At an age when most people are in retirement, the civil rights activist returned to work at 85 to serve as a park ranger in California. For the following 15 years, she continued in the service of public lands, giving historical talks and tours.
A full day inside a suburban rink revealed how one place can hold ambition, grief, faith, and escape—sometimes all at once.
If passed, the Utah Republicans’ proposal would have rescinded legislation that protects and maintains the boundaries of national parks as federal lands. Yet Senator Mike Lee told Outside, “selling national parks was never on the table.”
December 21 marks the first official day of winter. It’s also the shortest day of the year, a time to turn inward and reflect on the months behind us, while also making space to embrace those ahead. Here are six ways to celebrate the shortest day of 2025.
A recent report published by the state’s Fish and Game Department pulls no punches in its assessment of two hikers who got stuck on a mountain and required lifesaving
High-altitude guiding may be one of the most brutal dream jobs on earth. A longtime pro shares the good—and the bad.
Record rainfall, flooding, and landslides have collapsed major highways, triggered mass evacuations, and left national park gateway communities in Washington and Montana in a state of crisis. Here’s what we know.
As bear attacks hit record highs in Japan, one professional snowboarder filmed himself out-carving a charging black bear.
An artist in Colorado has begun selling stickers for American the Beautiful Passes that covers up the president's face with an image of natural beauty
A 20-acre acquisition connects this desert national park to a nearby preserve, creating a vital wildlife corridor in the heart of the Sonoran Desert.
These trailblazers reshaped how we think about adventure, risk, and resilience in 2025.
Since 2020, the Gaza Sunbirds have been a beacon of hope amidst a landscape of violence. These Palestinian amputee cyclists race and deliver aid, turning loss into resilience on and off the road.
This year, Everest's death toll dropped dramatically. Meet the rescuers responsible.
An anonymous band of off-duty park rangers has risen up to defend America’s public lands from budget cuts, firings, and political neglect.
With her World Cup win, Vonn announced she's officially back. But does that guarantee her an Olympic spot with Team USA?
Cost of living in California near Yosemite National Park is notoriously high. Even so, federal officials are slashing wage rates for blue-collar workers, sparking outrage from the local union.
Hundreds of vehicles are estimated to have entered the park during the timed entry window each day during the summer, often leaving people on the road. Removing the reservation program may drive more visitors to arrive later in the day, during safer hours.
‘Robson,’ the latest ski film from Christina Lustenberger and Gee Pierrel, provides a dizzying look at a historic first descent, and showcases the stress and setbacks that ski mountaineers must navigate on the side of a peak
It’s said that Badwater Basin earned its name when a 1849er’s mule refused to drink from a nearby spring-fed pool, suggesting that the water in the area was bad. It’s not—just very salty.
With the memory of an elephant and instincts of a seasoned first responder, researchers say this four-legged robot could be the future of backcountry rescue. But are we ready for it?
The ‘Free Solo’ star announced the date of his Netflix special, during which he will ascend the 1,667-foot skyscraper in Taiwan
You're not crazy—the critters on Instagram are wilder than ever, thanks to artificial intelligence-generated video. Our articles editor takes a deep dive into the technology, culture, and ethics around this new footage.
Utah officials have posted a $3,000 reward for information leading to the capture of a person who reportedly stole a 1,700-year-old skull from an ancient burial ground near the high-desert town of Kanab.
At 267 feet tall, General Grant Tree is estimated to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old, which means the sequoia was growing alongside woolly mammoths and outlived the Roman Empire.
On March 21, 2004, a hiker discovered the body of Renaldo Burts, 18, in the hills near a strenuous trail in southern California near the city of Idyllwild. Two decades later, investigators have arrested a suspect.
The legal ruling marks the end of a lengthy saga for Barrett’s victims, who say the decision has allowed them to feel a sense of safety and freedom for the first time in years
Earlier this year, more than 300 piles of human cremated remains were discovered on public land south of Las Vegas. A local funeral home now holds them, but their origins remain a mystery—and federal investigators aren’t talking.
In the past, Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park regularly shot water over 300 feet into the air. But the feature hasn’t erupted in the better part of a year, and scientists aren’t sure when it will again.
Our articles editor seeks guidance from the Skiers Responsibility Code on how to avoid fisticuffs on the slopes
A private meeting of Utah officials highlights a growing rift over how to manage crowding at the state’s most popular national park sites
The 75-year-old experienced outdoorsman was a ritualistic coffee drinker, which makes him leaving behind a full cup with creamer—alongside his wallet, phone and keys—all the more bizarre. Those close to Pachak tell Outside that he seems to have disappeared without a trace.
Here's where to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics live on TV and on streaming platforms, as well as how to get the playbacks
Australian diver Rhiannan Iffland explains the physical strength and mental toughness required to jump from the height of a five-story building and survive
As we head into the polar vortex, meteorologists are calling for up to a foot of snow in some parts of the U.S.
