Hiking
ArchiveThe Benton MacKaye Scenic Trail starts at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. It could become our country鈥檚 next big hiking route.
Get the beta on the best places to spot bison, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, and more amid one of America鈥檚 wildest landscapes
The booking website generates big bucks for private firm Booz Allen Hamilton. Our writer argues it鈥檚 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 鈥淎nish鈥 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鈥檛 take 6 months off to hike the PCT? We understand. Here鈥檚 how to take a big trip without getting fired.
Thru-hiking is for everyone鈥攂ut 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 famed Camino de Santiago finds much more
These five destinations deserve a spot on your western U.S. bucket list
After the bestselling novelist鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.
When the thru-hiker鈥檚 dream trip was cut short, she learned that failure is just a chance to reset your goals to match your reality
Snowpack and trail damage on the North Rim prompted the Park Service to delay opening until June 2
The outdoors are for everyone. Here鈥檚 our best advice on how and where to go camping, hiking, and backpacking if you鈥檙e just getting started.
Completing a winter journey on the Appalachian Trail convinced the fun-loving thru-hiker that he can accomplish whatever he dreams up
Editor Adam Roy explains why his ultralight four-legged friend is the ideal backpacking companion
Like all intense hobbyists, hikers start Instagram pages just for their adventures. Why not integrate it into the rest of your life already?
Two hikers died and more than ten required rescue after heavy rains inundated Buckskin Gulch
A proposed law would require hikers who ignored warning signs or walked on closed trails to reimburse the state for SAR
Our hiking columnist has spent more than a quarter of the past four years on trail. Every morning out there, without fail, he eats another perfect packet of Pop-Tarts.
Rescue crews in SoCal are already warning hikers to skip the snowy San Jacinto Mountains
There's a lot of outdoor misinformation out there, and we're on a quest to quash it
A slow walk through the woods has psychological and physiological benefits鈥攁nd it could teach you a few things about hiking, too.
Officials issued tickets to ascend 3,284-foot Old Rag in 2022. The program was a success, so the park is continuing it in 2023.
Last January, Carl Stanfield set out to break the world record for the most miles ever hiked in a year. In failing, he found his temporary limit鈥攁nd, he hopes, a renewed version of himself.
This year鈥檚 white winter in the Sierra Nevada could create dangerous conditions along the iconic trail in the spring and summer
Long-distance hikers love to reach towns and binge. I temporarily gave up the cycle, and maybe it changed my life.
A federal judge convicted Jeffrey M. Johnson for operating a paid guided tour without a permit in a national park
Perry鈥檚 time for a self-supported trek on the trail nearly broke the best mark for a supported effort
Park officials believe the 31-year-old succumbed to hypothermia
Nick 鈥淐hezwick鈥 Gagnon became the fastest person to circumnavigate the enormous route, which takes in sections of five major thru-hikes
Columnist Maggie Slepian explains why expertise in the outdoors does not make you immune from mistakes
Hikers had to pay to access 14,272-foot Quandary Peak outside Breckenridge in 2021 and 2022
The latest story of a tourist behaving badly in a national park is a real head scratcher
Colorado has thin air and endless views. New England has roots, rocks, and tree-lined trails.
Jon Anderson overcame temporary snowblindness to complete the 2,650-mile journey from Mexico to Canada
Philip Carcia covered nearly 2,000 miles over a span of 90 days to complete the arduous goal. It was his third attempt at the challenge.
The photographer is willing to go the distance for the perfect shot
The results, however hilarious, remind us how hikers destigmatize the body
Andrea Sansone spent the summer scouting Nolan鈥檚 14 before setting the FKT
Joe 鈥淜anga鈥 Harvey was last seen heading toward the Connecticut River, where his body was later retrieved
The veteran hiker takes us through his three-day attempt, which saw him battle bladder problems and extreme exhaustion
Editors list the bold and bizarre items they鈥檝e stuffed into a backpack for a trip to the woods
The Granite State has the right to bill hikers for the cost of their rescue, if officials deem them to be reckless in the outdoors
Each year, Big City Mountaineers changes thousands of kids鈥 lives by bringing them on their first outdoor adventures. You can make it happen for another.
People keep falling into outdoor latrines while rescuing lost phones. Our editors list the belongings they would fish out of an outdoor crapper鈥攁nd which ones they鈥檇 leave behind.
Your guide to all-things Long Trail for your upcoming thru-hike
The 20-mile ridgeline covers over 12,000 vertical feet and overlooks the Austrian city of Innsbruck
Lessons learned during a stroll through London鈥檚 narrow streets and soaring parks
By some measures, Jenny Bruso鈥檚 advocacy for body inclusivity in the outdoors has been a wild success. But she says the fight has barely begun.
Don鈥檛 whack a golf ball off one either, or chuck a Frisbee, or do anything else that jeopardizes the safety of your fellow hikers
The distance runner shaved more than two hours off the JMT鈥檚 previous fastest time
On Thursday, they finished the last leg of the triple crown, but they鈥檙e not done yet
On Sunday night, British hiker Josh Perry decimated the trail鈥檚 long-standing self-supported records after chasing Timothy Olson鈥檚 2021 time
From local favorites to tourist must-dos, these trails are the best of America's Finest City
Two men defaced the popular Moran Point overlook, and photographers caught them in the act
Officials at California鈥檚 Redwood National Park say visitors have caused damage to the tree and its surroundings
Driven by closures and new parking rules, Colorado鈥檚 highest peaks saw a precipitous drop in hiker visits from 2020 to 2021
With inflation on the rise, I scrapped plans for another long summer hike. On little daily walks through South Dakota鈥檚 Black Hills, I鈥檝e rediscovered the surprise and delight of getting back to basics.
Michael Charles Lombardo, 55, frequently walked the famed trail with his pet Chihuahua
The Cherokee tribal council will vote on whether to support changing the name of 6,643-foot Clingmans Dome
The new slogan launches after a series of tourist encounters with the massive mammals
Take life outdoors one level higher. Here鈥檚 how.聽
Scott Benerofe finished a rare and daunting southbound winter thru-hike of the AT. His self-proclaimed normalcy about the endeavor suggests such treks might not stay so rare for long.
Plus, how to keep your pup fueled and energized for every outing
To commemorate Father鈥檚 Day, editors recall their favorite fishing trips, bike rides, and outdoor misadventures with dad
We鈥檙e all for lightweight backpacking, but there are better ways to save weight than forgoing happy hour
The Park Service is asking for help to identify who spray-painted rocks near Yosemite Falls
Fj盲llr盲ven Guides share lessons about the power of spending time in nature with others
Each year, more families seem to earn attention by taking to long trails with small children. What are their motivations, and is it bad for the kids?