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World-class riding is the state’s best-kept secret. These are the top trails, according to a local expert.
Whatever your group size or experience level, these insider suggestions will help you plan the best Minnesota hiking adventure
Our astrotourism expert shares tips on how to maximize your view of the year’s brightest meteor shower, peaking on August 12
Explore the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with these tips from an experienced local canoeist and outfitter
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.
From miles of trails to acres of public land, the explorable and beautiful terrain in these states stand out above the rest.
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.
Our aurora-chasing author (who shot this photo) knows just where to head. Here are the destinations expected to put on the show of a lifetime this year.
The environment takes center stage at these beautifully located music and arts events across the country. Go, have a great time, and learn about our changing world and what you can do.
Walk among deep river gorges, glacial mountains, alpine lakes, and vast deserts, all on beautiful under-the-radar public lands
Nick Offerman’s annual family trip was always to the same lake in Minnesota, where he was taught things that really matter.
Our national parks are celebrating the season (aren’t we all?) with fun and immersive special events. We've mapped out our favorites, from photo classes to great music to getting dirty helping on a trail day.
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?
If you're hoping to see thousands of stars, planets, star clusters, meteors, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Milky Way, we’ve got you covered at these stunning spots
Luckily for the bear, a wildlife official arrived and rescued it from the chilly predicament
As park managers focus on accessibility, burly all-terrain chairs are allowing users to get off the grid in our most beautiful places
The best way to catch aurora borealis in all its lit-up beauty: go to the darkest places on earth, at just the right time, and hope for the best
On the complicated experience of seeing Japanese wellness practices exoticized in the West
How two rival teams fought storms and sleep deprivation to claim an 18-year-old paddling FKT
From Reykjavík to Minneapolis, winter isn’t just tolerated here, it’s celebrated
With mega wildfires and intensifying hurricanes becoming the new norm this time of year, the last hurrah of the season has become more apocalyptic than carefree
All you need is a long weekend to get out, get lost, and find yourself again. From Asheville to Seattle, we’ve researched the best three-day wilderness trips within road-tripping distance from a city.
In March, Emily Ford became the first woman to complete Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail in winter. She’s also become an unintentional ambassador of the outdoor industry’s quest for inclusivity.
With pandemic-fueled use on the rise, it’s a good thing trail builders have been busy opening new pathways for you to hike, run, and bike
How a headstrong teenager took the Minnesota State High School League to court in the 1970s, setting a precedent for high school girls to compete in sports.
Author Natalie Warren wants young women to disregard conventional rites of passage and get lost in the wilderness
Our Minnesotan travel writer spent a year looking for good snow boots. She finally found them.
Welcome to Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes and home to the Boundary Waters. Our 62 Parks Traveler found her own private island at her 28th stop on her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.
After a challenging summer and fall, we're all wondering what the ski season has in store. Don't worry: resorts are working hard to open and ensure a safe experience for everyone, and there are plenty of other ways to delight in the white stuff. Here's the lowdown.
The nonprofit HBCUs ϳԹ wants to create a more diverse pipeline of talent in the outdoor industry by introducing students at historically Black colleges and universities to the joys of getting outside
On September 4, the queer outdoorsman will begin his Run Across Minnesota, promoting diversity in outdoor culture and his ϳԹ Safe Space initiative
John Ackerman has spent millions procuring a majority of the known caves in Minnesota, which add up to dozens of miles of underground passageways and likely make him the largest cave owner in the U.S. He collects and charts them in the name of preservation, but his controversial methods have created many opponents.
Some bucket-list adventures require securing a wilderness permit months or even years out. Here’s how to book the most coveted ones in the country.
One of the many things that COVID-19 has taught us is to always consider buying a travel insurance policy. If you bought travel insurance for a trip you have to cancel during the travel bans, you may or may not be covered. Here's how to protect yourself now and on future trips.
Stop trying to trick us, gear companies. We know a parka when we see one.
Forget stadiums and manicured ice—the humble roots of hockey belong to frozen backyard ponds. From beer leagues to ex-pros, hockey players from across the country head to the Midwest every year for the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships.
