pikas: this hike showcases the northwest in all its glory.

Mountains, lakes, and sunshine: this route has everything a hiker could want.

Plague poses a risk to rabbits, rodents, squirrels--and people.

The new state park lodging options have special intro rates through October.

More moose means more stress on willows, which has big implications for the park ecosystem.

See the landscape that the glaciers left behind.

The big cat is just one of several sighted recently around town.

Some suspect the animals died of dehydration, and employees were disciplined over negligent care.

Young people are flocking to historic--and closed--Vance Creek Bridge for adrenaline-fueled selfies.

The "very high threat" volcano currently has only one seismometer.

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.