Trips

Follow a winding New Jersey river, see fawns in Shenandoah, speed-hike 100 Pennsylvania miles, and other must-dos.

Nab an instant weekend in Ohio”s Zaleski State Forest, find solitude in Indiana”s Deam Wilderness, escape Chicago”s summer on a cool dayhike, and more.

Explore Idaho’s high country, snag an easy-access view near Seattle, climb Half Dome the right way, plus 10 other hikes.

Plunge deep into quiet Appalachian hollows and traverse narrow ridgelines with views across row upon row of forested peaks.

Wander through maple-birch-pine forest with pace-slowing views of the world's largest freshwater lake.

Climb out of the desert heat to breezy alpine solitude.

Hike to life-list hot spots without waiting in life-list lines. These under-the-radar trails deliver everything but the crowds.

Explore peaks and forests in this coastal range.

Yes, all wilderness is sacred. But this mystically beautiful slot canyon is holier than most.

Circle a glacial lake, see a waterfall, and explore a forgotten trail.

Sleep in a lake-dotted basin and scale an 11,000-foot peak.

Take a grand tour of the Tetons on a six-day trek past pinnacled peaks, wildflower meadows, and secluded lakes.

Our map scouts scaled 13,000-foot peaks, trekked to hidden lakes, and explored glacier-carved canyons to bring you our 21 favorite routes in America's most vertiginous range.

Experience the east in a new way this summer with hikes that each offer a special glimpse of what the east coast has to offer.

Looking to relax this summer? These central hikes offer beautiful lakes, great views, and a breath of fresh air.

The following is adapted from Northwest editor Michael Lanzas new book, Before Theyre Gone: A Familys Year-Long Quest to Explore Americas Most Endangered National Parks ($24.95, beacon.org, TheBigOutside.com).

Get a field-scouted tour of the High Peaks.

Nearly 150 years after John Wesley Powell's pioneering trip through the Grand Canyon, the park still conceals remarkable places no humans have ever seen. Contributing editor John Harlin joins a crew of explorers on a journey of discovery.

No early bedtimes on these overnights; you'll want to stay up and enjoy unusually dark skies with clear views of summer's showiest celestial fireworks.

Get a Denali-size adventure with Lower 48 effort.

Escape into tranquil, rolling woods in the foothills of the Appalachians.

Follow a river through the surprisingly wild Pine Barrens.

Explore a seldom-visited stretch of the Continental Divide with hidden lakes, world-class trout fishing, and abundant wildlife.

Tour glacial valleys and navigate to off-trail lakes and waterfalls on this six-day circuit.

Hike cross-country to explore this secluded chain of hanging lakes.

Scramble up a 12.7-mile sneak route to Rocky Mountain National Park's highest peak.

Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.

We mapped thousands of miles of trail to bring you the only resource you'll need to jump-start your adventures in these six national parks.

Trek to a lofty, iconic basecamp on Rainier's snowy slopes.

See scores of wildflowers, waterfalls, and peaks.

Explore Mt. Rainier from nearly every angle on this hike from Fryingpan Creek to Mowich Lake. The classic route tags the subalpine meadows of Summerland, crests 5,000-foot Cowlitz Divide, and links dozens of crystalline lakes and waterfalls.

We mapped nearly 300 miles of trail to bring you the only resource you'll need to jump-start your adventures in this premier park.

Chase canyon vistas through stands of old-growth hemlock.

Climb past a glimmering highland lake to a lofty southern bald.

Paddle a novice-friendly route on the state's third largest lake.

Navigate a long-lost trail to a remote alpine lake.

Slip past tides along cliffy coasts on an easy-to-plan long weekend.

Well, maybe 105. But who's counting? Contributing editor John Harlin defies conventional wisdom with a 1,400-mile circumnavigation of this mountainous kingdom.

Don't miss these affordable services, local haunts, and cultural highlights recommended by adventure-travel experts. Plus, bargaining 101.

Our bags logged thousands of miles–through airports and atop donkeys–and we came back with these top picks, from gigantic rollers and impervious duffels to laptop carriers and packable organizers.

