In this issue

ALMOST FAMOUS
As the pandemic sends more people outside, popular destinations are busier than ever. Find solitude this season at one of these 15 under-theradar spots.
By Heather Balogh Rochfort

NURTURE IN NATURE
Outdoor kids grow up connected to nature, but does that adequately prepare them for the journey of life? One mother assesses her work as her oldest child prepares to leave the nest.
By Tracy Ross

Wild Buffet

Reap the bounty of nature’s pantry by learning to identify and responsibly harvest wild edibles on the trail or in your neighborhood.

3 mins

PADDLE THE DESERT

Can a group of novice packrafters make it out of Canyonlands in one piece?

4 mins

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

Minko Nikolov, 32, suffered a near-fatal lightning strike while scouting a bouldering objective in Rocky Mountain National Park in August 2019.

4 mins

Weightless Warmth

Banish worries about pack space and morning shivers on your next cool-weather trip with these packable puffies.

7 mins

YOU'VE GOT ALL DAY

Even on a lowkey dayhike, good gear can be the difference between a forgettable outing and a fun one.

2 mins

Frontcountry Fortresses

For trips that don’t take you far from the car, these tents will let you rest your head in spacious comfort and style.

4 mins

MATERIAL LOVE - PRECIOUS CARGO

How a stroller saved my outdoor sanity.

2 mins

ALMOST FAMOUS

Thanks to COVID-19, big-name national parks are drawing larger crowds than normal this year, leading to busy trails and hard-to-get permits. So skip ‘em and set your sights on these sleeper alternatives instead. Not only will you still nab beauty to rival any national park, but there’s a good chance your social distancing will extend for miles and miles.

10+ mins

NO MAN'S LAND

In a remote corner of Montana, hikers and activists clash over the future of a grizzly bear population hanging on for dear life.

10+ mins

Nurture IN NATURE

Does raising an outdoor kid prepare him for the real world?

10+ mins

Read all stories from Backpacker

Backpacker Magazine Description:

The Outdoors at Your Doorstep
Backpacker connects with 1.1 million readers for whom outdoor adventure is the centerpiece to a vibrant, experiential lifestyle. Within the pages of Backpacker, readers find the very best in close-to-home trip ideas and done-in-a-day adventures that they can easily schedule into their busy lives. But beyond hiking and backpacking, Backpacker features the latest in a wide variety of outdoor sports, including cycling, fly-fishing, mountain biking, trail running, rock climbing and more.he Outdoors at Your Doorstep
Backpacker connects with 1.1 million readers for whom outdoor adventure is the centerpiece to a vibrant, experiential lifestyle. Within the pages of Backpacker, readers find the very best in close-to-home trip ideas and done-in-a-day adventures that they can easily schedule into their busy lives. But beyond hiking and backpacking, Backpacker features the latest in a wide variety of outdoor sports, including cycling, fly-fishing, mountain biking, trail running, rock climbing and more.he Outdoors at Your Doorstep
Backpacker connects with 1.1 million readers for whom outdoor adventure is the centerpiece to a vibrant, experiential lifestyle. Within the pages of Backpacker, readers find the very best in close-to-home trip ideas and done-in-a-day adventures that they can easily schedule into their busy lives. But beyond hiking and backpacking, Backpacker features the latest in a wide variety of outdoor sports, including cycling, fly-fishing, mountain biking, trail running, rock climbing and more.