1+ day, 23+ hour ago  (121+ words) Backpacker Magazine Save 30% on unlimited access to Backpacker, maps, and more The Best Backpacking Gear of 2026 The only way to find out if gear will stand up to the rigors of the trail? Take it there. Our editors and testers…...

4+ day, 4+ hour ago  (26+ words) Upgrading your kit to ultralight gear can make backpacking more enjoyable, but only if you do it right. Here's the gear strategy every backpacker should know....

2+ day, 5+ hour ago  (152+ words) Changing out your backpacking tent for an ultralight model is probably the most consequential single swap you can make to lighten your load. Unfortunately for you and your wallet, it's also the most expensive. This weekend's crop of Memorial Day…...

2+ day, 6+ hour ago  (279+ words) Over the past two weeks, at least seven hikers have fallen ill with norovirus near Wrightwood, California along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), with many more hikers experiencing classic gastrointestinal symptoms that may be linked to the illness. According to…...

2+ day, 10+ hour ago  (1172+ words) I've spent most of my life in Virginia and lived within a dozen miles of the AT and Shenandoah National Park for more than a decade. Yet, for one reason or another, I've never attended Trail Days. So when the…...

3+ day, 6+ hour ago  (1859+ words) You might not expect to find a turquoise, tropical rainforest-style pool in northern Alabama, but this oasis exists to defy those expectations. Winter or spring bring epic flows, but forest scenery is lush year-round. Round-trip Distance: 4. 8 miles Sometimes called the…...

3+ day, 12+ hour ago  (1626+ words) For 2026, we sent 10 testers out to hike in a range of trail running shoes wearing heavy packs, weighted vests, and a baby (one tester was pregnant). They tested everywhere from the Colorado Rockies to Machu Picchu; from sandy Southern California…...

3+ day, 9+ hour ago  (224+ words) Backpacker Magazine The Do-It-All Shoes for Go-Anywhere Hikers How about trail shoes that actually fit your feet? It's a simple request from hikers and the foundation of Topo Athletic's footwear, literally. A foot-shaped shoe delivers enhanced comfort and agility while…...

4+ day, 9+ hour ago  (321+ words) Backpacker Magazine 6 Hikes That Are at Their Absolute Best on Memorial Day Americans tend to use Memorial Day as an arbitrary launch date for hiking season. But in some places, it's the starting line for more tangible reasons. Vermont's Long…...

6+ day, 2+ hour ago  (365+ words) Backpacker Magazine As the U. S. Raises National Park Admission Fees, Canada Is Making Them Free for Everyone Just months after the U. S. government began charging international visitors an extra $100 to enter some national parks, Parks Canada is waiving entry fees to some…...