Trips

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.

Explore Albuquerque's backyard mountain range.

Wind through an isolated gorge with ancient art.

Circle through giant gorges and sleep at a riverfront campsite.

Hit up the park's highlights--slickrock scrambles, mesa-top views, and hoodoo-dotted canyons--on this seven-day trek.

Our field scouts scrambled up airy ledges, trekked to giant arches, and dropped into deep gorges to bring you the best dozen trips in this slickrock paradise.

Your region's go-now guide.

BACKPACKER editors start training for the 160-mile Grand-to-Grand Ultra, the first backpacking stage race in North America.

Bookmark this page for ongoing updates about our 2013 expedition benefiting at-risk urban teens.

This culture activist is bringing diversity to the outdoors.

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.