Hiking and Backpacking
Archive
For most AT thru-hikers, Katahdin is the finish line. For Will French, it was the halfway point on a 25-year, 4,320-mile journey along the prehistoric spine of the Appalachians.
The Southern Sierra’s record snowpack may have contributed to a deadly accident on 14,505-foot Mount Whitney this month.
The rise of social media has created a new breed of influencers who tackle the world's longest trails with their audiences in tow. But success isn't guaranteed on a thru-hike—and bailing with thousands of eyes on you is more complicated than it looks.
An outbreak of norovirus on the Pacific Crest Trail proves that hikers’ hygiene routines need an upgrade
How a new pair of Limmers taught me a few things about life, death, and the trails we hike in between
On a winter thru-hike of the Ozark Highlands Trail, Jeff Garmire contended with snowstorms, swam a river, and bushwhacked paths overgrown with bramble—and discovered the rugged heart of one of America’s lesser-known long trails
A bizarre rescue in Michigan has eerie similarities to a 2022 incident in Washington State
Think all cheese delivery services taste the same? Not a chance.
This little burg hits the sweet spot where high adventure meets a low cost of living
Nothing says “for better or for worse” like forcing your wedding guests to trek 60 miles to a ceremony deep in the jungle
These weeklong backpacking trips are the perfect length to squeeze into a vacation
Late season snow damaged trails and delayed start to the season, pushing hikers into hotter summer conditions
These great towns are in the middle of glorious mountains with spectacular leaf-peeping, mega views, and fun things to do...and eat...and drink
Storms dumped rainfall across Utah. One hiker died and another required rescue.
From where the Donner Party was stranded in California's High Sierra to the remnants of the great Chacoan civilization in New Mexico, you can relive history on these incredible trails
Making your own camp stove out of a cat food or soda can used to be a rite of passage for backpackers. But with canister stoves getting lighter and cheaper—and fire bans getting more and more common—one Backpacker editor argues their time has come. (Plus: Another editor dissents.)
Why even bag it if you’re not going to carry it out?
These short-but-sweet hikes are the perfect microadventure for busy people. Here’s how to tackle them.
Our national forests are brilliant, underappreciated, and uncrowded compared to most national parks. Here’s the intel on where to hike in these stunning landscapes.
America’s most classic hiking route is generally a safe place for an adventure. But not always.
We found a novel treatment that actually removes the itch
Call him crazy, but our hiking columnist loves climbing hills. A fifth of the way into the epic Continental Divide Trail, he’s got some ways to improve your form, function, and mental performance on the ascents.
I’m an experienced solo backpacker, but she’s a marathoner and a natural athlete
At these Labor Day Outdoor fests, for three sweet days, you can be outside, hike, hear live music, swim, boat, and run. Plus: there's food and beer.
Backpacker editor Zoe Gates sets off to discover if chatbots are the solution to our trip-planning woes
When a court struck down the public’s right to wild camp in Dartmoor National Park in January, hikers lost the only place in England where they could dispersed camp without getting the owner’s permission first. Now, an appeals court has given it back to them.
Three years ago, Danae and Olen Netteburg set out with their four kids on the Appalachian Trail. Three years (and one more baby) later, they’re about to complete the Triple Crown. All of them.
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