Trips

The little-known Absaroka (ab-SOAR-kuh) Mountains are the largest single range in the Rockies, and they undoubtedly form the wild core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In their northern extremities, the Absarokas manifest their grandeur as steep, rugged spires, thanks to cliff-friendly blends of granite and gneiss. There among the pinnacles you'll find all the mountain wildlife of Yellowstone (mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, wolves and bears both black and brown), but with bigger, badder scenery and far fewer people.

Check out Steve Howe's author page.

The Missions stand out even in northwest Montana, a region with no shortage of steep, crazed peaks. Travel in this glacially eroded landscape of dense evergreen forest, hidden lakes, tusk-like 9,000-foot summits and long, knife-edged ridgelines can be described in three simple terms: Steep. Rocky. Strenuous. Basecamping is the best plan.

Fewer than 300 miles of trail crisscross the 158,615-acre Anaconda-Pintler, but only 45 miles along the CDT qualify as busy. At this northern latitude, treeline sits around 9,000 feet, and timberline regions are like bonsai gardens writ large; an aesthetic blend of spruce, fir, and the whimsical larch. The best way to experience it? A multiday immersion trek trip.

Rugged, scenic, and lightly traveled, the Beaverheads rise above Big Hole Valley's broad meadows as a skyline full of 10,000 foot summits with alpine lakes pooling at their feet. Outside of Montana, this place would be on every hiker's tick list, but here it fades into obscurity behind Glacier and the northern Bitterroots that loom above Missoula. Explore them shoreline to summit on these two hikes.

Gobble the PCT's tastiest morsel.

Four days on New England's idyllic waterways. Is it enough to win a father's blessing for his daughter's new life?

Climb sandstone outcroppings and spot raptors on this wildlife-packed ridgeline.

Traverse craggy cliffs flanking America's first national river.

Explore an alpine oasis amid volcanic terrain along the crest of the Cascades.

You're in mid-season shape; reap the rewards on some of the country's steepest hikes.

Meet a Texas reader who chose Big Bend National Park for her inaugural backpacking trip.

Starting August 1, 2013 we're challenging our readers to hike 1,000,000 collective trail miles! Find out how you can participate.

Spy diverse swamp wildlife in one of the newest national parks.

Trek through wide-open desert and ascend big-view mountains in the still-wild West.

Pass sparkling alpine lakes on this easy weekend through volcanic high country.

Join Backpacker magazine photo editor, Genny Fullerton, and Backpacker contributing photographer, Steve Howe, on a four-day, three-night backpacking photo safari where you'll learn what it takes to shoot images worthy of publication.

A team of BACKPACKER and CLIMBING staffers head to the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado June 6-9, 2013.

Can you walk off a war? A veteran who served in Iraq embarks on a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail to find out.

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.

Spot waterfalls and wildflowers on a rainforest loop into one of the gorge's wildest canyons.

Paddle to explore beach, dunes, and maritime forest on an uninhabited barrier island.

Join editor-in-chief Dennis Lewon for a hike--and cancer-fighting concert--in the Rockies.

These men and women were photographed as they thru-hiked the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail, from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine. They each walked more than 2,000 miles—enduring the Smokies, the Shenandoahs, and the White Mountains—to get

This tireless trail angel is firing up a new generation of backcountry stewards.

Our second-annual Adventures Denver is a family friendly day of fun in the outdoors trying out new gear and activities...for free!

On June 22, 2013 we'll help bring the outdoors to life with our popular Central Park adventure day!

Traverse a primeval landscape of cypress swamp, hardwood hammocks, and pinelands.

Warm up for hiking season with a mellow escape to a maze of limestone plateaus.

Explore a slot canyon and soak in a warm backcountry pool in the country's first designated wilderness.

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.

Leave it to our seasoned map contributors to find solitude in America's most-visited park. This exclusive trip planner serves up routes guaranteed to get you off the tourist trail and into deep wilderness.

Snake along hidden inlets as you follow the shore of America's largest inland peninsula.

Hike through old-growth forest to ridgetop views of Arkansas's largest lake.

Go high and wild in Europe's other Alps.

See newts on the move in California, bears heading out of the alpine in Montana, and 360-degree mountain views in Arizona.

Whether you want an uncrowded hike in Zion National Park or a five-miler through a gypsum dune field in New Mexico, our scouts have paved the way.

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.

Descend from a cliff-rimmed mesa to a trout-filled lake.

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.

Escape into wild forest just a short train ride from Manhattan.

Climb to bluff-top views of hardwood forest and rolling farmland.

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.

Orbit an alpine lake on the edge of North Cascades National Park.

Raise a glass to the fall colors and comfortable weather of harvest season.

Trek among giraffes, rhinos, lions, and elephants in one of the world's premier wildlife parks.

Wolf howls have echoed across Isle Royale National Park for decades. But with the once-widespread predators down to a single pack, the time to go hear--and maybe spot--them is now.