The Modern Guide to Hiking
From a long-distance thru-hike to exploring an urban park in your backyard, here's everything you need to know
How To
If you're just getting started on the trails, don't be overwhelmed. This 101 guide breaks down where to go, what to wear, and everything you need to know to stay safe and have fun out there.
Our Gear Guy's inexpensive hacks for backcountry travel
Follow these steps to spend less time stressing over the details and more time on the trail
More than 3,000 people attempt to walk the entire Appalachian Trail every year. Only about a quarter of them succeed. This intel from an AT thru-hiker provides key information to help you tackle and complete the 2,193-mile trek from Georgia to Maine.
You deserve better than freeze-dried stroganoff
AdvenChair 2.0, coming out late this year, will allow more people to experience more wilderness
Heather “Anish” Anderson has now chronicled her record-breaking thru-hikes in two books. The ways she documents the details may surprise you—and help you do the same.
A pair of protective, breathable, comfortable bottoms is foundational to any adventure kit. We're here to help you find ones with the right features and fit.
For Warren Doyle, who has thru-hiked the trail nine times, it comes down to mental—as much as physical—preparedness
We asked a professional chef and a nutritionist to evaluate ten meals. Here's what rose to the top.
Here's how to use Gaia GPS to save your route so you never get lost again
Where to Go
Ancient European pilgrimages. Coastal treks along jungle isles. Surprising Rocky Mountain summits. Checking off any of these bucket-list hikes is sure to be the experience of a lifetime.
All across the country, major cities are making it easier to access nature with vibrant greenways
From a trail in Isle Royale National Park with spectacular views to a hike that hits four 6,000-foot peaks in 30 miles, these are our favorite classic routes in the U.S.
For decades, the Old Forge was the holy grail of the British outdoors community. The UK's remotest pub, it could only be reached via boat or a three-day walk through one of Britain's last true wildernesses, the Knoydart peninsula in Scotland. A dispute between some locals and a new owner threatened the legend—until they decided to open up a pub of their own.
Alpine scrambles and beachfront strolls; multi-day singletrack adventures and quick urban escapes; soaring trees and rolling sand dunes—every state in the country has something to offer intrepid hikers. So we rounded up a bucket-list-worthy, best-of-the-best guide.
We asked the experts—and this is the one trail you can't miss in each of the 61 U.S. national parks
Culture
Public lands have become more trodden and restrictive, but the pandemic-era craziness might not last
Photographer Tommy Corey spent the summer shooting Hiker Trash Vogue, a photo project featuring thru-hikers as models—minus wardrobe changes and plus a lot of dirt
Before there was 'A Walk in the Woods' and 'Wild,' there was 'The Lord of the Rings'
Hiking remains a rare modern opportunity to be stunned by the unknown. Don’t spoil it by obsessing over a bunch of YouTube videos.
But it is probably farther than you want it to be
Inspiration
In March, Emily Ford became the first woman to complete Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail in winter. She’s also become an unintentional ambassador of the outdoor industry’s quest for inclusivity.
Some of the world's most passionate athletes are high pointers, climbers who will do anything to reach the tallest point in every state, county, or whatever other designation they can dream up. A lot of those peaks aren't so tall—like Delaware's 447.85-foot Ebright Azimuth—but there's plenty of challenge in this quest. Just ask John Mitchler, who had knocked off everything on his dream list except the tallest spot in a remote U.S. territory: Agrihan.
And other things you should remember when you meet a plus-size hiker on the trail
Grammy nominee Mike Posner left behind his life in L.A. to go on a 2,851-mile journey in search of... something. Here's what he learned about grief, motivation, struggle, and authenticity.
Cory McDonald's main goal was to restore his health on the Pacific Crest Trail. Becoming a YouTube star, getting stalked, and meeting the perfect girl were just exhilarating extras.