“Um, don’t do drugs kids (and don’t start spiders on fire during a drought),” Utah governor Spencer Cox tweeted Tuesday

The Wind Cave is the seventh-largest mapped cave in the world

Great Smoky Mountains is a mecca for millions of outdoor visitors each year. But as our 63 Parks columnist explains, that doesn’t mean you can’t find solitude and peace. Often all it takes is a walk in the woods.

Here’s how to make the most out of a visit to one of the wildest places in the U.S., from kayaking to birding to fishing and so much more

Outdoors lovers: coastal Georgia is calling your name

Western national parks like Yellowstone, Zion, and Joshua Tree are among our most iconic, but it’s the journeys road-tripping in between them that provide the greatest opportunities for adventure. From Montana to Southern California, here’s how to make the most of this itinerary and avoid the crowds.

Deep, dark, and hiding some dreadful bits of history, Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky, is a fascinating place for underground exploration

You don’t need a reservation to pitch a tent at these free and dispersed camping areas on public land, from empty beaches to lush forests to hot springs. Go, enjoy, and pledge to leave the place in better shape than you found it.

Join us on a life-list Himalayan trek, and do good for others while enjoying one of the world’s dream trips

Too many rocks? Not enough people? Illustrator Amber Share says bring it on.

Feeling entranced by the cosmos? See the heavens in all their glory from one of these incredible trails.

Officials are investigating a triple homicide at Maquoketa Caves State Park, a popular area for spelunkers and casual hikers

Turns out you can carve fresh snow in August. Put these Southern Hemisphere resorts on your bucket list.

From kimchis in South Korea to falafels in Egypt, our author says these meals refueled him after adventures on the road

Tim Neville has been around the world and back again, and as good travelers do, he’s made sure to try the local cuisine at every stop. So we asked him to write about his favorite meals—and how you can try them, too.

Plastic rangers exploring America’s best idea

Many visitors to the mid-Atlantic make a beeline to the Smokies. But our 63 Parks columnist argues that there’s plenty of wild adventuring to be had in Shenandoah—and Blue Ridge views for days.

Unique recreation opportunities and uncrowded wilderness abound in areas impacted by Yellowstone flood

Acadia, in Maine, woos visitors with hikes that overlook the Atlantic Ocean, bike rides along historic carriage roads, and some awesome lobster rolls

The 2022 Toyota Tundra is the ultimate rig for a day of fishing

From family-friendly hikes to deep-wilderness paddling trips, Maine has it all.

An interactive guide to one of fly-fishing's most storied roads

Three anglers from different walks of life come together in one of the country's most storied fisheries

Got little ones and want to adventure far and wide? Here’s how to do it in an RV.

People develop sensitivities to just about everything these days, but can you really be allergic to frigid temperatures? Our writer takes us on a wild—and potentially life threatening—journey to find out.

Mega cruise ships stopped sailing to Key West, Florida, during the height of COVID-19. Many locals appreciated the resulting peace and quiet and won a vote for large ships not to return. But the fight’s not over.

Plan the trip of a lifetime or just the weekend with these iconic routes

The Park Service is moving quickly to reopen most of the park in time for the July Fourth weekend, but the historic flood changed Yellowstone forever

The world’s first national park will reopen this week after the devastating floods. Here’s what you can expect.

You can still find a slice of solitude in the country's most visited parks

If you’re on the hunt for unexpected and uncommon gems, Nevada delivers

Inside Indonesia’s Coral Islands exists one of the most biodiverse regions on earth

From the Wave to the Wonderland Trail, more famous outdoor destinations are enacting lottery systems. For one writer, it’s not worth the hassle.

Summer road trip, anyone?

The second-city travel trend is helping alleviate pressure on the world’s most overtouristed urban centers. Here’s how it could help crowded outdoor escapes, too.

We’re for an official mandate: make this the season of long weekends. To help you out, we found the most fun new summer adventures.

It's been six months since the first NPS director in five years stepped into office facing $22 billion in deferred maintenance. This is what he's accomplished so far—and what's still coming.

An atmospheric river dumped 200 to 300 percent more moisture than usual onto the area over the weekend

The 10,551-foot peak, formerly called Doane Mountain, has a new title that reflects the contributions of Native Americans

Everything you need to know about how the burning West will affect your summer

Hike to alpine lakes, sleep under the stars, and visit some of the best parks in the country

Looking for an epic family-friendly road trip? Look no further than the Black to Yellow route.

If you haven’t snagged a reservation to the growing list of timed-entry parks, it might seem like a trip there this summer is out of the cards. But fret not—we found some legal ways to visit.

