Trips by State

Located off the coast of the Everglades, the Sandfly Island Loop is an intro to sea kayaking that even beginners can do.

Explore mossy gorge trails, ancient sandstone caves, and morel-filled forests in this unexpected hiking paradise.

This is the best way to view the North Cascades.

How one hiking photographer got the perfect shot in Florida's Gulf Islands.

The Green Mountain State delivers when it comes to year-round outdoor recreation and adventures with a uniquely Vermont spin

On a rafting trip down the Kongakut River, a photographer experiences a landscape that's as spectacular as it is endangered.

In California's Big Pine Lakes basin, you can find the southernmost glacier in North America, for now.

San Diego is more than great views of the Pacific. These trails will take you through canyons, alpine, waterfalls, and more.

Get a different perspective on Lake Tahoe (and fewer crowds, too!) when you head into the mountains surrounding North Lake Tahoe

Escape the dog days with these deliciously cool trails.

One mountain, five great hiking routes. Even if you’ve already climbed the peak, alternate ascent lines can make your adventure feel like a brand new mountain. 

From rolling road rides and family-friendly singletrack to downhill bike parks, Vermont has world-class routes for cyclists of every kind

Lace up your boots for a hiking destination that includes Rocky Mountain vistas, alpine lakes, wind-swept sand dunes, and memorable urban parks.

Whether you have a day, a weekend, or a whole week, there's a hike for you in Glacier National Park.

Take a walk on the wild side in the Pacific Northwest, exploring endless dayhikes and backpacking trips across Oregon.

The remote Crazies are a playground for more than just humans.

At these dark-sky destinations, the stars are out of this world.

Colorado Springs makes for an unforgettable gateway into the Rocky Mountains’ Front Range.

Whether you’re new to the area, just visiting, or a lifelong resident here, there’s always new trails to explore!

The pain I experience while thru-hiking draws me back to the present and makes me more aware of my privilege

This hidden gem of a thru-hike shows off all the Ozarks have to offer.

With several dozen waterfalls, old growth forest, and mossy grottos carved right out of the wall of Columbia River Gorge, this trail is a hiker's paradise.

From summit scrambles to lowland rainforest, there's a hike on O'ahu for every hiker.

This sandstone arch outside Sedona, AZ has top-notch views and a fun bit of scrambling.

At these creekside, shorefront, and mountaintop spots, the views are so gorgeous that you may never want to go to sleep.

There's a whole wilderness of green valleys, rocky mountaintops, and hidden waterfalls ready to explore in West Virginia's Dolly Sods. Here are our favorite ways to enjoy it.

Over a 30-mile hike through the High Sierra, a father and son reflect on belonging in the wilderness.

Rainforest, volcanic summits, and lush bamboo groves; this island has everything a hiker could want.

Find the best of Maine's unbeatable seashore on these hikes through Acadia National Park.

Hit up one of these 7 hikes for a late-season color show.

Whether it’s big elevation changes, big miles, or big moves, these 23 routes prove that the best hikes are often the hardest. There’s a world of adventure out there—if you’re strong enough to seize it.

Get on a high ledge, a crumbly cliff, or a knife-edge ridge and your body will recognize the feeling before your brain catches on.

No one likes hiking in a crowd. Get all of the scenery and less of the lines with these alternatives to the big parks.

Marvel at tall trees, flooded forest, and rare birds at one of the nation’s lesser-known destinations.

Some of the wildest terrain in the East—loaded with rocky summits, waterfalls, and alpine ponds—is only a couple hour drive from Boston.

There's more than gators and beaches here: Florida has one of the best all-season thru-hikes around.

Waterfalls aren't summer-only destinations—these cascades are even cooler when frozen in the winter.

Make the most of your precious weekend freedom. These hikes deliver epic views and fun to all types of time-crunched hikers.

Looking for a great dayhike, weekend trip, or multiday expedition near Seattle? We've got you covered.

