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Hiking

Hiking

Archive

In an excerpt from his new book, ‘Into the Thaw,’ Jon Waterman vividly depicts one of his most painful expedition moments ever

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From Boston to San Francisco, urban hikers have stitched parks and paths together into beautiful, rigorous, and creative routes

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Fall is in full swing, and our editors are loving every minute of it. Here are the pieces that are keeping us cozy outside this season.

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Our hiking columnist tested Satisfy’s pricey Dyneema shorts. Turns out, the most expensive product isn’t always the best.

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This eco-destination boasts a plethora of incredible spots, from wildlife-rich rainforests and surf-swept coast to active volcanoes and natural hot springs

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It’s a tough job, but I’ve been testing these warm-soak places for many years. Here are my all-time favorites.

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Tyler Andrews predicts more top runners will pursue Fastest Known Times on the world’s tallest mountains

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Two beautiful national parks, 89 state parks, plus mountains, rivers, and coastline. Having grown up in Texas, I can attest: this state has it all.

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The new Messenger Plus device lets you send photos, voice messages, and much longer texts to family and rescuers

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Sponsor Content: Colorado Tourism Office

Experience fall splendor with the Colorado Mountain Club's top autumn adventures, from colorful road trips to scenic hiking and biking across the state

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On Thursday, video game developer Jason Rohrer unveiled "Project Skydrop," a treasure hunt in New England featuring a solid gold statue and a bounty of cryptocurrency

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Catch the colors and miss the crowds at these often-overlooked autumn destinations. Our parks columnists reveals where leaf peepers can see fall’s best shows.

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Sponsor Content: KEEN

Follow the lead of these light-footed adventurers, and reap the rewards

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Sponsor Content: KEEN

Meet two artists who want you to be a maker, too

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The season is coming to an end—here’s the gear that is keeping our editors outside until the very last moments of summer warmth

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Ever since I moved to a beautiful town in Colorado, people have been coming to visit. I want to see them all—and there are a few things guests can do to help me out.

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Our National Parks columnist, who lives in Asheville, North Carolina, shares his favorite southern towns for outdoor access, wilderness, and scenery. Who says the West is best?

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Sponsor Content: KEEN

The surprising intersection between adventure, art, and iconic hiking boots

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Our national-parks expert headed across the Atlantic to explore. From northern Finland to the Italian coast, these spectacular spots topped her bucket list.

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Sponsor Content: Explore Minnesota

Whatever your group size or experience level, these insider suggestions will help you plan the best Minnesota hiking adventure

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Our trail columnist spent the summer hiking with novice backpackers to come up with this key advice for beginners

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Most people heading to Colorado don’t know about this gem of a town in the San Juan Mountains in the southern Rockies. But they should.

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The gear that let us brave monsoon season in the west and heat waves in the east

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I’ve lived in the state for 35 years. It pains me to be disloyal to my own little hamlet, but I am compelled to say it: another town in the Rockies takes the cake.

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A longtime Golden State hiker reveals her dream list of the most beautiful, must-see routes in California

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From now until 11:59 pm PST on July 17, you can score some amazing deals on outdoor gear during Amazon’s biggest sale event of the year, Prime Day

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The Mountain State has it all: rivers, 36 state parks, nine state forests, our newest national park, and a nearly million-acre national forest. Our travel expert reveals his favorite ways to get outside here.

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These women-founded maternity activewear brands make it easier to stay active during pregnancy

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Like millions of Americans, Outside’s articles editor took his family camping over the long weekend. But are the stresses that parents endure during a typical family camping trip worth the struggle?

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At 5,000 to 7,000 feet, you might have trouble catching your breath. Higher, you may get a pounding headache and nausea. Here’s what to do—and not do—to avoid problems on your mountain vacation.

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Slippery granite rock and snowed-in trails were no match for the gear we used this June

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Thirty years ago, a fire blew up on Colorado's Storm King Mountain, causing one of the worst wildland-firefighting tragedies in U.S. history. The trail honors those who died in the line of duty and the work of all firefighters.

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Our gear columnist was never a fan of wind jackets until he tried this one

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Your pup only asks for your love (and maybe a few treats). But that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to be spoiled.

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Spectacular mountains and deep fjords, powder-blue lakes and sea stacks: here’s your bucket list of national parks to visit up north

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From bucket hats to visors, headgear blocks out the sun and helps define your trail persona. Our hiking columnist helps you choose which hat is best for you.

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This beautiful 469-mile route connects Great Smoky Mountain and Shenandoah National Parks. Our local writer knows just where to stop for hikes, camping, and the best views.

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Springtime corn ski sessions and hikes in the Rockies were just a few of the adventures we went on. This is the gear we used to get out there.

