Mount Bierstadt is one of the most popular mountains to climb in Colorado. It is one of the famous fourteeners group, or 14ers to locals, a...
In the middle of Texas hill country, there is a massive granite dome called Enchanted Rock. Thousands of years of history, several mythical stories, a couple...
Tucked away in Shenandoah National Park, Old Rag Mountain is one of the many natural gems in the United States. Offering hiking trails and saddle trails...
Mount Monadnock is a free-standing mountain, nestled between the towns of Jaffrey and Dublin in New Hampshire. Also known as Grand Monadnock to differentiate it from...
The United States is home to some of the best parks and hiking trails in the world. Each one of them has a distinct culture and...
There are some adventures in life that can be had over and over again. You can brave it alone, revisit with friends, and come back years...
Whether you’re backpacking for one night, a couple of weeks, or a few months on a long-distance thru-hike you will need a secure place to rest...
Hiking the Appalachian Trail is a great symbol of human endurance and persistence. The camaraderie, culture, and beauty of the experience are unrivaled. Everyone sort of...
Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs) are the nutritional go-to for the military and survivalists alike. These pre-cooked meals are designed to withstand all extremes and still...
Climbing Mount Washington can be one of the most rewarding hikes on offer in the United States. But as anyone who has tackled it will tell...
Whether you’re a new adherent to ultralight backpacking philosophy or you’re out on a day hike without a sleeping bag and need a quick emergency rain...
Your sleeping bag is one of the most important pieces of equipment you take on a camping trip, and having the right one can make the...
Stretching from the northern borders of San Luis Obispo and San Bernardino counties all the way to the bottom of San Diego and Imperial counties on...
When camping you have several options when choosing your campsite. You may choose to stay at a campground with showers and restrooms for your convenience. Campground...
There is nothing like being in nature, and rocking gently between two trees in a hammock. Hammocks are not only an alternate sleeping arrangement from sleeping...
You and your friends have just decided you need to have a little trip into nature and have made the great decision that you want to...
100-miles northeast of Los Angeles sits Big Bear Lake, a mountain resort community of 21,000 people nestled in the middle of the San Bernardino National Forest....
Denver, the capital city of Colorado, is famous for its pristine mountain vistas and idyllic landscapes. Like the rest of Colorado, Denver and the surrounding area...
Camping in the great outdoors can be a remarkably cathartic and freeing experience. It can also be a real struggle. Some campers have had the misfortune...
A tent and a backpack can be your key to the great outdoors and nearly limitless adventure. With so much of life flying by at breakneck...
We’re lucky out here in Seattle. With a temperate climate that allows for year-round exploring, it’s easy to get away and find a new trail near...
Tree swings are generally relegated to the yards and parks here in civilization and not so frequently found in the backcountry. This makes sense because installing...
Coffee has been a staple of the long haul since traders and Dutch investors brought the bean from the horn of Africa to Europe and, by...
A campfire is one of the essential features of a campsite or a rest-stop on a hiking trail. Unlike some other things we think are absolutely...
Hikers and backpackers who tend to take their trekking off the beaten path and into brambles and weeds have doubtless had the perturbance upon exiting the...
One of the most common but rarely-discussed ailments out on the hiking trail is a mysterious condition where hikers’ hands will swell up, causing rings and...
Even when weather conditions seem favorable, hikers are still out in the elements the entire time they’re backpacking on a day hike. Hiking clothing is designed...
For hikers who can withstand cold weather, the winter months are just as good as the high season to explore the backcountry. On really cold days...
Beyond the backpacking gear list, an overnight hike requires many considerations to be properly planned and effectively executed for maximum return on investment to the hikers...
Backpacking takes a lot of energy but the usual suspects for backpacking meals are often palate-numbing, repetitive, and full of processed ingredients to make them portable....
Even hikers who have cut their teeth on many backcountry day hikes have trouble selecting what backpacking gear they want to include in their rucksacks before...
The classification of hikers may confuse those new to backpacking or unfamiliar with navigating hiking trails through the backcountry. Enthusiasts often speak of day hikes, section...
Maybe you’ve been to a national park or traversed backcountry hiking trails plenty of times and haven’t yet found any reason to add a compass to...
Across large swathes of the United States, the backcountry is also bear country. Backpackers and hikers who frequent such well-renowned campsite-rich national parks as Sequoia National...
People hike for any number of reasons, it’s an excellent form of exercise to keep your body healthy. Hiking is also a popular way to explore...
No matter what kind of outdoor adventurer you are, a waterproof backpack is an important requirement. Whether you’re flying down white water rapids, on a mountain...
It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the hike. Any amount of time spent backpacking down a hiking trail will invigorate hikers with...
Hiking poles are a common sight on the trails, they’re used by many hikers to improve their backcountry experience. Trekking poles can come across as a...
Even if you were very selective when you bought your last pair of hiking boots or hiking shoes, there may come a time when you start...
Blisters are the Achilles’ heel of backcountry hikers, sometimes literally depending on where they form. The best hiking is done on winding, changing trails and that...
The best campsites are cached away in mountains and valleys, often at the terminus of long hiking trails that course and wind through the most untouched...
Now that you’ve taken your boots across some prairies, pastures, streams, and steep ravines, it’s time to give them a wash. All that grime, dirt and...
Taking your pet along for a trek in the backcountry is very popular, as on almost every trail you’ll see someone hiking with dogs. However, taking...
Camping without a tent probably strikes you as making about as much sense as deep-sea fishing without a boat. In fact, many campers who enjoy roughing...
Sand dunes, tidepools, and the rolling waves right at the shoreline await campers who enjoy partaking in beach vacations and camping trips and want to combine...
Calculating campers and backpackers may reason that the secret to winter camping trips is to simply head south and camp in warmer climates. Fleeing cold temperatures...
So you’ve decided it’s time to upgrade from a part-time to a full-time hiker. No longer satisfied with something like a hi-top sneaker with ankle support,...
When it comes to budget vacations, camping is an excellent choice. Hiking and exploring the great outdoors has always been a favorite budget pass time, with...
To be a Park Ranger is one of the most envied jobs within the American outdoors community. You get to wear the iconic Smokey the Bear...
So you want to try camping for the first time, but you’re now sure how? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone. In 2016, 4.7 million Americans went...