After 175 years of displacement, the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation has reacquired 900 acres south of Yosemite National Park
Our articles editor takes a deep dive into why opening day on the slopes is a necessary slog if we want to enjoy ourselves later in the season
Inexperienced skiers and snowboarders are following TikTok videos into Vermont’s snowy backcountry, putting them in potentially dangerous terrain at a time of year when snowpack is notoriously unreliable
Esser has survived a severe dog attack, dengue fever, and bursitis in her right shoulder. Still, she’s committed to bikepacking the entire length of South America. Outside spoke with the 34-year-old to learn more about her motivations, triumphs and challenges.
After thick clouds grounded a rescue helicopter, firefighters performed a risky, high-angle rescue to save a hapless hiker who had scrambled onto a rock fin.
The propagation of fall-detection technology has led to an uptick in false alarms. But this hiker is glad that his device made an SOS call after a terrifying mishap.
Kuélap rivals Machu Picchu in size and impressiveness. But the ancient fortress provides a quieter, more intimate experience. And it’s only just now beginning to open up to the world.
An elderly woman who recently became stranded while mushroom hunting raises an important question: Are foragers, especially those seeking prized fungi, at a higher risk of getting lost than other outdoor enthusiasts?
Non-U.S. residents will pay up to $100 extra to enter some national parks and $250 for an annual pass in 2026 under a newly announced pricing structure approved by the federal government.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paul Salopek has spent the last 13 years walking from Africa to the southern tip of South America
Authorities say a young boy called 911 just before 7 P.M. to report that he and three other hikers had been lost for about three hours
A recent tragedy in Colorado wasn't an anomaly. From drowning in quarries to stumbling into open pits, hundreds have died in vacant mines across the United States since 2000.
Shannon ‘SJ’ Joslin was terminated from their position at Yosemite National Park in August for flying a trans pride flag on El Capitan
Three individuals—two women and one man—were swept from the rocks into the ocean while visiting a popular beach in Big Sur. After the two women self-rescued, the 30-year-old man is still missing.
Lava Falls is considered to be one of the biggest rapids on the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River. Rated a Class 10, this powerful feature is characterized by massive waves, holes, and steep drops.
Gabrielle Suver of Clermont, Florida faces a long recovery and an uncertain future in her sport after becoming the victim of a hit-and-run
It’s no surprise that a boot built for Alaskan fishing boats can also handle winter in the mountains
The 47-year-old Utah woman was sentenced to one year of probation and a hefty payment of fines and restitution
Some quick thinking by a friend saved a fallen hiker on a steep mountain in Colorado. Rescuers still had to brave treacherous terrain to save him.
A UK company called Bionic and the Wires has found a way to harness bioelectric current from fungi to play a keyboard
Melting glaciers across the Alps continue to reveal historic artifacts, missing remnants, and even human remains
Freed from years of pain by a knee replacement—she’s back racing at 41, chasing Olympic glory in Cortina. Here’s how one of the world’s most dominant skiers is reclaiming what her legacy means beyond the podium.
While much of the country is experiencing balmy temperatures this November, one U.S. peak is already buried under feet of snow
Holed up in a portaledge on El Cap for four days and counting, the climbing pro talks pee jugs, wind gusts, and why she still refuses to bail
British adventurer Joshua Patterson recently set out to run the highest marathon in history. Turns out, it was anything but easy.
As the federal government reopens, a new survey shows that most Americans oppose the NPS staff cuts, removal of signs and placards inside parks, and the proposed $1 billion budget reduction to the NPS
Researchers believe that melting ice and snow shifted the true summit of the iconic peak from a frozen ridge to a pile of rocks. The mountain, they say, has also lost elevation.
The full 31-minute video of Andrzej Bargiel descending Mount Everest is harrowing stuff, writes Frederick Dreier, and not the type of skiing that most of us would care to do
After training to detect odors under water, the aquatic animal has become a useful tool in the effort to locate missing people. He’s also super cute.
The Pacific Legal Foundation, which represented Sunseri, announced the news on November 10
The incident occurred at Grand Canyon West, a private tourist destination located on the Hualapai Reservation
Will Moss just became the fourth person ever to free climb The Nose in a day. Moss, 20, says Katy Perry and athletic tape helped him nail the toughest pitch.
A visitor found graffiti and toilet paper on a popular trail near one of the park’s iconic geologic formations
Already planning your escape from the cold? Experts at AccuWeather and the 'Old Farmer's Almanac' forecast the warmest regions to explore this winter.
Each bear sighting in Yellowstone National Park is about as valuable as the average movie ticket in the U.S. When accounting for all sightings, grizzly and black bears generate more than $16 million annually.
Ron Dailey was supposed to be gone for just a day when he set out on a hunting trip. Alone and cold in the backcountry, he survived 20 days on just 900 calories.
We spoke to labor experts and multiple NPS rangers about the push to unionize, and whether it can protect Park Service jobs from the federal government’s cutbacks
Experts say that when we push past fear and frustration in nature, we’re not chasing thrills—we’re reconnecting with what it means to be human