Nature
Archive
What do you do after surviving a near-death experience? Visit a dying natural wonder, of course. After his husband suffers a stroke at the age of 40, our writer plans the trip of a lifetime to the Great Barrier Reef—and discovers new meaning in the term "last-chance tourism."
In the spell of a week, a mysterious monolith appeared in the Utah desert and was subsequently removed by some slackline bros. The saga has raised more questions than answers.
Over the past two decades, eBird has become the go-to online platform for scientists and hobbyists alike to upload and share bird observations. But it has also transformed the process and etiquette of birding.
More often than not, our biggest adventures are nothing like we expect them to be—in the best of ways
Both the world-weary and stoked-on-life congregate at these wild outposts—all seeking the same euphoric joy, communality, and escapism
A socially distant competition can be just the right amount of motivation
During her college break, the author went all in on solitude—living alone on a Down East island and working for one of the area’s few female skippers. Luna Soley reflects on a time of loneliness, hard work, and natural beauty.
The pandemic has robbed kids of vital socialization with friends—and put even more emphasis on the importance of spending time with them in nature. But what happens when your child is a nonstop yakker on the trail?
Today’s battles over climate change and fracking share a common origin: the timber wars of the Pacific Northwest
Fatigue, writes our columnist, comes in two very different flavors, and fixing each requires a completely different approach
With 'The Forests of California,' naturalist and artist Obi Kaufmann aims to deepen environmental literacy. He also argues that this cataclysmic time is an opportunity.
Jeremy Jones, the king of freeriding, wants to unleash the political might of the 50 million Americans who love our natural playgrounds
In 'Two Trees Make a Forest,' environmental historian Jessica J. Lee offers a welcome disruption to the travel-memoir genre
According to Chris Watson, the man behind your favorite wildlife soundtracks, we're just becoming better listeners
What to do when you're on an outdoor adventure and disaster strikes
Chris Watson, the legendary field recordist for David Attenborough’s films, says this is a unique opportunity to discover the art and pleasure of hearing our world
From a cult-favorite publisher launching a national-parks series to a Kevin Costner–narrated app, these five new releases are reinventing the traditional field guide
Our 62 Parks Traveler explores miles of hiking trails and one of the largest remaining mixed-grass prairie ecosystems in the country at South Dakota's Wind Cave, the 21st stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park.
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
Grizel is using her rising social media profile to spark a more nuanced conversation on nature's power to heal
In a new era of menacing blazes, there are lessons to be learned from the people who stay and defend their properties
These recent releases feature stories of gritty heroines on journeys through threatened wild landscapes
The key is to go all out on the things you feel comfortable doing
From Alabama to Wyoming, we found the best off-grid sites for chilling out, escaping the hordes, and finding adventure
Two friends abandoned promising careers to pursue a bold adventure. It went terribly wrong—but also right.
Researchers have identified an alarming lack of books about Black children in nature. Diversifying your bookshelf can help kids find themselves in literature—and the outdoors.
A serious exploration of a topic that a lot of people don't take seriously
With stormchasing tours more popular than ever, our writer set out to discover why this risky pastime is once again taking off
This will be the best $10 you ever spend. Trust me.
Artist Jackson Stell is crafting music that captures the ecstatic feelings we have when we venture into the natural world
As RV rentals and purchases continue to skyrocket, these three startups are going beyond the basic rental scheme to be more on demand, millennial focused, and remote-work-friendly
The marine biologist wants us all to start asking a new question: What does the future look like if we get it right?
For more than three decades, Paul Knapp Jr. has taken travelers out into the Caribbean Sea to hear humpback whales. Now seismic blasts threaten to silence their songs.
Technology and hyper-anxious parents were destroying one of the last bastions of unfettered childhood long before the pandemic closed camps for the season
Creating a shelter in nature is fun, encourages creativity, and offers an emotional refuge from the pandemic
Two documentaries, 'Big Fur' and 'Stuffed,' set out to show that this sticky-fingered branch of natural history is full of beauty and wonder. Do they succeed? Our reviewer, who knows a lot more about the subject than he ought to, says yes.
