Appalachian Trail
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After 2,194.3 miles, this is the equipment that they loved the most
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.
Michael Charles Lombardo, 55, frequently walked the famed trail with his pet Chihuahua
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.
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.
The cause of Paul “Grandmaster” Classen’s fatal fall is still unclear
Rahawa Haile set out on the AT during one of the most tumultuous periods in our political history. The story she wrote about it for Outside in 2017 hit a nerve, and encouraged many others to get out on the trail. We followed up with her to find out what scared her the most, the one piece of gear she couldn’t live without, and why thru-hiking is always worth it in the end.
Stories about kids who break hiking or climbing records feel like the continuation of an outdated and unhealthy attitude toward outdoor recreation
Hiking is for everyone—but as Kara Richardson Whitely, a.k.a. Mama Kubwa, discovered, not everyone has gotten the memo
Injury forces ultra legend Scott Jurek off the trail
This time the former AT record holder is heading southbound and shooting for a time of under 40 days
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.
Hiking remains a rare modern opportunity to be stunned by the unknown. Don’t spoil it by obsessing over a bunch of YouTube videos.
You don’t have to head to Europe to hike to a backcountry chalet. Here are the most spectacular stateside options, ranging from rustic to full-service experiences.
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.
Sometimes the biggest threat in the wilderness is another human
Hiking was in vogue in 2020, but COVID-19 closures decimated the thru-hiking ranks. What did prospective hikers do with their unexpected time back home?
Monica and Vince Strawbridge and their four children hiked the PCT in 2018 and the CDT in 2020. Now the family has begun the AT.
Lots of people say they hike to change their lives. For some, that starts by changing their love lives.
Many hikers hope their treks will make them better at other sports. Instead, mine kept me from distance running for a year—a common side effect we don't discuss enough.
These eight titles will keep your wanderlust fired up for when it's safe to travel again
After devoting their spring to COVID-19 patients, two West Virginia brothers became the first identical twins to earn the triple crown of American hiking
This pastoral stretch of the Southern Appalachian mountains in Virginia is packed with hiking, fishing, road biking, and other adventures—if you know where to look
Liz "Mercury" Anjos just completed a mid-pandemic thru-hike of the AT—with the help of a small, dialed support squad and a van named Pegasus
The two-hour corridor from Asheville, North Carolina, to Bluff City, Tennessee, packs eight adventures into 60 miles
Follow these steps to spend less time stressing over the details and more time on the trail
After months of trespassing and hiding from rangers, two hikers completed the Appalachian Trail in June. Their sagas raise questions about what it means to be outdoors in the United States right now.
During a week of historic decisions, the Supreme Court decided that an energy company can drill under the Appalachian Trail
No matter your skill level or the type of adventure you're seeking, New England's two dominant mountain ranges offer plenty of opportunities to explore. Here's your guide to getting the most out of them.
From ballads inspired by outdoor adventures to neighborhood sing-alongs, the Okee Dokee Brothers' new album makes staying home with kids more fun
For Warren Doyle, who has thru-hiked the trail nine times, it comes down to mental—as much as physical—preparedness
In the South, a series of hostels have welcomed hikers, defying trail closures and guidelines. They say they're acting on behalf of their communities.
We've been married 13 years and backpacked more than 12,000 miles together. This is what we've learned.
I watched 40-plus hours of thru-hiking vlogs. These are the ones that are worth your time.
Walking away from the adventure of a lifetime is hard, but it makes coming back to it especially rewarding. Here, five thru-hikers share their stories of failing and coming back for more.
Despite the coronavirus, you can legally thru-hike the Appalachian Trail right now. But should you?
Hostels are closing, volunteers are staying home, and trail organizations are advising hikers to cancel their plans
What types to bring, where to find them, and how to make your own
Backpacking food company Mountain House has taken the unusual step of temporarily shutting down its website in order to deal with skyrocketing demand in the wake of pandemic fears
A wilderness medicine expert and former AT thru-hiker shares her tips for tackling a long-distance backpacking trip
Don't have time to thru-hike? That's OK! These trails can be done in a few days or weeks so you can test your endurance without using up all your vacation days.
Lucy Parks found trail culture far from fully accepting but refused to let fear stop them from thru-hiking the AT
Doctors told Trey Cate he'd never walk again after Iraq. Now he's organizing the most ambitious thru-hike of the decade.
Some of our favorite nonfiction authors dropped new books that explore everything from climate disaster to unusual acts of endurance
Proving, once again, that kids don't have to slow you down
Most airlines have a policy for handling such matters. Here's how to avoid the same fate.
We took a peek inside their packs and had a nutritionist grade their choices
You can't technically finish the AT without a ride in Greg Caruso's canoe
There's an easy and quick getaway for fall leaf peeping, no matter where you are in the region
After becoming the first African American male to complete the triple crown of thru-hiking, Robinson is sharing his own experience to encourage more people to get outdoors
In May, Kirby Morrill was nearly murdered during a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Four months later, she climbed Maine's highest peak, the route's terminus.
When Baltimore Jack died near Franklin, North Carolina, the news shook the Appalachian Trail community. Jack had left behind the real world to live on the AT, thru-hiking it seven times and helping countless others to reach their goals. To some, his choice to live off the grid was irresponsible. Others celebrated that he'd managed to break the shackles of convention. A look back on the life of an AT antihero.
Before there was 'A Walk in the Woods' and 'Wild,' there was 'The Lord of the Rings'
A new organization thinks eminent domain is the answer to protecting the national scenic trail system. Other advocates think that idea is counterproductive.
Liz "Snorkel" Thomas, an Appalachian Trail record holder, created a 225-mile route through the Big Apple to help bring attention to the city's need for more playgrounds
Diversify your Instagram feed with plus-size ultrarunners, kayakers, and other bold outdoorspeople who want you to love getting out there too
A proposed hydropower transmission line in Maine would impact the AT, wildlife, recreation, and tourism. Is it worth it?
Thinking about tackling the big thru-hike? Consider these four things first.
Guthook Guides' maps and crowdsourced information have made hiking the PCT and AT immeasurably easier. But is that a good thing?
Unless you're hunting, it's a terrible idea to pack heat in the backcountry
Gear hacks for a good backpacking trip when the weather goes bad
Despite an attack that left one hiker dead and another injured, the experience and fellowship of the trail perseveres
The 17-year Army vet was stabbed to death when he and another hiker were attacked on a section of the Appalachian Trial last weekend. The trail had been his path to recovery from PTSD.
Retiree and trail angel Carl Springer fires up his Coleman propane stove to make batches of omelets for hungry thru-hikers
After one hiker was killed and another wounded after a weekend attack on the AT, many are asking why something wasn't done about James Jordan sooner
There are more than 10,000 different state parks across the country, many of which have terrain that rivals any national park
Get outside for a night (or two) with this roundup of backpacking must-dos
We asked hikers for advice on how to readjust to life after the trail
Don't rely on convenience stores and junk food to fuel your miles
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.
The Garden State doesn't usually bring to mind bucolic wilderness. But if you ask people in the know, that's only because you've been looking in the wrong place.
New owners are revitalizing Shaw's, the beloved hostel on the Appalachian Trail
Our testers picked the Caldera 2 as one of the best trail runners of summer 2018. “This was the shoe we reached for when we wanted to take it easy on our dogs,” they wrote. “On most trails, the Caldera provided ample protection.”…