5 Ways to Celebrate National Public Lands Day Ready to join? Here are five great ideas for celebrating National Public Lands Day in your own way.
How to Choose the Best Camp Shoes You could hang around camp in your boots, just like you could sleep in a suit jacket or do yoga in jeans. But do yo
How to Choose a Cold Weather Sleeping Bag If the right sleeping bag is important in summer, then it's absolutely critical in winter. Here’s what to consider
How to Choose The Best Rooftop Cargo Carrier Because these rooftop systems can be expensive, it’s important to choose wisely. Here’s a breakdown of different s
How To Choose A Camping Cooler There are more choices than ever for keeping food cold, which is great but also daunting if you’re not sure what fe
How To Choose the Right Camping Knife Select the best knife, multi-tool, or hatchet, no matter your outdoor sport of choice.
How To Choose the Right Hammock for Camping Select the best hammock for you, whether it’s your mainstay outdoor sleep system or lightweight camp lounger.
How to Choose the Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags and Backpacking Quilts Is it possible to lighten up your sleep system without sacrificing the sleep part? Definitely: Ultralight sleeping
Are Rooftop Tents Right for You Nothing's wrong with pitching a tent on the ground. But rooftop tents, which turn the top of your car or truck into
How to Choose the Best Car Camping Tent Ask yourself these questions to choose the best car camping tent for you.
Campfire Cooking Cooking over the coals and open flame of a campfire really is simple once you get the hang of a few tricks and equi
How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad Here’s how to compare materials, identify common features, and choose a sleeping pad that’s right for you.
How to Choose the Best Backpacking Backpack You want a pack that accommodates all your gear, feels stable and comfortable, and has all the features you need fo
How To Choose the Best Sleeping Bag From arm holes to foot vents, here are key ways to upgrade your sleeping bag.
backpacking checklist Making the jump from day hiking to backpacking can be intimidating. Use this checklist to get started.
How to Choose the Best Camping Chairs Sorry Mother Nature, these portable seats are infinitely more comfortable than a rock. Here's how to chosoe the bes
How To Choose a Backpacking Tent Understand the various features and materials and ask yourself the following questions, and you’re guaranteed to ge
How to Make the Outdoors More Inclusive Of all the affirming advice from Pattie Gonia, reiterated by other leaders of The North Face's Summer of Pride Even
How to Hammock Camp If you’ve ever noticed a fellow camper suspended between two trees, don’t dismiss their setup as just some leisurel
How To Pick the Right Fire Pit When autumn arrives, cooler temps (hopefully) offer a welcome respite from this summer’s heat. Enjoy your backyard
The Best Car Camping Near Columbus Here are 6 of central Ohio’s best state parks for planning an outdoor getaway.
Why Pittsburghers Love Camping at Bald Eagle State Park From its facilities to activities, this scenic lake boasts camping opportunities for all.
Camping at Keystone Lake Explore the low-key western PA state park that offers lakeside campsite options galore with outdoor activities for
Camping Forbes State Forest Laurel Highlands tract of Forbes presents an excellent overnight opportunity that’s otherwise uncommon across the f
Great Allegheny Passage Bikepacking Sites There are a number of free campsites within a day’s riding distance of Pittsburgh, and they’re right on the path fo
5 Things To Do in Allegheny Land Trust Green Spaces Finding new land to protect, especially anywhere int eh Easter U.S., is no easy task.
How to Cook Fish in the Backcountry You don't need to be a survival expertr to feed yourself in the woods.
Down Care 101: How To Maintain, Store and Clean Your Puffers and Sleeping Bags Down gear will keep you warm and comfortable for decades—if you care for it properly.
Adventures in the White Mountains One of only two national forests in New England, New Hampshire’s White Mountains are home to the region’s highest p
How to Choose a Roof Rack Before you buy a rooftop tent, gear box, cargo basket, or attachments for your bikes, kayaks, and other outdoor gea
Desert Camping Tips Even seasoned campers will find the desert a harsh environment when it comes to exposed heat, remote areas, and li
How To Choose a Car Campsite Who doesn’t like pulling right up to a campsite, unloading gear, and settling in? Instant outdoor bliss. Hikers, cl
Backpacking in Scioto Grove Metro Park A backpacking trip to Scioto Grove Metro Park is perfect if you’re a beginner, if you’re bringing the kids, or if y
Camping Calls at Mohican Standout camping options meet adventure at Ohio’s popular Mohican State Park and Forest.
Meet Black Forager Alexis Nikole Nelson How Ohio’s award-winning, social-media sensation is bringing foraged foods to the masses one tune and jump-cut at a
Car Camping With a Backcountry Feel Find solitude in a pair of western Ohio’s pristine MetroParks: Germantown and Twin Creek.
Go-To Camping at Hocking Hills State Park Set up a basecamp in this southeast Ohio outdoor adventure mecca.
Backpacking Ohio’s Buckeye Trail Follow the blue blazes to a sweet trailside campsite on this developing trail system that encompasses Ohio.
Plan Your Visit to Joshua Tree National Park From its Dr. Seuss-like namesake trees and reliably spectacular sunsets to an area named (without exaggeration) Won
Columbus Camping Lake Hope State Park Start with classic car camping: Picture the campfire, hiking and wildlife. Now add in some experiences you may have
Things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park The Rocky Mountains are a truly wild landscape: postcard-pretty and ruggedly unforgiving all at once.
