Nature

No commands, rules, or directives here. Just a gentle nudge towards something truly lovely.

Apples no one has ever tasted are still out in the wild. Dave Benscoter, a retired FBI agent, has spent a decade searching for these 100-year-old heirlooms.

We’re celebrating the grandeur of America, from beautiful rivers, beaches, and mountains to incredible glamping outposts and wild places. Our travel experts are constantly on the road finding new adventures, and their ideas will jump-start your next unforgettable journey.

Peter Kaestner has traveled the world on an adventure-filled quest to become the first birder to hit 10,000. Ornithologist Jessie Williamson hitched a ride on a rollicking South American mission that involved land, sea, and (you guessed it) air.

At five feet tall, she was the smallest wildland firefighter in her crew and worried she couldn’t keep up. But on her very first blaze, she discovered her strength.

When the largest tornado ever recorded touched down in central Oklahoma, storm chasers, meteorologists, and thrill seekers were expecting a show. What they got was a deadly lesson in the power of nature.

I think he’s overreacting, and it feels embarrassing 

‘Wild and Precious’ is a memorial to the beloved American poet and a celebration of her work

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.

Whether they’re for yourself or for someone else, here are some tips for taking NSFW photos in nature

This nonprofit turned 40,000 miles of unused travel infrastructure into a system of walking and biking paths—and wants you to use them

And what about charging people to climb that mountain? Outside’s ethics guru weighs in.

Chances are you can catch the nighttime spectacle from your backyard

In her podcast, ‘FOGO: Fear of Going Outside,’ Ivy Le takes on the great outdoors—very, very reluctantly

Wolves are my favorite animal, but my parents see them as the enemy that kills their livestock

After I spent a decade in the grind of working motherhood, seals welcomed me to the wild

Outdoor time with your partner is more than just fun—it can be the key to a superstrong bond

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.

Want to raise kids who love the outdoors and aren’t afraid of a challenge? Try a little friluftsliv.

Therapy on the hiking trail couldn’t fix the new normal of Oregon wildfire season, but could it help me grapple with it?

In a time when people are more attached to their devices than ever, getting outside has never been more vital to our happiness and wellbeing.

Schools invested in outdoor ed during the pandemic, but the growth was disproportionate to high-income communities

Bigfoot seems to pop up in a lot of places, but he sure is elusive when it comes to having his photo taken.

After dreaming about performing the works of the acclaimed author for decades, Nick Offerman finally got his shot—and realized he wasn’t worthy

A run-in with law enforcement when he was a college student spurred the Native activist to build an organization around the idea that we have to show up for each other

The multidisciplinary artist was struggling with alcoholism when they joined a trail crew in the mountains on a whim. Out there, they found a new community—and reclaimed their life.

Deep meditations in the woods? Yes please.

Research makes a strong case for taking your practice into the wild as the weather warms—or at least your backyard

A slow walk through the woods has psychological and physiological benefits—and it could teach you a few things about hiking, too.

Exploring how the simple act of spending time outside can solve so many of life’s problems

Emily Pennington wanted to see it all. But life on the road was fiercer than she ever imagined.

When Leo Babler was born with a rare and deadly genetic disorder, his parents reshaped their lives, moving to the mountains, building out an adventure van, and making sure their son experienced the most beautiful wild places in the country during the time they had

Regan's new memoir, ‘Fieldwork,’ documents her childhood in northern Indiana and her adult quest for the comforts and familiarity of home

You might not about outdoor adventure in New York City. But you should. With 51 nature preserves and 520 miles of coastline, there are hidden worlds of natural wonders to explore. Here's how to find them.

In ‘Sacred: In Search of Meaning,’ renowned photographer Chris Rainier chronicles his decades-long journey exploring the world’s spiritual sites

Despite the frontier trope of the rugged individualist, getting help from strangers is actually the more common experience

From President Obama to Kevin Costner, celebs are lending their voices to outdoor documentaries. Who would you choose to narrate yours?

Winter opens up endless adventure opportunities. And there’s no time to hibernate, because it’ll be gone before you know it. Here are 13 unique and fun trips, from backcountry lodges to fat biking to the world's longest ice skating path.

