Hiking
Can’t take six months off to hike the PCT? We understand. Here’s how to take a big trip without getting fired.
Thru-hiking is for everyone—but if you really want to build your life around the trail, some careers make it easier than others
A group of young hikers used Apple’s Emergency SOS system to trigger a rescue
Got a few days off, a pair of healthy feet, and a pain threshold higher than Dean Karnazes? You can (possibly) blaze the length of America's Most Beautiful Trail.
Matthew Read, 19, spent two days stranded in the woods
A pilgrim seeking peace and purpose on Spain’s famed Camino de Santiago finds much more
After the bestselling novelist’s marriage fell apart, she decided to take a long walk in the wild. It set her up for a life of adventure.
Encounters between bruins and campers led the forest service to shutter the areas
A small injury during Morgan Brosnihan’s Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike inspired a big idea: Why not set up a mobile clinic for hikers who need help?
Take the plunge and explore dog-friendly fun in and on the water
Authorities in North Carolina say the duo were selling marijuana, mushrooms, and LSD to thru-hikers
A half-hour ramble to a local campsite may not be your idea of an epic backpacking adventure. But it might just give you a new perspective on what’s important in a hike.
Lifesavers in Colorado recently rescued multiple hikers who had lost their footwear on the same slushy trail
There are a number of benefits guides provide to hikers and backpackers of all experience levels.
When the thru-hiker’s dream trip was cut short, she learned that failure is just a chance to reset your goals to match your reality
Snowpack and trail damage on the North Rim prompted the Park Service to delay opening until June 2
The outdoors are for everyone. Here’s our best advice on how and where to go camping, hiking, and backpacking if you’re just getting started.
Completing a winter journey on the Appalachian Trail convinced the fun-loving thru-hiker that he can accomplish whatever he dreams up
Editor Adam Roy explains why his ultralight four-legged friend is the ideal backpacking companion
Like all intense hobbyists, hikers start Instagram pages just for their adventures. Why not integrate it into the rest of your life already?
Two hikers died and more than ten required rescue after heavy rains inundated Buckskin Gulch
A proposed law would require hikers who ignored warning signs or walked on closed trails to reimburse the state for SAR
Our hiking columnist has spent more than a quarter of the past four years on trail. Every morning out there, without fail, he eats another perfect packet of Pop-Tarts.
Rescue crews in SoCal are already warning hikers to skip the snowy San Jacinto Mountains
There's a lot of outdoor misinformation out there, and we're on a quest to quash it
A slow walk through the woods has psychological and physiological benefits—and it could teach you a few things about hiking, too.
Officials issued tickets to ascend 3,284-foot Old Rag in 2022. The program was a success, so the park is continuing it in 2023.
Last January, Carl Stanfield set out to break the world record for the most miles ever hiked in a year. In failing, he found his temporary limit—and, he hopes, a renewed version of himself.
This year’s white winter in the Sierra Nevada could create dangerous conditions along the iconic trail in the spring and summer
Long-distance hikers love to reach towns and binge. I temporarily gave up the cycle, and maybe it changed my life.
A federal judge convicted Jeffrey M. Johnson for operating a paid guided tour without a permit in a national park
Perry’s time for a self-supported trek on the trail nearly broke the best mark for a supported effort
Park officials believe the 31-year-old succumbed to hypothermia
Nick “Chezwick” Gagnon became the fastest person to circumnavigate the enormous route, which takes in sections of five major thru-hikes
Columnist Maggie Slepian explains why expertise in the outdoors does not make you immune from mistakes
Hikers had to pay to access 14,272-foot Quandary Peak outside Breckenridge in 2021 and 2022
The latest story of a tourist behaving badly in a national park is a real head scratcher
Colorado has thin air and endless views. New England has roots, rocks, and tree-lined trails.
Jon Anderson overcame temporary snowblindness to complete the 2,650-mile journey from Mexico to Canada
Philip Carcia covered nearly 2,000 miles over a span of 90 days to complete the arduous goal. It was his third attempt at the challenge.
The photographer is willing to go the distance for the perfect shot
The results, however hilarious, remind us how hikers destigmatize the body
Andrea Sansone spent the summer scouting Nolan’s 14 before setting the FKT
Joe “Kanga” Harvey was last seen heading toward the Connecticut River, where his body was later retrieved
The veteran hiker takes us through his three-day attempt, which saw him battle bladder problems and extreme exhaustion
Editors list the bold and bizarre items they’ve stuffed into a backpack for a trip to the woods
The Granite State has the right to bill hikers for the cost of their rescue, if officials deem them to be reckless in the outdoors
Each year, Big City Mountaineers changes thousands of kids’ lives by bringing them on their first outdoor adventures. You can make it happen for another.
People keep falling into outdoor latrines while rescuing lost phones. Our editors list the belongings they would fish out of an outdoor crapper—and which ones they’d leave behind.
Your guide to all-things Long Trail for your upcoming thru-hike
The 20-mile ridgeline covers over 12,000 vertical feet and overlooks the Austrian city of Innsbruck
Lessons learned during a stroll through London’s narrow streets and soaring parks
By some measures, Jenny Bruso’s advocacy for body inclusivity in the outdoors has been a wild success. But she says the fight has barely begun.
Don’t whack a golf ball off one either, or chuck a Frisbee, or do anything else that jeopardizes the safety of your fellow hikers
The distance runner shaved more than two hours off the JMT’s previous fastest time
On Thursday, they finished the last leg of the triple crown, but they’re not done yet
On Sunday night, British hiker Josh Perry decimated the trail’s long-standing self-supported records after chasing Timothy Olson’s 2021 time
From local favorites to tourist must-dos, these trails are the best of America's Finest City
Two men defaced the popular Moran Point overlook, and photographers caught them in the act
Officials at California’s Redwood National Park say visitors have caused damage to the tree and its surroundings
Driven by closures and new parking rules, Colorado’s highest peaks saw a precipitous drop in hiker visits from 2020 to 2021
With inflation on the rise, I scrapped plans for another long summer hike. On little daily walks through South Dakota’s Black Hills, I’ve rediscovered the surprise and delight of getting back to basics.
Michael Charles Lombardo, 55, frequently walked the famed trail with his pet Chihuahua
The Cherokee tribal council will vote on whether to support changing the name of 6,643-foot Clingmans Dome
The new slogan launches after a series of tourist encounters with the massive mammals
Scott Benerofe finished a rare and daunting southbound winter thru-hike of the AT. His self-proclaimed normalcy about the endeavor suggests such treks might not stay so rare for long.
Plus, how to keep your pup fueled and energized for every outing
To commemorate Father’s Day, editors recall their favorite fishing trips, bike rides, and outdoor misadventures with dad
We’re all for lightweight backpacking, but there are better ways to save weight than forgoing happy hour
The Park Service is asking for help to identify who spray-painted rocks near Yosemite Falls
Fjällräven Guides share lessons about the power of spending time in nature with others
Each year, more families seem to earn attention by taking to long trails with small children. What are their motivations, and is it bad for the kids?
You don’t need to “get in shape” to enjoy hiking season. Here’s how to savor it from the start.
Meet Moose, the nine-pound Rex rabbit warming hearts along New Hampshire’s scenic trails
Are you drinking enough? Filter faster and hydrate smarter with these pro tips.
Crashing, getting lost, or making a gear mistake is just part of trying a new outdoor activity
For many hikers, stopping can be harder than continuing, even if it’s a good idea
This retired professional ultrarunner has found (almost) every waterfall along this wild stretch of central California coast. And, no, he won’t tell you where the best ones are.