Hiking

Exploration & Survival

Even When Everything Goes Right, the Backcountry Can Turn Fatal. What College Recreation Clubs Are Doing About It.

Exploration & Survival

Newly Released Video Shows Rescue of a Hiker Who Slid Hundreds of Feet down Mount Timpanogos

After a hiker plummeted hundreds of feet from an 11,700-foot Utah peak onto a narrow cliff ledge, state search-and-rescue teams executed a perilous high-altitude hoist.

Hiking

We Thought Having a Baby Meant the End of Hiking. Then We Tried These Child Carriers.

From steep climbs to sleepy descents, these child carriers make hiking with a kid more manageable—and comfortable.

Wellness

Burnt Out on the Trail? You Might Need an Off-Season From Hiking.

A backpacker who's been less-than-excited about hitting the trails makes the case for taking a break.

North America

The Dark History Hidden in New Hampshire’s White Mountains

Beyond vibrant fall foliage, northern New Hampshire's famous peaks conceal an abandoned lumber town, a wartime bomber crash, and decades of haunting lore. Here is what remains hidden along the region’s popular hiking corridors.

Hiking

The National Park Service Plans to Demolish Two Appalachian Trail Shelters. These Hikers Are Fighting Back.

A coalition of hikers and trail advocates have launched Save Our Shelters, a campaign to save to iconic huts along the Appalachian Trail that are slated for demolition.

Exploration & Survival

Why Is Mount Shasta So Dangerous?

A string of late-season rescues—including a Florida man trapped in a crevasse wearing sweatpants—highlights a growing problem: climbers treating one of California’s iconic 14ers like a casual day hike.

Training & Performance

Does Your Back Hurt on Hikes? Try These 8 Pain-Relieving Exercises.

If you get back pain on the trail, start doing these moves to improve your posture and ease aches.

Training & Performance

This Is What Happens to Your Body When You Go on a Hike

Exerting your body on the trails affects your muscles, cardiovascular system, and your mood. Experts explain what hiking does to the body.

Training & Performance

Megan Thee Stallion’s Favorite Glute Exercise Is the Perfect Pre-Hike Warm-Up

The Grammy Award-winning rapper and fitness enthusiast calls donkey kicks her favorite exercise to keep her glutes strong. A personal trainer explains why adding them to your workout routine can help you move better on the trails.

North America

I Grew Up Near 54-Mile Ghost Town Trail. Here Is What Happens After Dark.

The 54-mile path winding through Cambria and Indiana Counties is a scenic outdoor escape by day. But after nightfall, the abandoned mining towns and centuries-old cemeteries give you the chills.

News and Analysis

More National Parks Now Offer Adventure Wheelchairs. It's a Game Changer for My Son.

Nearly 30 park sites, including all five of Utah's national parks, now provide adaptive trail equipment. For my son and me, this growing trend meant hiking together without having to turn back.

Hiking

The Plague Is Still in U.S. National Parks and Wilderness Areas. Here’s What Hikers Need to Know.

Recent reports of a fatal plague case in Siberia are making headlines, but outdoors enthusiasts don't need to look across the globe—Yersinia pestis is active in the American West. Here’s what hikers, campers, and dog owners actually need to know.

Exploration & Survival

"She Had a Will to Live." A 72-Year-Old Hiker Survived 6 Nights in the Backcountry After Falling 100 Feet.

A 72-year-old hiker survived six nights stranded near the Pacific Crest Trail after a 100-foot fall. Here is how she survived and what rescuers learned.

Training & Performance

The Recovery Routine Dancers Swear By Can Help Hikers Heal, Too

Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis exercises helped dancers ease injury-related pain. Use these moves to roll out your feet and relieve low back pain after a long day on the trail.

Environment

The Border Wall Just “Decapitated” a 7,000-Year-Old Arizona Carving Created Before Stonehenge and Egypt’s Pyramids

A newly dated 272-foot rock carving in Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge was severely damaged by border contractors, exposing a growing threat to public lands, outdoor access, and sacred Indigenous heritage.

Exploration & Survival

The Search for Three Missing Children Came Down to One Very Good Nose

Three children wandered 1.5 miles from their family’s campsite near Buena Vista. A search-and-rescue team, led by K-9 Archie, tracked them down in the Colorado backcountry.

Exploration & Survival

4 Hikers Died in Washington. The Hidden Dangers of Fall Hiking, Explained.

As shoulder season brings sudden snowstorms, icy trails, and early darkness, search-and-rescue experts share vital safety lessons from recent Pacific Northwest tragedies.

Exploration & Survival

When a Mountain Lion Grabbed His Labrador, This 6-Foot-3 Photographer Fought Back

When a mountain lion ambushed his Labrador retriever near the Thoroughfare Wilderness outside Cody, Wyoming, photographer Adam Borkhus delivered a boot to the big cat’s face. Here is how the wild encounter unfolded—and expert advice on backcountry safety in cougar country.

Training & Performance

How Heavy Should Your Hiking Pack Be? New Research Has an Answer.

An overly stuffed pack changes how force moves through your feet, which might lead you to cancel your hiking trip or increase the risk of long-term damage. A podiatrist and one of the study's authors weigh in.