In this issue

SMALLER CROWDS, BIGGER ADVENTURES
There are 423 national park units in the U.S., and 6,600 state parks. Do the math:
If you’re looking to lose the crowds this summer, start with America’s other best idea.

SIERRA TIME
Before Kim Stanley Robinson wrote his Hugo and Nebula Award-winning books (the Mars trilogy among them), he was a hiker fi rst and foremost. Head into California’s high country with him, and see it anew.

Let The Rivers Run Free

A set of 10 bills currently in Congress will protect 7,000 miles of American waterways— if they pass.

1 min

CBD for Your Pain

Everyone feels the hurt as we age, but CBD can help you deal with it.

4 mins

Allie Weill

Weill is a California fire ecologist and the lead author of a study published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire about how hikers relate to landscapes scarred by flames. She takes pains to prevent fires, but once the smoke clears, she's among the first out there to study, learn, and appreciate the beauty in the blackened landscape.

3 mins

Thru-Hiking, Canadian Style

When the pandemic shut down my plans to hike Europe, I found a world-class trail right on my doorstep.

5 mins

Sand, Moon, and Stars

The white beaches of Florida's Gulf Islands National Seashore are the perfect place for a moonlit pre-dawn hike:

1 min

A Matter of Perspective

Regular backpacking trips are the key to contentment.

4 mins

Finding Life on the Edge of Death

In June 2021, Andrew Devers disappeared for nine days after setting out for a dayhike in Washington's Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

5 mins

America's Other Best Idea

Let the crowds stampede the national parks-in the U.S., you're never far from state lands that boast sublime beauty, natural seclusion, and endless adventure. These 14 just scratch the surface.

10+ mins

SIERRA TIME

Before he won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards for his science fiction, Kim Stanley Robinson was a hiker in the Sierra Nevada. He still is. Walk with him in this exclusive excerpt from his new book, The High Sierra: A Love Story.

10+ mins

ΤΟ WALK ALONE

Backpacking by yourself unlocks a powerful wilderness experience. If you're scared to solo, you're on the right track.

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.