Trips

Bears don't just call North America home. Branch out and hike their homes in Asia, South America, the Arctic, and beyond.

The remote Crazies are a playground for more than just humans.

A hike through Panama’s Parque Internacional La Amistad highlights wonders, both of the natural world and within the hikers themselves.

Get to know one of the most spectacular long trails in the U.S. with the creators of THRU | The Pacific Northwest.

At these dark-sky destinations, the stars are out of this world.

The miles are low and the rewards are sky-high on these perfect first hikes.

Take your first steps into the world of backpacking with these one-night trips, full of mountain views, wildlife, and even glaciers.

Colorado Springs makes for an unforgettable gateway into the Rocky Mountains’ Front Range.

After striking out on his first attempt, the author returns to Greece's most famous mountain determined to make the summit.

Shake off your winter hiking slump with these early-season destinations.

Whether you’re new to the area, just visiting, or a lifelong resident here, there’s always new trails to explore!

Water weighs a lot, audiobooks weigh nothing, and more semi-philosophical tips to guide rookie trekkers to a strong finish

The pain I experience while thru-hiking draws me back to the present and makes me more aware of my privilege

This hidden gem of a thru-hike shows off all the Ozarks have to offer.

With several dozen waterfalls, old growth forest, and mossy grottos carved right out of the wall of Columbia River Gorge, this trail is a hiker's paradise.

Follow in the footsteps of history from Pennsylvania to the Pacific coast.

From summit scrambles to lowland rainforest, there's a hike on O'ahu for every hiker.

Already itching to head into the backcountry? These overnights are accessible way earlier than the high country classics, with views just as good.

This sandstone arch outside Sedona, AZ has top-notch views and a fun bit of scrambling.

At these creekside, shorefront, and mountaintop spots, the views are so gorgeous that you may never want to go to sleep.

There's plenty of options when summiting the highest point on the country's eastern seaboard, from multi-peak loops to quick out-and-backs.

Everything changes—even the Pacific Crest Trail. One of the trail's early thru-hikers shares snapshots from his trip up the path in 1985

There's a whole wilderness of green valleys, rocky mountaintops, and hidden waterfalls ready to explore in West Virginia's Dolly Sods. Here are our favorite ways to enjoy it.

Over a 30-mile hike through the High Sierra, a father and son reflect on belonging in the wilderness.

Rainforest, volcanic summits, and lush bamboo groves; this island has everything a hiker could want.

Michigan’s idyllic national park promises rocky shorelines, aromatic pine forests, beautiful lighthouses, and more moose than humans.

Find the best of Maine's unbeatable seashore on these hikes through Acadia National Park.

Combine the best of touring and resort skiing on the runs of these abandoned ski areas.

Take it easy in these 15 accessible, mellow areas for some of the best backcountry skiing in the Lower 48.

Stop dreaming, start hiking: From desert treks to waterfalls to heroic alpine ridges, we've picked the best hikes for every month.

While the summer crowds hibernate, you can cure your cabin fever. Here are the 9 best national park hikes to do during the fourth season.

Hit up one of these 7 hikes for a late-season color show.

Whether it’s big elevation changes, big miles, or big moves, these 23 routes prove that the best hikes are often the hardest. There’s a world of adventure out there—if you’re strong enough to seize it.

Get on a high ledge, a crumbly cliff, or a knife-edge ridge and your body will recognize the feeling before your brain catches on.

Stay cool: These 20 backcountry tarns, lakes, ponds, and other assorted bodies of water are perfect year-round, but come into their own as temperatures heat up.

Embrace the exposure when you take your summer adventures to the crest of the high country.

No one likes hiking in a crowd. Get all of the scenery and less of the lines with these alternatives to the big parks.

Catch the best of the early season show on these routes across the U.S.

Beat the heat by hitting these desert trails early in the year.

Marvel at tall trees, flooded forest, and rare birds at one of the nation’s lesser-known destinations.

