Hiking

Cherry blossom season doesn’t have to mean jostling through city spaces with a selfie stick. These cherry blossom hikes—from Japan to the Himalaya—combine spring blooms and crowd-free scenic trails.

We asked SAR personnel to offer simple tips that every hiker, climber, or skier could someday use in a backcountry emergency.

After a series of events, the term is on the rise. And some mountain athletes are debating whether or not it’s ever OK to abandon a partner in the alpine.

Damon Petrie, 60, mysteriously vanished in December 2025 near southern Oregon’s Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. A hiker just found his body in the woods.

Our articles editor takes a deep dive into the hellish and stressful mid-winter ritual of registering your kiddo for summer camp.

Rescue teams across the country are rapidly integrating flying drones and artificial intelligence programs into their processes and procedures. But one major hurdle is stymying the new tech.

Here are the winter staples we recommend, from ways to illuminate your path, to the layers and boots that will save you.

A new early-access process allows people willing to pay an additional fee to apply for permits ten days earlier than usual. Here is everything you need to know about booking your Havasupai Falls 2026 reservation

The deadly attack on January 1 was the sixth human-mountain lion incident in the area in three months

A recent report published by the state’s Fish and Game Department pulls no punches in its assessment of two hikers who got stuck on a mountain and required lifesaving

Turns out, the best way to conquer a lingering childhood fear is facing it head-on—with just a tiny headlamp, sturdy trekking poles, and showtunes humming in your head.

At 267 feet tall, General Grant Tree is estimated to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old, which means the sequoia was growing alongside woolly mammoths and outlived the Roman Empire.

On March 21, 2004, a hiker discovered the body of Renaldo Burts, 18, in the hills near a strenuous trail in southern California near the city of Idyllwild. Two decades later, investigators have arrested a suspect.

With rucking more popular than ever, we set out to outline what exactly rucking is, why it’s one of the accessible approaches to fitness, and what you need to get started

The propagation of fall-detection technology has led to an uptick in false alarms. But this hiker is glad that his device made an SOS call after a terrifying mishap.

Kuélap rivals Machu Picchu in size and impressiveness. But the ancient fortress provides a quieter, more intimate experience. And it’s only just now beginning to open up to the world.

An elderly woman who recently became stranded while mushroom hunting raises an important question: Are foragers, especially those seeking prized fungi, at a higher risk of getting lost than other outdoor enthusiasts?

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paul Salopek has spent the last 13 years walking from Africa to the southern tip of South America

A recent tragedy in Colorado wasn't an anomaly. From drowning in quarries to stumbling into open pits, hundreds have died in vacant mines across the United States since 2000.

Some quick thinking by a friend saved a fallen hiker on a steep mountain in Colorado. Rescuers still had to brave treacherous terrain to save him.

British adventurer Joshua Patterson recently set out to run the highest marathon in history. Turns out, it was anything but easy.

Arizona is among the states with the highest number of lightning deaths and injuries. Severe weather—including lightning, hail, and heavy rain—can occur unexpectedly and frequently at high elevations, particularly in the northern part of the state.

My mom bought me Keen's Targhee III boots to convince me to climb a mountain with her. Here's why I love them and don't hate hiking anymore.

Spooky season is here! We hit the road to explore some of the scariest treks from coast to coast. From the Witch's Castle in Oregon, to Maiden Cliff in Maine, these trails have frightening lore.

Grizzly attacks are most common in the spring, when sows are defending their cubs, and in the fall during hyperfagia, a period of extensive eating to prepare for winter. Although both hikers were hospitalized—one in critical condition—both are expected to recover.

With sweeping vistas and steep elevation gains, Shadow Mountain Trail is a 2.6-mile loop just outside of Phoenix. Experts say it’s best to hike during the cooler parts of the day, but losing light on the trail can be just as dangerous as overheating.

Responders spent six hours rescuing the two, who were stuck on a sheer and rocky couloir deep in the Sierra Nevada

Ultrarunner Olivia Amber recently spent four days climbing California’s highest peaks to set the women’s speed record on a famed route

These self-care tools help put injury prevention and healing in my own hands

The ultrarunning icon is racing through his States of Elevation project: ascending the American 14ers, and traveling to and from them by bike

I knew the safety rules. I didn’t follow all of them. Here’s what happened when a black bear charged me on my hometown trail.

The big difference between a 13er and a 14er? One is considerably less crowded, by a huge margin. Consider us converted.

Interested in $1 million? Want to spot this year’s epic Northern Lights forecast? Outside has you covered in this edition of our weekly news roundup.

As a practicing Pagan, I'll welcome in fall with a moonlit hike. Here's where to go to view the Corn Moon on September 7, tips for navigating the trails at night, and how to add a little magic to your trek.

