Trips

Experience thru-hiking fever (and New England hardwoods) on this section of the historic Long Trail across Glastonbury Mountain. BY RYAN WICHELNS

Wend beneath sugar pines, Pacific yews, mountain hemlocks, and Shasta firs on this remote section of the Bigfoot Trail in Northern California. BY LAURA LANCASTER

Sample the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail on this overnight past Oberg Mountain and Lake Agnes. Fall bonus: Northern Lights. BY KATHLEEN FERRARO

In Ethiopia, the Bale Mountains’ glacier-carved plateaus and canyons teem with rare wildlife.

All hikes end. Sometimes that's a blessing.

After 148 days on the trail, our correspondent finishes the walk of her life.

With the finish line just a few days away, our PCT correspondent mulls over what that means.

Dreaming of tackling the AT after graduation? Liz "Snorkel" Thomas has some advice.

With the finish line of the Pacific Crest Trail fast approaching, our correspondent deals with an uncooperative body.

People said that Washington would be rainy. People were right.

With 300 miles to go until she reaches the border, our correspondent finds the trail isn't getting any easier.

Now in Washington, our hiker tries to make miles while the sun shines.

Our PCT correspondent crosses into her last state, and the home stretch begins.

Find some feathered friends on these three hikes.

Go ahead and complain about admission in national forests—just remember what they do for the wilderness you love.

Waterfalls, grey days, and big peaks are the name of the game for our hiker's last few miles in Oregon.

Paddle through a blackwater swamp and see A-list wildlife in Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. BY KATHY KYLE

See Missouri's tallest waterfall and stand on its tallest peak on this overnight on the Taum Sauk section of the Ozark Trail. BY MARK HINCH

Hike to backcountry Rainbow Hot Springs in the Weminuche. BY KIRSTEN DOBROTH

Sample the recently restored Wild Rogue Loop on this circuit through canyons and woods in Oregon. BY LAURA LANCASTER

Walk along Paint Creek in Yellow River State Forest on this overnight backpacking trip and you'll know it's true: Iowa is rugged. BY KOREY PETERSON

Kayak where land, sea, and river converge, then camp on a beach and take to a wildlife refuge on foot on this multiway paddling trip to Capers and Bulls Islands. BY DAVID KUCZKIR

Our PCT correspondent faces a new set of challenges in Oregon.

Our trail correspondent dreams of seeing the sun again.

Our correspondent breaks off from the official Pacific Crest Trail route.

With resupply options few and far between, our correspondent has plan ahead.

Sure, you'd like to take half a year off to hike a long trail. But how do you pay for it? Our resident thru-hiker answers.

Our PCT correspondent finally crosses the border.

Check out Morgan Tilton's author page.

Check out Morgan Tilton's author page.

Check out Morgan Tilton's author page.

Check out Morgan Tilton's author page.

Keeping weight on is a tough game when you're walking 30 miles a day—and when you don't bring a stove, it only gets worse.

Now on the second half of her hike, our PCT correspondent braves blazing temperatures in NorCal.

With 1,300 miles behind her, our PCT correspondent is halfway done with the biggest hike of her life.

You don't need snow (or a trust fund) to enjoy this legendary ski town.

Sample a smorgasbord of mountains from this chill California outpost.

Bald eagles, skiing, and mountain biking galore: It doesn't get much better than this outdoor paradise.

In Homer, playing outside is a way of life.

With two national parks and endless wilderness nearby, this may be America's best-situated adventure town.

Explore Arizona's red rock country.

Hike to a giant stone wall, and take a dip afterward.

Why Crested Butte? Because it's crowded with wildflowers, not people.

Get a tour of the best that the Adirondacks have to offer in this upstate destination.

Sneak in the side door to Great Smoky Mountains.

West Virginia's coolest trail town is a great place to refuel on pancakes—and a great place to earn them.

This gateway to the Apostle Islands is a haven for paddlers.

Check out Morgan Tilton's author page.

Check out Morgan Tilton's author page.

Check out Morgan Tilton's author page.

Check out Morgan Tilton's author page.

Start planning your West Virginia adventure.

Our PCT thru-hiker restocks her wares and meets up with an old friend.

Twenty-plus miles of mud and sweat every day can leave a hiker smelling worse than a locker room's lost-and-found

Hike up to 9,000', set up camp, and put on your best suit or dress and enjoy a chilled cocktail.

Your correspondent heads to Door County, WI for an active winter weekend with great local food. by MATT CLAPP

Sometimes, you just need a break from the adventure. Our expert sounds off on how to get a bed and a hot shower mid-trail.

Finishing the PCT before the snows start falling is part of the challenge.

Hikers on the Pacific Crest are starting to feel the squeeze—and our correspondent is no exception.

Can't get into the hills? Immerse yourself in these 360-degree mountain shots from the Backpacker crew.

NPS to pay $6.8 million for Nature Conservancy land.

Our PCT correspondent bags a second long trail on her way to Canada.

One loose rock can be all it takes to undo weeks of walking.

Go where paddlers can't on this overnight loop through Boundary Waters. BY JASON DRURY

Amble past amber maples on Kittatinny Ridge as golden eagles and hawks soar overhead on this overnight loop. BY KATRINA ROSSOS

Amanda Jameson breaks out the microspikes for her climb up an unexpectedly snowy pass on the Pacific Crest Trail.

When the Americans with Disabilities Act required better trail access for all, Yosemite saw an opportunity.

In Canyonlands’ backcountry, a family learns that the wonder of our parks belongs to anyone who goes looking for it.

Surrounded by mountain ranges, this Canadian mountain town packs a punch with beautiful hikes that you have to see to believe

You voted, we listened. Meet Clay Hanna, the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Supervisor for Grand Teton National Park, a model for his peers, a protector of visitor experiences, and one heckuva ranger.

The climb was bad. The PUDs were worse.

Learn the three ways long-distance trekkers get their grub.

We’re throwing a 2,180-mile party from Georgia to Maine! Join us on August 20th for our record-setting attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail in 24 hours.

In the early days of Yosemite, a woman could be anything—including herself

Our PCT correspondent watches the sunrise from the roof of America.

Our PCT correspondent goes up Forester Pass—and takes the easy way down.

Some people fall for the parks so hard, they can’t bring themselves to leave.

Don't underestimate the physical and mental ships you'll go through on the trail.

Don't let the manicured paths trick you: Workers in Washington state's mountains wage an endless war to keep the trails open.

Is there a right way to experience our most iconic preserves? As backcountry trail running and multisport recreation boom, park managers are playing catch-up.