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I like the mountains, not boats, which make me sick. Then came a chance to see the beautiful landscapes of California’s Channel Island National Park.

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From our favorite hikes in national parks and every state to the most beautiful trails in the world, here’s what to put on your trekking bucket list. Plus, maps, beta, and more to get 'er done.

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Hiking shoes, tents, swimwear, and more to help you kick off summer in style

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We love national parks, but they can get packed. These national monuments have the same spectacular landscapes, hikes, and adventures, without the crowds.

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From western landscapes to the Blue Ridge Parkway, our national park expert maps out five beautiful road trips—all doable in a week

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We took our newfound favorite pieces to sunny spring crags, soggy campsites, and slushy ski runs

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Every great adventure needs a staging area. Here they are, from simple and affordable to dreamy and luxe, in unbelievable locations, with endless terrain to explore and a warm bed to return to at night.

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A Canadian study found that chemicals excreted by ants keep ticks at bay. Researchers hope the discovery leads to new ways to ward off the Lyme Disease-spreading insects.

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We didn’t let this weird winter stop us from getting outdoors. Here’s the gear that helped us ski, run, hike, and get outside this season.

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Sponsor Content: Osprey

After a half-century of market-leading innovation, the storied pack maker kicks off the next 50 years with models that raise the bar on performance, sustainability, and fit

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She seems too busy to hike right now, and I’m not sure whether to let our relationship fizzle out

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According to new NPS data, visitation is up at the country’s most popular national parks. But at these under-the-radar gems, the scenery is equally spectacular and you’ll have plenty of room to explore.

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Tropical atolls, distant hikes and hot springs, and wild jungles and mountaintops lure adventurous travelers to these beautiful far flung spots

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After 25 years of hiking in his hometown of Boulder, guidebook author James Dziezynski reveals his all-time favorite treks in the area. Plus, he’s included downloadable GPX files, parking intel, trail beta, gear and weather tips, and more.

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On April 8, the nation will experience a dramatic total eclipse. If you want fun ways to see it, check out our recommendations, from skiing to hiking to paddling.

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Here’s the gear that helped us start 2024 off right

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Train travel is back and better than ever, with upgrades and expanded service hitting iconic destinations across North America. Sit back, look out the window, and wake up to new sights and adventures.

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The gear that led us into winter, full steam ahead

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Paired with a convertible dumbbell/barbell, I have all the weights I need

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What’s one more vehicle at a bustling trailhead? Our columnist weighs in.

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The sound and the fury of winter weather lure travelers to the west side of Vancouver Island and The Nami Project, where storm-watching, surfing, and rainforest hiking await

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As people get called back to the office in cities, now might be a good time to chase the mountain-living dream, especially in these lesser-known areas

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Time is of the essence if you're looking to score a camping reservation for summer. Here are the most coveted national park campgrounds and how to reserve sites there.

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The gear that made our days in the transition season seamless

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Forget the gorp and stay for lunch. In Spain, the peak is at the table.

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Is that $39 roundtrip ticket to Denver worth it? Our travel expert weighs in—and uncovers the best deals and destinations to travel to.

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These are some of our favorite gear brands led by badass women in the industry

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Rich Moore and his dog Finney disappeared on a hike in Colorado in August. Ten weeks later, crews found the dog alive. Now, friends and family are trying to understand what happened.

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The annual challenge has become a competitive—and borderline obsessive—endeavor for runners and hikers

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A hiking snack packed with fiber, carbs, and spice

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With charging stations increasing and battery life improving all the time, the Great American Road Trip is more EV-friendly than ever. These are the most beautiful trips.

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Does the clip really show bigfoot, or just a practical joker wearing a costume? It’s kicked up Sasquatch chatter across southwestern Colorado.

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Veteran hikers call it the “Middle Blues.” You have already hiked an impossibly long distance, and somehow still have an impossibly long distance to go.

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Learn from the mistakes of our hiking columnist, who suffered a painful accident while traversing the Continental Divide Trail

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Why even bag it if you’re not going to carry it out?

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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.

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Backpacker editor Zoe Gates sets off to discover if chatbots are the solution to our trip-planning woes

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The nonagenarian proved that age truly is just a number

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The Thelma Hut at Campfire Ranch Red Mountain Pass is surrounded by crowd-free hiking trails (and skin-up ski slopes come winter) and has a hutmaster who will cook for you while you’re adventuring outdoors

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Reservations are hard to come by but this hundred-year-old lodge is worth the wait. In the meantime, you can hike five miles to see it.

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Walk among deep river gorges, glacial mountains, alpine lakes, and vast deserts, all on beautiful under-the-radar public lands

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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.

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