Trips

Cross a sprawling preserve of broad mountains, lonely ridgelines, and lush river valleys.

Follow a long-distance trail along the once-violent, now-bucolic border between England and Wales.

The highest peak. The wildest ridges. The largest lake. Find them all in Wales's alpine heart.

Tiptoe along oceanside bluffs with views across the Irish Sea.

Join The Alarm, Squeeze, Gin Blossoms, The Fix, and Stay Cats at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in the name of the Love, Hope, Strength Foundation. Photos by Owen Fegan.

Blind climber Erik Weihenmayer has a new hobby: photography.

The last lonely stretch of the AT beckons from the mountains of western Maine.

Don't be fooled by the cozy pubs and low elevations. The birthplace of mountaineering overflows with challenges, from rugged peaks to history-laden coastal treks.

The next best thing to hiking Glacier National Park's Flathead River Valley? Seeing the movie! Watch a trailer for Flathead Wild by the Epicocity Project.

Devour the world's best scenery, chocolate, and cheese on the Via Alpina.

Check out these city hikes in Walt Disney World, Las Vegas, and Manhattan.

Hug the coastline in these Michigan, California, and British Columbia hikes.

Hike Canada's Pacific Coast harbor on this British Columbia trail.

Turn-by-turn beta for highlights on its best 10 miles.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

In November 2009, blind climber Erik Weihenmayer traveled to Mexico and climbed the volcano Iztaccihuatl with a group of blind children.

A Selection of Backpacker Reader Photos

A wrecked alpine village from Colorado's mining history awaits you at the end of this dayhike.

Photos by Mike J. Donley

Don't let a bike commute cramp your style.

Join the American Hiking Society.

The upside to being downsized? Having time to hit the nation's long trails.

Hike to an historic fire tower and camp beside secluded ponds.

Explore an unknown Nebraska wilderness for a surprising dose of rolling hills, wildlife, and solitude.

Discover the rewards of winter camping on this easy snowshoe trek.

Scramble to a remote refuge on this peak's secret side.

Hike Switzerland's Via Alpina route with the Backpacker editors in our video series.

View stunning vistas and snowy passes in these photos of Switzerland's Via Alpina route. Included: the Eiger, the Wetterhorn, and Jungfrau Glacier.

Hike from Trubsee lake and Jochpass and down to Engstlensee lake for stunning views of the Wetterhorn.

Get ready for a ten-mile day, 4,265 feet of elevation gain, and the Bunderchrinde, the third highest pass on the Via Alpina.

The Eiger is made up of the stuff of legend. Here, an up close and personal look at the mountain.

The Editors' Choice testing crew finishes their final day under the base of the mighty Eiger.

After 100 miles hiking in the Swiss Alps, the Backpacker editors couldn't resist a summit of one of Europe's most famous peaks, the Monch.

The Editors' Choice testing crew tackles the highest passes in the Swiss Alps.

Starting in the town of Altdorf, the Editors' Choice team gains over 6,000 feet of elevation in 17 miles on its way to Surenenpass.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Take a lightly trafficked trail into the word's biggest grove.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Barrie Imhoff tempts fate in Glacier National Park.

Forty years after his own adolescent ascent of Mt. Chamberlin, John Harlin III returns with his 13-year-old daughter Siena. Photos and captions by John Harlin.

Think you know all there is to know about these famous peaks? Get an insider's guide right here.

Lose the leaf-peeping crowds on this quiet ramble above Virginia's loftiest canopies of color.

Don't waste winter: Tackle this cross-country canyon trek in the Lower 48's largest national park.

No one knows the national parks better than the rangers who patrol them. We polled a bunch of insiders on their favorite national park sights, sounds, and tastes.

The editors are back from their annual Editors' Choice trip. Get a preview of the testing ground in this tour of Switzerland. All photos by Steve Howe.

NNN-compatible with exceptional side-to-side stability.

These bindings are surprisingly sturdy, great for cruising on sturdy terrain.

Calling all equipment designers: Everest summiteer and Rainier veteran Peter Whittaker has some advice.

Colorful fall photos from around the country taken entirely by BACKPACKER readers.

Never let your guard down on this deadly peak, where the weather–and spirits–are unpredictable.

Online or via your cellphone these trips are ready to be downloaded and explored.

Cross the Stillwater Plateau to trout-rich ponds at the foot of Montana's second highest peak.

Tackle a challenging, rocky route in the shadow of America's most famous volcano.

Not even 10 days of constant rain can obscure the beauty of the Rockwall Trail in British Columbia's Kootenay National Park.

Trek 18.2 miles from the South's best view to its most famous mountain.

Connect alpine lakes and tag three summits on this wildflower- and wildlife-packed loop.

Explore a supersized wilderness that's home to Idaho's densest population of gray wolves.

Join Justin "Trauma" Lichter on a tour of the wilds of Africa.

From the deep wooded hollows to the lofty Appalachian summits prepare for rain (Clingmans Dome, the park's high point, averages 85 inches each year), humidity, rapidly varying weather conditions, and lots of creek crossings. Here's what you'll need.

Our editor in chief digs through his years of trips, trails, and tales to share some of his adventures in the wild, from the Grand Canyon to Mount Rainier.

Backpacker.com assistant editor Ted Alvarez hits the west side of the Tetons in this photo gallery report.

Sharing is for kindergarten. Try one of these hikes to have the wilderness all to yourself.

Alternative routes, where to find solitude in the Lower 48, and avoiding the crowds in America's most crowded park

You won't find bottlenecks on these untrammeled peaks.

Find real solitude amid the crowds at these secret stashes.

Lose yourself in a private paradise the crowds have overlooked.

Trek to the trail-free summits of Macomb, Hough, and The Dixes

Climb through bear country to a campsite with views of The Grand.

Stroll through wildflower-filled meadows to a frozen slice of the Cascade Range.

Three treks to life-list phenomena

Ten perfect summits for your next group hike

Get big views and rack up long miles with these close-to-home adventures.

A quick guide to the best acres, trails, and views.

The threat to this 1.2 million acre wilderness? Oil Drilling. Hike to the top of 6,660-foot Alamo Mountain to see what's at stake.

Trek to the New Jersey border along PA's finest section of the AT.

Climb riverside bluffs in the South's oldest national forest.

Dupe the daytrippers on this rugged trail to brilliantly colored backcountry cliffs and hoodoos.

Explore South Dakota's 7,242-foot high point in a weekend or a day.