Hikers in British Columbia and Montana successfully fended off attacking bears in two separate incidents using this compact deterrent.

From souped-up batteries to freeride-focused touring boots, this is the gear that we’re most excited about for next year

A 31-year-old hiker in Washington State is lucky to be alive after suffering serious injuries in a fall. His screams for help led to a rescue.

Millions of campers and hikers around the U.S. are using recreation.gov to book their next vacation—and by the time they’re done dealing with its confusing navigation, broken interface, and inflated fees, most will need one.

This hiker's shopping list packs a punch in a pinch

From sacred lakes to former kingdoms, these trails deliver all the Himalayan drama without the Everest circus.

Not all of the gear we test is worth writing about. This stuff is.

My friends didn't feel safe hiking alone. So I started looking into queer hiking groups—and even started a local chapter.

Five distress calls in seven days prompted the local search and rescue team to warm visitors to hike with caution

A tourist fell 30 feet trying to get a close-up view of a lava flow in Hawaii. Here's a look at the rise in volcano tourism—plus how to stay safe.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife advised dog owners to keep pets on-leash when walking in moose habitat, and to choose trails with good visibility

Search and rescue teams recently conducted 13 helicopter rescues over a seven-day span. A SAR leader blames the uptick on a detour to a vital hiking route.

These hiking trails prove that there’s way more to see in Nebraska than prairie

The campsite reservation platform just added thousands of RV parks, camping resorts, and private campgrounds to its inventory

Brick-and-mortar shops are peddling more than just product these days. Come for the gear, stay for the group rides, runs, and game nights.

From cowgirl boots to running shoes to sunglasses, these are the spring gear products our editors can't get enough of.

Charitable foundations that raise funds and organizer volunteers for the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and other U.S. National Parks have seen an uptick in donations and manpower

The kids of the Mountaineers Adventure Club are tackling serious peaks—all between classes and homework

Great Smoky Mountains National Park might be overrun, but that’s only because it’s wildly awesome. Here’s why a trip to GSMNP should still be on your bucket list.

Fall back in love with hiking with this new trend from Montana's American Prairie.

Science doesn't have the answers. But after overcoming her own fear of the dark, this writer does.

Some are blooming now, and others don't reach their peak until early fall

Because the natural elements you'll be surrounded by can easily destroy your meds

Prevent a costly vet bill by identifying hazards before your pup gets a foxtail up her nose or cactus spine in her paw

The new Netflix series ‘Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure’ chronicles the decade-long hunt. The series also includes clues about a new hidden fortune.

For centuries, people have left all sorts of notes in summit registers. I looked through 100 years of love letters and spontaneous exaltation, including my own family's, to find out why.

Lots of visitors find themselves off track, whether they're chasing Instagrammable moments too far, facing unpredictable weather and variable terrain, or simply lacking preparation. Here’s why this seems to be happening—and how to trek safely when you go.

A rescue story from Southern Utah has a happy ending—thanks to a discarded bag filled with survival gear

Trail veterans often jerry-rig the popular Sawyer Squeeze water filter onto a bomb-proof Vecto bladder. Now, the two products come together as a unit.

From exploring Arizona's canyons to surfing California'a beaches and hiking Utah's buttes, our national parks columnist shares his dream Southwest road-trip itineraries. Just gas up your rig, grab the sunscreen, and go.

New data suggests that the most efficient uphill slope is steeper than you think

From heated gloves to new shades, this winter gear is changing the game for our editors and contributors this season

I found big adventure and warm weather in these national-park units spread across the Southeast and Southwest

Five years after it was founded, plus-sized outdoor apparel company Alpine Parrot shuts down

We’re not talking about big thru-hikes, but extended walks on pathways through glorious landscapes in spectacular parts of the world

Power couple and record-setting hikers Andrea Sansone and Andrew Hamilton share tips for navigating a new pursuit as a couple—and emerging stronger for it

You’ll be able to view a rare alignment of planets this month and into February. Our astrotourism expert reveals the best places and ways to see the awesome spectacle.

These are our favorite healthy trips in North America, from a desert hot-springs lodge to a quiet island off the Pacific Coast.

When our trail columnist first started sliding silicone spacers between his toes, friends chuckled. But now these little separators are getting the moment they deserve.

Timed-entry reservations are back. Our national parks columnist reveals how to get into these popular parks.

Our hiking columnist inadvertently deviated from the route while descending a peak. The accident prompted him to investigate the harm caused by switchback cutting.

Tina Lewis was enjoying a “trip of a lifetime” before she was detained at an airport in India. Her crime: traveling with a satellite communication device.