As his dreams of going pro faded, photographer Cooper Dodds fell back in love with ski jumping in an unexpected place. His new photo book, 'Jumper: Flying in the Heartland,' documents the Midwest's surprisingly popular, no-frills tournament circuit.
Think Minnesota’s cycling season lasts only a few months? Guess again. The midwestern state is an ideal year-round biking hot spot.
These aren't your average city parks
As our country has grown more divided, so has the outdoors. But Seeker's Wild is bridging the gap between the two camps who love spending time in nature.
Four urban centers that have all the makings of an epic adventure town—without the hype
At 1.1 million acres, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is one of the largest and most popular backcountry destinations in the U.S. and a longtime proving ground for adventurers. But now the region is facing the threat of sulfide-ore copper mining. Stephanie Pearson paddles into the wild.
What do we lose when we lose the animals that make up the soundtrack of the outdoors?
Who says summer camp is just for kids? We rounded up seven escapes made for grown-ups (and a few for their families), plus seven more to entertain the kids while the adults are at play.
There are more than 10,000 different state parks across the country, many of which have terrain that rivals any national park
Inside a repurposed Twin Cities brewery, a massive aquaponics operation is ready to provide a locavore's dream: fresh produce and fish, raised indoors every month of the year
In wildlife management areas, hikers can glimpse animals in their natural, pristine habitat while getting off the beaten path
Catch this summer's night sky in full force in one of these perfectly dark locales
From SUP'ing down the Colorado to hiking the AT solo, these features explore and revel in the adventures our country has to offer
The raccoon became stranded on a building in St. Paul, Minnesota, earlier this week and is now climbing the UBS Tower
Waxed canvas is durable and looks stylish. There's a reason the material has been around for nearly 300 years.
To close out 2017, the president chipped away at protections meant to keep public lands, waters, and wildlife safe
At the planet's biggest ice-fishing tournament, held every January in Brainerd, Minnesota, 10,000 contestants battle 20-below temperatures for a $150,000 purse. Ian Frazier slips and slides among wily fish, cheese curds, and some of the greatest nearly frozen anglers he's ever seen.
With thousands of acres of parkland, 13 lakes, and hundreds of miles of biking and hiking trails that can be found all across town, it's no wonder the Twin Cities is active year-round.
Famously cold and frighteningly massive, Lake Superior contains 10 percent of the world's surface freshwater, holds the remains of 6,000 shipwrecks, and offers a lifetime of adventure. Stephanie Pearson sets out to circumnavigate America's most overlooked playground.
With a real bummer of a winter up in Minnesota, a few locals including Andrew Kilness are making the best of it.
After a few weeks of exploring Voyageurs National Park, More Than Just Parks brings you a spectacular display of colors in their film Voyageurs.
The comedian, actor, and author of the new woodworking book 'Good Clean Fun' talks about one of his favorite projects—a canoe paddle
The John Beargrease Sled Dog Mid-Distance race consists of an 119-mile course through northern Minnesota
In burgs recognized for an abundance of adventure, these are the winning places that will set you up for everything
A river- and mountain-loving town took home the top prize (again) in our 2015 contest.
Can’t fit two to five months into your schedule to hike the PCT? No worries. These monthlong thru-hikes are just as good.
You’ll recognize at least a few of the names on American Rivers’ annual Endangered Rivers list—but what will you do to ensure they remain pristine?
Paddling through Minnesota’s springtime ice break-up is nuts. What is Will Steger thinking?
Unleash your inner Norse god while driving one of these scenic winter routes.
The pro traveler needs cutting-edge survival gear as he explorers the farthest reaches of the planet. And his favorite place to play might surprise you. (Hint: It’s in the Midwest.)
One man and his canine pal cover 13,000 miles in 32 states to discover just how strong our relationship is with man's best friend.
Channel your inner voyageur at the Burntside Lodge in Minnesota
Hit up Best Towns 2014 winner Duluth, Minnesota, then hike and bike your way to Michigan's renowned shores.
After 20 days and more than one million votes since the start of our 2014 Best Towns Tournament, we're finally down to the final four. With less than two weeks left, we take a minute to weigh in on what makes each of the finalists so special.
Sixteen-year-old Noah Graham was lying down during a late-summer camping trip when he felt jaws clamp down on the back of his head. He reached back and touched a Wolf’s face.