Nature
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Acadia National Park in Maine boasts 150 miles of trails on its official maps, but that’s only a part of what once existed. Matthew Sherrill tagged along with a couple of local history obsessives to explore some of the dozens of unmarked paths that lead to what were once major attractions—places some want to stay a secret.
Tips for calming your own nerves—and those of people who love you
Journalist Emma Marris’s new book, ‘Wild Souls,’ asks us to reconsider our relationship to the nonhuman world
Here’s what to do when your little one brings up sea-level rise, extinction, wildfires, and other ecological griefs
If you can get past the lack of creature comforts, spending a night outside might be one of the most rewarding things you do
Why reaching outdoor nirvana means journeying far from the beaten path
From a baobab-filled outcropping in the middle of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi salt pans to an adventure hot spot in Iraqi Kurdistan, plan a trip to these bold destinations to earn some major adventure travel cred
Camping solo may not always be easy, but it'll always be worth it
By valuing relatability over action shots, TikTok may be ushering in a new era of outdoor creators and celebrities
If you're just getting started on the trails, don't be overwhelmed. This 101 guide breaks down where to go, what to wear, and everything you need to know to stay safe and have fun out there.
Dispersed camping is getting less dispersed. Our ethics columnist weighs in on whether you need to share.
It's time to stop judging people for how they recreate outside
The newest collection of recipes from James Beard–nominated chef Sarah Glover is geared toward parents looking to improve their outdoor cooking game. We’ve included two of our favorite recipes from the book.
We need more access to public lands. Reclaiming damaged landscapes like old mines and former nuclear sites can be a powerful part of the answer.
Kayla Lockhart was desperate for relief from the panic that plagued her. She found it at the edge of a stream.
One editor’s thoughts on the Asian American illusion of belonging
In an excerpt from his latest book, ‘Freedom,’ the celebrated nonfiction writer describes a journey along Pennsylvania’s train tracks with friends he met while reporting on the war in Afghanistan
Conservation International CEO M. Sanjayan saw our relationship to the planet in a new way after a series of remarkable adventures
Elizabeth Kolbert and Nathaniel Rich, environmental writers par excellence, survey human solutions to the human-caused mess we’re in
Digging deep with journalist Daniel Barbarisi, whose new account reveals the very real danger of the chase
Journalist Ian Urbina is revealing the lawlessness of the open ocean in ways you’d never imagine
This is just the kickoff to a ten-year plan to protect more land, water, and wildlife
In her new memoir, 'The Secret to Superhuman Strength,' the 'Fun Home' cartoonist scrutinizes her quest for spiritual solace through 60 years of athletic obsessions
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.
Hunting twisters made Jennifer Brindley Ubl feel deeply inspired—until it scared her to death
Our country’s open spaces are a sanity-saving antidote for this writer
How the team behind David Attenborough’s new Netflix series captured a fight sequence between two poison dart frogs
After more than a year of pandemic living, let us remember why it’s worth getting out there
Edgar McGregor started cleaning up Eaton Canyon near Los Angeles in May 2019, and he didn’t stop until it was spotless nearly two years later. We talked to McGregor about how to stay motivated to take care of the earth.
Ambreen Tariq’s new children’s book tells the story of an immigrant family’s first camping trip and expands the canon of outdoor literature for kids
Anticipating even bigger crowds this summer than last, public-lands officials have been grappling with how to manage the masses. For many, that’s meant introducing permit systems. But is limiting access the only solution?
In his new book, ‘The Nation of Plants,’ botanist Stefano Mancuso suggests that human democracies may have something to learn from the world’s trees and flowers
A close encounter in the far north offers powerful lessons about how Native people have chosen to live alongside a dangerous predator
Unpacking an all-time Lee Cohen ski photo during a March storm in Alta, Utah
Investigators, family, and friends are still trying to close the case of Paul Fugate, a naturalist at Arizona’s Chiricahua National Monument who vanished without a trace in 1980. What keeps them motivated to stick with a mystery that may be unsolvable?
ϳԹ correspondent Kate Siber learned to reinhabit her body by being outdoors. But she didn’t expect that healing would also bring a new perspective on nature itself.
Oranges for dental work, milk for English lessons—when COVID-19’s initial lockdown dried up tourism dollars and supply chains, the islands bartered their way through
A new book by the acclaimed science journalist Michelle Nijhuis looks at human attempts to save other species from extinction, from John Muir to the World Wildlife Fund
From cork floors to wool insulation, here’s what you need to build out an environmentally responsible rig
In an excerpt from ‘In Search of Mycotopia,’ a new book about different communities exploring the multiple uses of fungi and mushrooms, the author goes foraging with William Padilla-Brown, a rising star in the mycological movement
The shrub-steppe of central Washington’s Columbia Basin is a land of rich biodiversity, vibrant communities, and poignant beauty
Here’s one way to use a flashlight that you might not have thought of
Volatile weather has created dangerous conditions for backcountry skiers and set up the West for a bad water year. With climate change exacerbating the situation, it’s time to start assuming the worst for our winters and making plans to adapt.
Last year, the American Ornithological Society accepted a proposal to rename a bird linked to a racist figure. And there's more where that came from.
As Jeff Bezos steps away from Amazon to focus his attention on initiatives like his year-old Earth Fund, it’s instructive to look at the impact of billionaire environmental philanthropy and how it could be more effective
This Maine destination is a place of rugged coastal wonders and an immersion in Down East culture
In her new book, 'Unsolaced,' the acclaimed nature writer's prose is as beautiful as always, but her analysis of global warming is disappointing
TikTok star Alexis Nikole Nelson says you don't have to live near the woods to gather your own meal. Here's how to get started.
For over a decade, TJ Watt has been shooting photos of disappearing forests in Canada's westernmost province. This striking before-and-after series may help protect what's left.
Researcher Ken Balcomb has spent more than half his life studying the iconic killer whales of Washington’s San Juan Islands and raising awareness about their struggle for survival. Now he may have run out of time.
Improvisational tunes set to the sounds of insects
An ambitious new project is based on a straightforward and very attainable goal: to help kids spend as much time outdoors as they do in front of screens
Most of us yearn for more freedom, but structure is key to performance
One of the great environmental writers of our time, he explored how we live justly with each other and with the earth
These eight titles will keep your wanderlust fired up for when it's safe to travel again
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
A socially distant competition can be just the right amount of motivation
Both the world-weary and stoked-on-life congregate at these wild outposts—all seeking the same euphoric joy, communality, and escapism
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?
Fatigue, writes our columnist, comes in two very different flavors, and fixing each requires a completely different approach
Today’s battles over climate change and fracking share a common origin: the timber wars of the Pacific Northwest
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