There’s a reason crowds flock to places like Havasu Falls and Horseshoe Bend—they’re absolutely gorgeous

The 440-mile route goes from the third-deepest lake in the U.S. to the jagged peaks of the North Cascades and the tulip-filled Skagit Valley

The Swiss Alps are home to an incredible new hut-to-hut runners’ route called the Via Valais. It’s a little demanding—150 miles, nine stages, and 42,000 feet of elevation gain—but if you can take it on, you’re guaranteed one of the most spectacular adventures of your life.

Mother Nature’s most bizarre wonders are created by all-real natural effects

These seven destinations are the perfect summer base camps, with plenty of adventure on and off the water

This Central American destination is the adventure traveler’s dream, from its jungle-covered peaks to a coastline where 450 islands stretch across the world’s second-largest barrier reef. It’s beautiful, accessible, culturally diverse, and home to historically significant Maya sites.

The former president once said, “It was here that the romance of my life began”

A unique outdoor experience is waiting for you in this epic southern mountain town

Wildlife adventures can do wonders for conservation—but the wrong tours put animals at risk. Here’s how to find a responsible outfitter so your trip can help protect the creatures you’ve come to see.

More than just a beach destination, the Fort Myers area has something for everyone this summer

Our national parks are overcrowded, especially in summer. One solution is to create more of them. Here are the regions that get our votes.

This cliff-hugging stretch of U.S Highway 550 is dotted with scenic mountain towns filled with hiking trails, brewpubs, and hot springs

Watch as the Moon family sets out on a camping adventure in the all-new Toyota Tundra

A program called Malama Hawaii is connecting hotel and restaurant visitors with environmental nonprofits to tackle the state’s mounting plastic-pollution problem

Outdoor industry leaders of Asheville, North Carolina, share their secret spots and give you a chance to win their gear

From routes that have been rebuilt after wildfires to newly constructed singletrack, we can’t wait to get trekking on these trails around the country

After setting out on her longtime fantasy to travel the world on a sailboat with her family, one writer learns just how beautiful—and devastating—it can be to finally get what you want

The best way to catch aurora borealis in all its lit-up beauty: go to the darkest places on earth, at just the right time, and hope for the best

These are our best stories about how to see and understand rare phenomena around the world

You need more natural silence in your life. Find it in these parks.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio turned a canalway into a 90-mile trail perfect for hiking and biking, and our 63 Parks columnist highly recommends a ride

Indiana Dunes National Park is an adventure gem for urban midwesterners all year long, but particularly in summer, when Lake Michigan almost appears tropical

It’ll take some miles to reach these eight remote, high-elevation lakes, but what better way to cap off a strenuous trek than diving into cool, crystal-clear water?

Win a $10,000 epic getaway!

Enter to win a trip for two to see and experience all the wonder that Belize has to offer

Port Aransas is Texas’ greatest coastal paradise. With more than 18 miles of sandy beaches, hundreds of species of birds, and uber-easy access to world-class fishing, it’s the ultimate Gulf escape from city life. Port A, as locals call it, and San José Island—just a short boat ride…

Across the country, hard-to-nab spots are sitting vacant. How do we make sure these coveted spaces aren’t going to waste?

The stunning destination of Sedona, Arizona is feeling the squeeze, along with many other iconic destinations worldwide. A new film called ‘The Last Tourist’ offers up ways we can fix the travel glut.

This North Carolina city is an outdoor vacation hub you’ll never want to leave

Forget waking up at dawn to save your spot or navigating through crowds on Main Street. These coastal destinations are all about empty stretches of sand, activities for everyone, and ocean-view rooms that don’t break the bank.

Some might be surprised to hear that one of our nation's most visited parks is in Ohio, but a single trip will be enough to convince you otherwise. Bridal-veil waterfalls, a spectacular river, and more than 125 miles of trails are merely supporting characters to this Midwest playground's main act: a conservation success story.

As crowds grow and parks reach capacity, responsible national-park travel is more important than ever. Here’s how to leave a lighter footprint, according to rangers.

From a scenic path that extends the entire length of New York to a new route connecting Yellowstone to Grand Teton, here are the most scenic ways to experience America’s wilderness by bike

National parks get a lot of attention, but there’s so much more to the National Park Service

To mark its 150th anniversary, America’s first national park plans to use 2022 to address past wrongdoing and work toward a more inclusive future

Family vacation? Find fun for all ages with these kid-friendly activities in and around the park.

The parks on this list span six continents and tens of millions of acres, offering excellent fodder for any nature-addicted international traveler looking to jump-start their wanderlust