This spacious shoulder bag holds a surprising 45L of goods.

This cargo hauler is outfitted with a surprising number of organizational features.

If you're mixing business with adventure travel, this is the bag for you.

This stable roller bag handles curbs and rough terrain with ease.

These ultralight storage sacks, made from water-resistant and strong Ultra-Sil fabric help you stay super organized.

Going far and going big, hauling monster loads? This is your bag.

From Nepal to New Zealand, we have stories and tips to help you plan the perfect 'life list' backpacking trek abroad.

Sea kayaking unlocks a new world of solitude and scenery.

Cast for beautiful fish that live in beautiful lakes.

Kick it up a notch with these quick fixes.

Scramble a class 3 route and claim your own private peak.

Inflatable kayaks make big-water action accessible to all.

Discover a higher world.

Create a story-driven video that engages you on the trail and offers a fresh perspective on trip memories.

Tired of the same old weekend loops? Looking to create memories your grandkids will talk about? In this how-and-where guide, we serve up 15 extraordinary escapes that will shatter your expectations of "normal." From adventure moviemaking to canyoneering, we'll take you places you've never been—but will long to visit again soon.

David Howard investigates the mystery of 61 black-and-white negatives that are stirring up a hornet's nest of accusations, threats, and lawsuits.

Hiker heaven, redefined, is a month-long hike/paddle/camp in Adventureland.

Follow serpentine barrens and stair-steep tracks to a rugged volcanic sea coast.

Bushwhack up a glacier-carved fjord to a lake-spangled subarctic plateau.

Paddle and portage fish-filled waters past wild cascades to the greatest of lakes.

Discover solitude on the Swiss border with this highlights tour of John Harlin's favorite trips—rope not required.

See the Himalayan giants—and cross three passes more than 17,000 feet high—on this off-the-radar route through the Khumbu region

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Hug pebbly beaches and cliffs along Superior shores.

Escape time as you glide through an endless chain of connected lakes.

Hit four technical summits in the birthplace of North American mountaineering.

Link two gorgeous cabins by scrambling through craggy alpine country.

Routefind across precipitous ridges to an ice-filled lake.

Empty of people, that is. Because the 3,000 miles of wilderness that stretch from Newfoundland's fjordlike coastal cliffs to British Columbia's rainforest and skyscraping peaks are brimming with every type of mountain, water, and wildlife adventure a card-carrying backpacker could want—crowds not included. Our Rocky Mountain Field Editor spent two months exploring places we've never covered to assemble our most extensive guide to Canadian backcountry yet.

Forget immunizations, visas, phrase books, and 12-hour flights. For an epic international adventure, just head north. Canada's cred? The world's longest coastline, 10 major mountain chains, more lakes than any other country, and five Alaskas worth of world-class wilderness.We've scouted eight challenging trips in four provinces, all easy to reach and close enough to major American cities that you won't blow your budget just getting there. Or going back for more.

More than 150 of you entered our contest to become a BACKPACKER field scout. Meet the winners here, starting with Colleen Contrisciane-Lewis, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. She earned the all-expenses-paid grand prize: an assignment to hike—and report on—her dream trip. Read about her 85-mile, weeklong transect of Glacier National Park on the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail.

More than 150 of you entered our contest to become a BACKPACKER field scout. Meet the winners.

Visit a glacier with millions of extinct grasshoppers entombed in its ice.

Hike through a towering redwood forest on this easy-access overnighter.

Hike cross-country to a pocket of dreamy lakeside camps on the John Muir Trail.

Looking for a mellow weekend with swimming options? We have you covered.

Find caribou, moose, and bald eagles on a hut-to-hut trek in an undiscovered park.

Backpack to a local ranger's favorite mountain getaway.

Five more must-do hikes from this region's top map contributor—with 20 years of experience in the area—dishes tips for beating the crowds on her all-time favorite hikes.

This region's top contestant in our Be a Mapper contest reveals his wildlife sighting tips.