where to go:

Visit Voyageurs National Park, one of the least visited national parks, for a 3-day canoeing or kayaking trip on Kabetogama Lake during Spring, Summer, and Fall. You can see island campsites and Ellsworth Rock, garden, fish, star watch, and hike.

Thru-hiking guide to the Colorado Trail, a 485-mile hiking trail from Denver to Durango including gear, water, camping, permits, planning, logistics and more

Everything you need to know to run, hike, camp, or backpack the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore Trail (PRLT) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which includes views of Lake Superior, sweeping sand dunes, interesting rock features, and dense woods.

The C&O Canal Towpath is one of the East Coast’s premiere bicycle pathways. This car-free hike and bike trail is 185-miles long, following the Potomac River from DC to Maryland. Campsites, hostels, bike shops, and more make this a pleasurable ride.

The reason they call the Salmon ‘The River of No Return’? You’ll never wanna leave! This 4-6 day whitewater rafting trip down the Main Fork of the Salmon, over beautiful high volume class III-IV rapids and pool-drop water, is a dream come true!

The Pinhoti Trail has scenic ridgelines, forests, waterfalls, and strong community connections. This shoulder-season and winter trail is great for backpackers of all experience levels

With 150 miles of gravel hike-and-bike trail, the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP Trail) is one of the East’s best pathways, perfect for leisurely bike rides. The old railroad follows beautiful waterways, weaving around Allegheny mountains and hills.

The Snowdonia Way is a new 97-to-122-mile route connecting must-see sights of Snowdonia National Park. This long-distance backpacking trip will take you through North and Mid Wales mountains, valleys, beaches, rivers, mountain ridges, and summits.

The HexaTrek is a 3,034 km route that winds through 14 national parks and many of the major mountain ranges in the country, from the Vosges to the Pyrenees. I thru-hiked the entire trail over four months, navigating everything from snowy alpine passes to scorching southern ridgelines, and I can confidently say this trail deserves a spot on your bucket list.

The Boy Scout Trail in Joshua Tree National Park is a beginner-friendly backpacking trip, perfect for winter and spring wildflowers, big views, and relative solitude. 

Hiking guide to the Camino de Santiago on the French Way route, the most popular walking pilgrimage from the French Pyrennes to Santiago de Compostela, Spain

How to plan your backpacking trip of the West Coast Trail in British Columbia, a 47-mile coastal trek: permits, transportation, logistics, gear, planning, and sample itinerary.

Buckskin Gulch and Paria River Canyon in Utah/Arizona are one of the longest slot canyons in the world. This 43-mile backpacking trip from Wire Pass to Lees Ferry in Vermilion Cliffs Nat’l Monument is a bucket list hike.

Whether you’re an experienced or novice outdoor rock climber, California’s Castle Rock State Park has something for you! Near the Bay Area, Castle Rock has a high density of famous boulder problems, as well as a respite from the nearby urban bustle.

Prescott Circle is a 60-mile loop around Prescott, Arizona. Open to all non-motorized use and popular with hikers, backpackers, and more, the trail skirts defining places of the greater valley with amazing views from a well-maintained trail.

A guide to backpacking Hawai’i in Haleakalā National Park in Maui, including itineraries for the best 3-day overnight hikes in Haleakalā crater and to the summit

The Pemigewasset Loop (Pemi Loop) is a classic 30-mile hiking, trail running, and backpacking trip in the White Mountains, New Hampshire utilizing parts of the Appalachian Trail. Considered the 2nd hardest hike in the US, it passes Franconia Ridge, 4000 -footers and AMC huts.

The Oregon Desert Trail (ODT) is a long-distance (750-mile) hiking route extending through the Oregon Badlands to Owyhee State Park. It is a remote and challenging trek through central and southeastern Oregon’s high desert highlights.

Trip plan and guide to the South Dakota Centennial Trail, a 125-mile hiking and backpacking trail in the Black Hills from Wind Cave National Park to Bear Butte

Permits, logistics, camping, resupply, water and more for the Trans Catalina Trail (TCT) thru-hike, a 38-mile beginner friendly backpacking trip on Catalina Island, CA with beaches, swimming, and a mild climate.

The Kokopelli Trail is a 143-mile desert bikepacking route that connects Fruita, Colorado, in western Colorado and Moab, Utah on singletrack and jeep roads

The Oceans to Lake Trail is a short, winter-friendly backpacking trip shared with the Florida Trail with beach, tropical plants, and more.

A seldom traveled alternative to the southern Appalachian Trail, the Benton MacKaye Trail offers a remote and rugged wilderness experience.

80-mile trail from Fort William to Aviemore through Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. More solitude, route-finding than the West Highland Way. Amenities for inn-to-inn hiking

Starting in Talimena State Park, the Ouachita National Recreation Trail runs 223 miles through West Oklahoma and follows the Ouachita Mountains. The hiking trail avoids towns and roads, complicating resupply but resulting in true, necessary solitude.

The California Riding and Hiking Trail (CRHT) is a 37-mile trail across Joshua Tree National Park ideal for winter and spring backpacking, wildflowers, and sunrises.

Hiking and backpacking guide to a ~400-mile thru-hike from border-to-border of Oregon. Walk sandy beaches, sea cliffs, and forested headlands with restaurant and inn-to-inn options

A 750-mile pilgrimage that circles the Japanese island of Shikoku, connecting ancient Buddhist temples through cities, coastal towns, quiet villages, and forested mountain paths.

Our guide to the scenic Via Dinarica White Trail, which traverses Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania, with karst plateaus and small mountain villages

After thru-hiking the Pacific Northwest Trial from Glacier National Park to Olympic National Park, our guide shares tips and strategies for planning your own 1,250-mile backpacking trip.