'Going Nocturnal' gives us a glimpse of the annual hatch of a giant mayfly and the large trout that emerge at night to feed on them
With more than a hundred 11,000-foot peaks, five glaciers, and some 150 alpine lakes, Colorado's most popular park has served as an idyllic backdrop for some of our writer's bigger life moments: it's where he proposed to his wife, where his kids earned their first Junior Ranger badges, and where he said goodbye to someone special. While you'll be among 4.7 million visitors who visit every year, there's something personal to be found here.
In an excerpt from his forthcoming book 'Leave It As It Is,' nature writer David Gessner examines the iconic conservation legacy of Theodore Roosevelt and unpacks the perception that the national parks and monuments he created were previously untouched and empty
And it was also the most awesome experience
There are myriad arguments for and against eating roadkill. Can they all be true at the same time?
In a time when most of us are struggling with restricted access to the activities we love, I wanted to know if VR would help. What I found surprised me.
In the spirit of Thoreau and Dillard, Donovan Hohn considers the joyous and brutal aspects of the natural world
The strangest things happen at summer camp. Which is probably why we love it so much.
Are social media and selfie culture killing the outdoors? Nah... but as a visit to some overshared spots reveals, they’re challenging our notions about whether there’s a right way to appreciate nature—and who gets to do it.
Can a lifelong tent pitcher with a penchant for roughing it learn to appreciate high-thread-count sheets and teak-floored showers in the midst of nature? Our editor agreed to suffer in the name of research to find out.
Trying to improve your sleep quality? Get back to nature.
Booking apps, glamping, and tricked-out Sprinter vans: over the past decade, life under the stars has been upgraded. Here's your up-to-date guide for enjoying the ultimate socially distanced weekend.
The Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act, 73 to 25, allocating billions to recreation
Many of us have long dismissed this gentle, approachable activity for more adrenaline-pumping forms of exercise. We've been missing out—big-time.
From a young age, the ocean provided relief from mental illness, something I've been unable to replicate with any other form of nature. It turns out, there's a science behind why some people prefer water.
I went out for a hike and forgot to put on you-know-what. When we crossed paths, was it really necessary to hit me with your self-righteous wrath?
Outdoorsy people always have the best stories about dating. Some of them are wild enough to make national headlines.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, three Chinese teams reached the top of the world
Gina Rae La Cerva's 'Feasting Wild' is a delightful culinary travel book. It's also an adjustment to the way we think about what that buzzword actually means
Spring is the ideal time to collect maple sap and boil it down to syrup. When COVID-19 hit, writer and photographer Andy Cochrane paused his travels around the country and headed home just in time to help his parents with their annual maple-syrup operation in northern Minnesota. Here's how they did it.
Homesteaders were ready for this. Here's how to kick your self-sufficiency skills into high gear.
From setting up a vise to gathering materials, here's everything you need to tie a basic fly
Invasive pythons wreak havoc on Florida ecosystems, and each year the state Fish and Wildlife officials hold a competition for amateur and professional hunters to see who can round up the most reptiles
'Dear Humanity' is a celebration of the earth's beauty and a call to action to protect it
These are the tools you need to get started
In an excerpt from his new book, 'In Praise of Walking,' Shane O'Mara delves into the science behind an activity that human beings often underestimate
From humble jellyfish anecdotes to straightforward self-help, three new titles offer resonant takeaways for these worrisome times
A new United Nations report finds that Scandinavian nations continue to be the happiest in the world. Here's why.
'Last Call for the Bayou' follows five Louisiana residents as they battle to keep their industries alive amid disappearing wetlands
As every seasoned traveler knows, the most meaningful trips are the ones where everything goes wrong
In his new book, writer Mark O'Connell explores what our anxieties about the future say about our precarious present
In this film from director Brian Kelley, Carl Casey explains what a champion tree is and some strategies he uses to find them
Hemmed between the Oregon and Washington border, this windy water-sports mecca has something for everyone. Add it to your list of adventures worth waiting for.
From poetry to nonfiction, these books celebrate everything we love about our planet
In his new photo book "Errors of Possession," adventure photographer Garrett Grove documents the region's shifting industries and culture