Backpacker Articles

Get the best features of our iconic national parks-world-class terrain and expansive backcountry-with none of the traffic or permit hassles at these 10 perfect substitutes.

See Yosemite's river of ice, witness there-and-gone meteor showers in Hawaii, and mark your calendar for eight more fleeting natural wonders.

The country's top experts on local trails-BACKPACKER readers-share insider secrets for 10 regions. Discover their favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, primo campsites, and more.

Twenty-seven years ago, we rejected a story about a secret Sierra hideaway where the trout grow as big as cats and the meadows are lined with Frisbee-size wildflowers. Too good to be true, we thought. Until now.

To choose the top hikes in the world, we crammed editors and trail scouts in a room and let them fight it out. The result: this list of 20 life-list trails. PLUS: Discover 20 more amazing trips we've never written about