Hiking
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National Park Service encourages hikers to avoid Whiteoak Canyon and Old Rag due to poor air quality
A video of daddy longlegs clustering on a backpacker’s had arachnophobic hikers vowing to stay away. But look a little closer, and you might just gain a new appreciation for the Alaskan wilderness.
After three years of testing, Rocky Mountain National Park may make its reservation system permanent—and other parks aren’t far behind
And Alfredo Aliaga is already planning his return to come back and do it again next year
Our hiking columnist loves the simplicity and familiarity of a flavor additive called True Lemon, which lurks in the condiment zone of rest stops
Authorities believe the man may have been planning an attack at the Glenwood Caverns ϳԹ Park
The weather's getting colder, and that means your packing and planning strategies have to change. Steer clear of these backpacking mistakes for a smoother transition to fall.
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.
How connecting with pack animals can help you connect with nature in a deeper way
The Southern Sierra’s record snowpack may have contributed to a deadly accident on 14,505-foot Mount Whitney this month.
One of the hottest, driest places in the world has a brand-new lake festooned with wildflowers—but park officials say it won’t be around for long
A draft plan would introduce 3 to 7 bears per year into the North Cascades over the next decade
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.
In a new social media post, the National Park Service said the trend threatens to harm California condors, one of the rarest birds in the United States.
The Catalan mountain runner found a new challenge by returning to the rugged terrain near his childhood home
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
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.
The gear shop owner is the new president of the Prezzies
Late season snow damaged trails and delayed start to the season, pushing hikers into hotter summer conditions
What really happens to you when you spend months trekking the Pacific Coast Trail? Getting tired and filthy is just the start of it.
Learn from the mistakes of our hiking columnist, who suffered a painful accident while traversing the Continental Divide Trail
Storms dumped rainfall across Utah. One hiker died and another required rescue.
Dogs who stay active live longer—and there’s no better way to stay active than hiking. Keep your pooch on the trail with a lot of love and a little veterinary help.
Belgian ultrarunner Karel Sabbe just shattered the fastest known time for a supported trek along the iconic pathway
America’s most classic hiking route is generally a safe place for an adventure. But not always.
Here's what to consider when hiking with a four-legged friend
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.
A proposed price increase for backcountry access in Zion could raise fees by as much as 400 percent for some groups
Will Peterson overcame downpours, flooding, and his own hectic schedule to smash the unsupported FKT on America’s oldest thru-hike
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.
The nonagenarian proved that age truly is just a number
Cops say Robert “Steady Eddie” Kerker was caught in a swollen waterway in July
A hiker found the woman’s body on a popular trail near the national park
It was so hot that rescue helicopters couldn’t take off
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.
Live electric wires and bridge damage are among the hazards that trail crews have found so far—but it’s not all bad news
You’re supposed to be happy for them, right?
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
How hikers on a mission to mark an (un)official nude-friendly trail system can help you navigate the world of naked hiking
The death is the third snow-related fatality that local search and rescue has responded to over the past three weeks
A stripped-back list of do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when hiking in the buff
Most of this year’s PCT class is skipping the snowbound Sierra. A small group of adventurers is pushing straight through.
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.
Authorities say the unleashed mutt provoked the bruin, and have closed a popular trail near Asheville
National Park Service officials weren’t too happy about people going off-trail to find it
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.
Witnessing a friend’s dangerous fall prompted the author to reevaluate the way she talks about outdoor blunders
Sands, 65, never returned from a hike on Southern California’s Mount Baldy in January
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
The former Navy SEAL faced deep snow, gusting winds, and sheer ice on North America’s highest peak. But he still smashed the previous records set by Karl Egloff and Killian Jornet.
How to make due without hiking poles, a sleeping pad, and more pieces of crucial backpacking gear
When it comes to sustainability, false claims are everywhere. Here’s how to actually make sure the products you buy are as eco-conscious as manufacturers claim.
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.
Get the beta on the best places to spot bison, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, and more amid one of America’s wildest landscapes
The booking website generates big bucks for private firm Booz Allen Hamilton. Our writer argues it’s a necessary tool for protecting the outdoors.
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.
After a five-year hiatus, thru-hiking legend Heather “Anish” Anderson just set another FKT: the 250-mile section of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Pennsylvania. In this essay, she explores how her relationship with the sport has evolved over the past decade since her groundbreaking Pacific Crest Trail record in 2013.
Can’t take 6 months off to hike the PCT? We understand. Here’s how to take a big trip without getting fired.
Thru-hiking is for everyone—but if you really want to build your life around the trail, some careers make it easier than others
A group of young hikers used Apple’s Emergency SOS system to trigger a rescue
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.
Take an epic tour of the sweeping prairie and secluded mountains of eastern Montana
Matthew Read, 19, spent two days stranded in the woods
A pilgrim seeking peace and purpose on Spain’s famed Camino de Santiago finds much more
These five destinations deserve a spot on your western U.S. bucket list
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.
Encounters between bruins and campers led the forest service to shutter the areas
A small injury during Morgan Brosnihan’s Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike inspired a big idea: Why not set up a mobile clinic for hikers who need help?
Authorities in North Carolina say the duo were selling marijuana, mushrooms, and LSD to thru-hikers
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.
Lifesavers in Colorado recently rescued multiple hikers who had lost their footwear on the same slushy trail
There are a number of benefits guides provide to hikers and backpackers of all experience levels.