Hiking and Backpacking
Archive
Cops say Robert “Steady Eddie” Kerker was caught in a swollen waterway in July
Outside’s ethics columnist weighs in on the great cairn debate
They don’t necessarily save energy, but a new study suggests they might save your legs
Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record, but the country’s beautiful national park system has mostly escaped them
A former hiking guide reveals his favorite trails in and near Yosemite National Park, with views of enormous waterfalls, El Capitan, and wildlife
A hiker found the woman’s body on a popular trail near the national park
Walk among deep river gorges, glacial mountains, alpine lakes, and vast deserts, all on beautiful under-the-radar public lands
One of the most popular mountains on the Appalachian Trail closed to overnight visits after visitors trashed it in 2020. Now, those temporary restrictions are starting to look permanent.
A lot of what thru-hikers eat on the trail is far from good for you. But some nutrition-minded backpackers are trying to buck the trend.
Enjoy this corn-studded and quinoa-based salad on the trail
Live electric wires and bridge damage are among the hazards that trail crews have found so far—but it’s not all bad news
Visits to one popular Colorado fourteener have declined by more than half since 2020
The CDT’s traffic is ballooning. In Montana, the National Park Service isn’t facing what that means for Glacier.
Authorities are trying to determine what caused the deaths of three people found in a remote campsite near Gunnison last week
The death is the third snow-related fatality that local search and rescue has responded to over the past three weeks
Fear and overzealousness often lead to an overstuffed pack, which you’ll regret for hundreds of miles. Our thru-hiking columnist has advice on what not to take when you’re heading out.
Remember the mustard, learn how to save your batteries, and the best trick for a cold sleeping bag
Authorities say the unleashed mutt provoked the bruin, and have closed a popular trail near Asheville
After surviving 9/11 at ground zero, the thru-hiker started walking—and never stopped
Four years ago, our hiking columnist didn’t know the triple crown of hiking existed. Now he’s on the verge of completing it—or at least trying to.
Hiking, like most things, is just better in Sweden. And now with the annual Fjällräven Classics, hikers all over the world can join the fun.
Witnessing a friend’s dangerous fall prompted the author to reevaluate the way she talks about outdoor blunders
There are two types of mountain athletes in the world
Want a hiking boot to adventure with you for years to come? Meet the Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX.
Students in the Semester-A-Trail program at Emory and Henry College will spend their spring and summer semesters hiking part or all of the Appalachian Trail—with gear, support, and an on-trail budget included in tuition
Whether you’re road-tripping or flying with Fido, our columnist has found the friendliest campgrounds, hotels, and airlines that welcome canines—as well as an app that dog owners shouldn’t live without
Retreating from a wildfire during a backpacking trip inspired the nonprofit founder to share climate change’s impacts on nature with others
How to make due without hiking poles, a sleeping pad, and more pieces of crucial backpacking gear
The dog trainer developed disordered-eating habits in college. Sitting under the stars brought her back into her body.
Over 7,000 miles on trail, our hiking columnist has tried coffee and caffeine in most every form imaginable. But the humblest one of all taught him something about himself.
After losing a friend on a camping trip, the writer thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail to process his grief. Out there he learned that making the most of life requires fully committing to every moment.
The Benton MacKaye Scenic Trail starts at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. It could become our country’s next big hiking route.
We’ve done the impossible and made a list of best hikes in our national parks. Now’s a perfect time to start checking them off, from Acadia to Yosemite.
The answer isn’t as obvious as it was five years ago
The environmentalist drag queen found the community they craved as a queer teenager at a YMCA summer camp. Now they’re determined to share that experience with as many LGBTQ+ kids as possible.
In a moment of isolation on the trail, the record-setting thru-hiker found the will to keep walking by turning to her younger self for support
The outdoor guide had lost their passion for adventure. The trip that was supposed to be their last brought it back.
Can’t take 6 months off to hike the PCT? We understand. Here’s how to take a big trip without getting fired.
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.
Our hiking columnist went to the AT’s legendary Trail Days this year with one mission—to figure out what hikers were and weren’t putting on their feet
23 testers snoozed on nineteen pads. These are the very best of the year.
We dunked 19 filters across the country, from silty streams in California’s Agua Caliente Creek to clear lakes in Washington’s Olympic Mountains, to find the year’s best.
We hiked, ran, skied, and climbed through the night to find the best illumination of the year
We reviewed 386 pieces of gear. But these ones stood above.
If you've been held back from doing something that excites or intrigues you, read on
Matthew Read, 19, spent two days stranded in the woods
Sure, pretty sunsets and endorphin-pumping summits do the trick. But we’ve also found plenty more surprising moments of wonder and delight.
No commands, rules, or directives here. Just a gentle nudge towards something truly lovely.
A pilgrim seeking peace and purpose on Spain’s famed Camino de Santiago finds much more
Why be stuck behind the masses at popular parks when you can wander some of the nation’s best with barely a soul in sight?
The wild world of fastest known times includes crazy ideas, stunning successes, disappointing failures—and so much in between
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.
Phoenix recorded its earliest 100-degree day in 80 years
A tax-deductible donation of any size can have a huge impact on these nonprofits, all working to get everyone outside and protect our planet. Pick an org and donate today in just a few clicks.
When upgrading your kit becomes a way to ignore your problems
Americans live in one of the most individualistic nations on earth—and it can be one of the most isolating, too. Could hiking be a way for us to find our way back to community?
Faced with risk and loss in the mountains, our writer grapples with what it means to lead a life well-lived.
As a high-school student, she signed up for an ambitious adventure—and learned the hard way to be upfront about what doesn’t know
Our trails columnist has hiked thousands of miles. These are the routes at the top of his bucket list. Thrill yourself with a trip to an amazing trail this year.
Authorities in North Carolina say the duo were selling marijuana, mushrooms, and LSD to thru-hikers
According to our testers, two new GNSS units from Garmin make it an easy answer
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.
This nonprofit turned 40,000 miles of unused travel infrastructure into a system of walking and biking paths—and wants you to use them
Lifesavers in Colorado recently rescued multiple hikers who had lost their footwear on the same slushy trail
Losing his lower legs to disease in childhood caused him to hide himself for decades. Then a long, hot hike across the Grand Canyon showed him a new way forward.
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
After losing her father, she first turned to the outdoors for relief. Then she funneled her grief into creativity.
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.
Randy Udall was most at peace in the wilderness. After he died on a solo backpacking trip, his daughter took up his tradition of hiking to a secret place in Wyoming’s Wind River Range, where she was surprised by what she found.
Completing a winter journey on the Appalachian Trail convinced the fun-loving thru-hiker that he can accomplish whatever he dreams up
Like all intense hobbyists, hikers start Instagram pages just for their adventures. Why not integrate it into the rest of your life already?
Make great boots. Inspire people to use them. Here’s how.
The PCT traces the west coast of the U.S. over almost 2,700 miles. Our expert trail columnist reveals everything you need to know about what to pack, eat, and read, plus where to sleep and how to have the most fun on this scenic long trail.
Two hikers died and more than ten required rescue after heavy rains inundated Buckskin Gulch
We destroyed packs from three different price points to help you decide which one to buy
Stop relying on bulky socks to keep your feet warm when you hike