In that low moment when he realized his far-flung journey wasn’t going to be what he imagined, there was only one thing to do: let out the gas

Three figures are working to initiate change in public-lands leadership after four years of decline and mismanagement under the previous administration

Donziger was released from two years of house arrest in 2022, the latest wrinkle in his decades-long fight for justice in the Amazon rainforest

Co-founder of the Outdoorist Oath, Pattie Gonia discusses the importance of outdoor joy

He was born to a herd of wild horses on an island off Virginia and found his way into the heart of a little girl on the dusty trails of the Southwest.

Scary movies have a rich tradition of being set in creepy forests, caves, and swamps. We rounded up our favorites of the genre.

Some of you are thinking, Ewww, no way. But open your hearts to the truth: spiders are among the most fascinating creatures on earth, and great neighbors to boot (goodbye, mosquitos!). With climate change putting them in danger, they could use a few new friends.

We asked the experts—and this is the one trail you can't miss in each of the 61 U.S. national parks

There are those moments when you think: maybe I’m no smarter than a trash panda. This is one of them.

One enticement of visiting Hawaii Volcanoes, on the Big Island, is witnessing the eruption of young Kilauea—the world’s most active volcano—and basking in the glow of its lava-filled caldera

Despite being one of the most popular destinations in the U.S., the Smokies make it easy to plan a last-minute trip and avoid crowds year-round. Here’s our definitive guide on what to know before you go, how to make the most of all the park has to offer, and can’t-miss experiences in every season.

This feature from Gaia GPS allows you to search recent satellite images for the best leaf peeping in your area 

Why endure the traffic headed inland to major mountain getaways when you can hop a breezy ferry to the Channel Islands, passing dolphins en route, and spend time kayaking into sea caves, hiking quiet hills, and birding, with nary an auto in sight?

There’s a reason that shows like ‘Alone’ hold our attention: we can’t help but imagine that it’s us out there.

People say farmers aren’t supposed to get emotionally attached to livestock. Uh-huh. When fate sent our writer two newborn sheep with life-threatening birth defects, that kind of thinking was banished from the barn.

An essay on hope

Snorkel and paddle among quizzical lobsters, baby sharks, green turtles, and more at Biscayne, home to a massive coral-reef system off the coast of Miami

Eric and Pam Bealer were living in a cabin in rugged coastal Alaska when they made a dramatic decision: they would exit the world together

When retired art dealer Forrest Fenn hid a chest full of a million dollars’ worth gold, rubies, and diamonds in the Rocky Mountains, he sent thousands on a journey of desperation

Ten years after the publication of ‘Wild,’ the beloved author shares her thoughts on the haters who thought she was unprepared, the transformative power of doing big things, and where Monster is now

But seriously: at this popular South Florida park, come for the large reptiles, but stay for the subtropical scenery, varied birdlife, and all-out airboat rides

To control mass tourism, the National Park Service is working on solutions, like its reservation system. We tourists need to do our part, too. Here’s how.

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.

Deep, dark, and hiding some dreadful bits of history, Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky, is a fascinating place for underground exploration

Presenting three delightful tales of adventures gone very, very wrong

In his inaugural column for Outside, the ‘Parks & Recreation’ star sounds off on Henry David Thoreau, emasculation, and bullying in the outdoors

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.

The A-list actor is the voice of the new National Geographic documentary ’America the Beautiful,’ and we loved every minute

For his new PBS show, ‘America Outdoors,’ comedian and activist Baratunde Thurston connects us to our natural environments through the most interesting of creatures: humans.

Once thought to be basically immortal, giant sequoias are dying in droves as fires burn bigger, hotter, and longer than at any other point in human history. Protecting them is possible, but managing western woods is a Pandora’s box of tough choices.

More people outside has meant more rules for all of us—including what to do with our excrement

As an out-of-control blaze approached their home, a couple made what seems like a crazy choice: they ignored evacuation orders and stood their ground.

Outside’s ethics guru weighs in on the Great Outdoors Music Debate

Amid all the noise surrounding Web3, something fascinating is emerging: a new kind of immersive adventure storytelling

After two young pilots crashed their small plane into the water off Hawaii, they realized their best hope for survival was to make it back to land on their own.

After a lifetime of prudishness, our writer tries to become one of those people who bares it all in the great outdoors

Rattlesnakes bite 150,000 pets each year in the U.S. These innovative rattlesnake training courses could save you and your canine companion.

Outside’s ethics guru ponders what exactly is up for grabs on public lands