A winter trip through Crater Lake National Park nets a once-in-a-lifetime photo.

A hiker pulls confidence from an unsolicited gear critique in the Catskills.

From climate change to drilling and mining, various threats promise to wipe out what’s best about America’s 12 most endangered trails. Hike them now to admire ancient glacial ice, hear howling wolves, splash at pristine beaches, and admire ancient art galleries.

Two thru-hikers find unexpected trail magic on one of America's lesser-known thru-hikes.

When it's finished, this in-progress long trail will let hikers take a stroll up the Appalachians without battling the AT's crowds.

After pandemic restrictions forced Sharon Wu and her fiancé to reschedule their wedding, they set their eyes on a consolation prize: the rugged Trans-Catalina Trail.

With the help of our friends and readers, we set out to find the best trail in all 50 states. From epic thru-hikes to short jaunts, these were the ones that rose to the top.

These difficult hikes will challenge you no matter who you are.

With an average of 43 feet of snow per year, Crater Lake is one of the best places to sample winter.

On a ski trip to the Pacific Northwest, Backpacker's editors found beauty, snow, and solitude.

Circle an upland swamp rich with views, solitude, and wild edibles.

If you’re operating on a three-season schedule, you’re missing out. Here are a dozen reasons to keep your boots at the ready.

Make like a goat and hoof it to the trail: just a hop, skip, and a jump from D.C.

Every fall, male spiders in search of mates crowd the rocks of the 5.7-mile Condor Gulch to High Peaks Loop.

This is one hike that's worth getting up early for.

From tiny foxes to giant sea cliffs, Channel Islands is a world all its own.

This 12.1-mile overnight bags a Catskills Peak on the way to your lean-to camp spot.

Experience the beauty of fall foliage in Minnesota with these bucket list hikes

The world's largest gypsum dune field isn't just a wonder of the natural world—it's a great place to hike, too.

This descent into this Wind River Range highlight is one no hiker will ever forget.

Explore a secret wonderland in the West Needle Mountains.

It's the most-visited 14er in Colorado. But that doesn't mean you should skip it.

Almost entirely above treeline, this 6.5-mile day-hike loop cruises below rounded 12,000-foot ridges en route to Tobacco Lake in the heart of Colorado’s South San Juan Wilderness.

If you're new to Colorado's 14ers or simply looking for a day hike into the clouds, try these (relatively) easy adventures on Colorado's tallest mountains.

Ohio is the last place you'd expect to discover an off-trail wonderland. But in Cuyahoga Valley, where cross-country hiking is allowed, finding the good stuff takes a little bit of work.

Wildlife, wildflowers, and views await on this short but sweet Colorado hike.

The short and steep trip to Lake Agnes delivers with craggy peaks, scree fields (home to pika), and fish-filled alpine waters.

This 2.5-mile loop in the Wichita Mountains nabs a summit and heads through a series of boulder-built caves.

Check out Drew Allred's author page.

Mastered walking? Time to use your hands as well as your feet on these adventurous day trips.

Tick off the state high point on this 3-day backcountry adventure.

See historic bridges and wildlife on this 38.6-mile paddle through America's heartland.

Paddle 7 miles up the Wailua River to secret waterfalls, hidden swimming holes, and one of Kauai's best rope swings.

By Marissa Gawel

The Bay Area's best hikes range from enormous redwoods to waterfalls dropping straight to the sea.

Link pristine forests, wildflower meadows, and two picturesque lakes on this gentle, 3.7-mile hike near Snoqualmie Pass.

This 11-mile out-and-back climbs to two high-altitude lakes in New Mexico's Carson National Forest.

This easy loop hops islands and sand dunes beside Lake Michigan.

This 23.6-mile backpack along the shore of Lake Superior is perfect for a long weekend or a weekday escape.

Like its name suggests, the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail offers near-constant water views—and if you want to see it all, you’d better arrive before the dogwood flowers do.