The 9.5-mile Bright Angel Trail drops from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River through some of the continent's most iconic terrain.

Whether you have a day or a week, these hikes will bring you to some of the best of this iconic national park.

Some of the wildest terrain in the East—loaded with rocky summits, waterfalls, and alpine ponds—is only a couple hour drive from Boston.

There's more than gators and beaches here: Florida has one of the best all-season thru-hikes around.

Cap off a day on the trail with a soak in a steamy mineral pool. We found the best from Alaska to North Carolina.

Ready to cross one of the most scenic canyons on Earth? We've got you covered.

Waterfalls aren't summer-only destinations—these cascades are even cooler when frozen in the winter.

Get ready to trek around Washington's most iconic mountain, through some of the best scenery in the lower 48.

From the heart of the Ozarks to the edge of the Ouachita National Forest, Amber Straughn—one of the minds behind the James Webb Space Telescope—reflects on her explorations along Arkansas’ best local trails.

Make the most of your precious weekend freedom. These hikes deliver epic views and fun to all types of time-crunched hikers.

Looking for a great dayhike, weekend trip, or multiday expedition near Seattle? We've got you covered.

Explore a geothermal wonderland with the help of Backpacker's experts.

The Narrows at Zion National Park offers an incredible adventure in America's most amazing slot canyons. Here's how to safely explore them.

A winter trip through Crater Lake National Park nets a once-in-a-lifetime photo.

On Washington's west coast, you can backpack through any landscape you can dream of—and you can do it all on the same trip.

A hiker pulls confidence from an unsolicited gear critique in the Catskills.

Start planning a far-flung adventure with these 10 classic and soon-to-be-classic hikes.

From climate change to drilling and mining, various threats promise to wipe out what’s best about America’s 12 most endangered trails. Hike them now to admire ancient glacial ice, hear howling wolves, splash at pristine beaches, and admire ancient art galleries.

Two thru-hikers find unexpected trail magic on one of America's lesser-known thru-hikes.

With plenty of good food and drinks, events, and nightlife, there’s a lot more to Reno-Tahoe than its phenomenal skiing

You won’t need to break a sweat or own a 4WD vehicle to soak up the scenery at these stunning sites

When it's finished, this in-progress long trail will let hikers take a stroll up the Appalachians without battling the AT's crowds.

After pandemic restrictions forced Sharon Wu and her fiancé to reschedule their wedding, they set their eyes on a consolation prize: the rugged Trans-Catalina Trail.

Start planning to hike these in-progress U.S. trails in 2022.

With the help of our friends and readers, we set out to find the best trail in all 50 states. From epic thru-hikes to short jaunts, these were the ones that rose to the top.

These difficult hikes will challenge you no matter who you are.

Where did our readers want to go this year? Turns out, a bit of everywhere.

The trails of Shenandoah National Park have it all, from mountain ridgelines to forested waterfalls to a whole range of thriving wildlife.

Plan your next big hike with this map of America's most-loved long trails.

No, they aren't Everest, but these soaring summit hikes will make you feel like you're standing on top of the world.

With an average of 43 feet of snow per year, Crater Lake is one of the best places to sample winter.

Make the most of the fourth season with these perfect national park hikes.

Grizzlies vanished from North Cascades National Park five decades ago. Or did they?

Whether you're after deep powder, dusty singletrack, lively après, or all of the above, the Biggest Little City in the World delivers.

With over 30 years of thru-hiking and section-hiking long trails all over the country (but never the PCT), Andy Niekamp is definitely the voice of experience. Backpacker sat down with him to find out his tips, tricks, and favorite gear.

With over 30 years of thru-hiking and section-hiking long trails all over the country (but never the PCT), Andy Niekamp is definitely the voice of experience. Backpacker sat down with him to find out his tips, tricks, and favorite gear.

On a ski trip to the Pacific Northwest, Backpacker's editors found beauty, snow, and solitude.

Leave the tent at home: At these 12 perfect backcountry huts, you'll find an entirely new way to experience the trail