Campsites With a View: Pawnee Campground Situated at 10,350 feet in the Colorado Rockies, this campground offers epic mountain beauty in spades.
Seven Great Campsites in Yellowstone Define your goals and then find your ideal camping spot within the sprawling acreage of this iconic national park.
How To Leave No Trace When Camping Meet the couple who travels the country, educating folks on how to help preserve the environment through simple act
Wildlife Safety Tips and Etiquette How to safely share the trails with everything from chipmunks to bears, moose to cows.
How To Identify Poisonous Plants in the Wild A few basics can save you a whole lot of trouble on your next outing.
How to Get Kids Outdoors It is the great mystery facing pretty much every modern, digitally connected parent: How do you get kids and teens
Family Backpacking Lessons from the Appalachian Trail What Josh Sutton learned over the 2,200-Mile Appalachian Trail with his wife and 5-year-old son.
Discover Zion National Park Zion National Park in southern Utah is known for its cream, pink, and red cliffs, otherworldly slot canyons, and th
Guide to Responsible Wildlife Photography Pro insights from wildlife photographer and eco-adventure guide Josh Metten
Long Island’s Best Campsites Explore the numerous options for surprisingly high-quality camping on Long Island, whether it’s beachside sites, pr
How to Choose the Right Bikepacking Gear Bikepacking opens up a broader, wilder world to you and your bicycle. To do it, you’ll need to be prepared to store
How to Choose an Ultralight Tent Looking to lose a little pack weight? Choosing an ultralight tent will have one of the biggest impacts on your over
Bikepacking 101 Once you get comfortable with the equipment and skills, bikepacking can take you from weekend wilderness escapes to
Overlooked Escape: Wind Cave National Park Go subterranean to explore the geologic wonders of one of the world’s largest caves.
Adventures at Shadmoor State Park and Ditch Plains Beach Summer or winter, head for standout activity options at the park-beach combo destination marking the far eastern en
Best Off Trail Hiking Destinations Most of the time, it’s important to stay on the trail and camp in designated locations (both for your safety and th
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Essentials Everyone “knows” the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s the most visited unit in the park system, with over
4 Things to do in New River Gorge National Park Unlike many national park units, which center around hiking through pristine landscapes, the New River Gorge Natio
How to Camp with Kids Taking your children to the grocery store can seem like a daunting proposal most days, so dragging them into the wo
Explore Spruce Knob and Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area Find open space and wild adventure in this West Virginia climbing hub that offers numerous, high-quality hiking and
Exploring the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Make the three-hour drive from Atlanta and you’ll likely spend most of your time in a boat (it is a swamp, after al
The Adventure Guide to Savannah The oldest city in Georgia (established in 1733) is a hotbed of Southern cuisine, best known to travelers for its v
Blue Ridge Mountain Camping There’s a reason that locals refer to western Virginia’s Sherando Lake as the “jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains.”
Camping at Vogel State Park This scenic lakeside camping destination offers a launching pad to rugged North Georgia mountain adventures.
How to Launch a Camping Trip From Your Canoe or Kayak Camping from a canoe or a kayak is just as simple and gratifyiung of an escape as it is from a backpack-only better
Acadia National Park Essentials Drive, hike, paddle, camp and otherwise explore the majestic coastal environment of Maine.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Essentials Hike and camp among 2,000-year-old trees in California’s most unique national park.
Adventures at Pocahontas State Park Explore singletrack, launch a paddling trip, or pick from numerous hikes at Virginia’s largest state park, packed w
Overlooked Escape: Black Canyon National Park Find adventure at this stunning, yet sparsely visited Colorado park.
How Conner Youngblood and Sustain Music and Nature are Saving Public Lands with Music How an innovative nonprofit pairs rising musicians with public lands to create original music that moves listeners
Olympic National Park Essentials With more than 2.5 million visitors every year, Washington’s Olympic National Park is one of the 10 most-visited na
How To Choose the Right Grill Warmer temps and longer days mean one thing: It’s time to fire up the grill and get cooking outdoors. From high-tec
A Change Has Come: Black Folks Camp Too In the outdoors, “Everyone, everywhere, is welcomed.” That message is getting more mileage than ever now thanks to
Campgrounds Near Pittsburgh Pymatuning State Park Plan a camping-paddling-fishing extravaganza at Pymatuning Reservoir, a 17,088-acre lake with campsites for every t
Backpacking in Raccoon Creek State Park Less than an hour away from Downtown Pittsburgh, this loop makes for a quick weekend getaway or a great shakedown t
Camping Near Pittsburgh - Sycamore Island, Blawnox, PA Besides a quiet camp, you’ll find a few miles of hiking trails, and a few relics from a boating club that thrived h
Pittsburgh Backpacking, Gerard Hiking Trail, Oil Creek State Park This 36-mile loop explores the site of the world’s first oil well—which has been transformed into a scenic park.
Campsite Etiquette 101 Small courtesies go a long way in ensuring everyone at a campground enjoys their time in nature, even if you’re sh
How to go to the Bathroom when Camping Be prepared for the next trail or camp bowel emergency with this guide to bathroom etiquette in the outdoors.
How to Plan a Car Camping Trip Spend the time before departure to properly get your gear dialed, schedule outlined, and campsite expectations cali
Camping Sleeping Tips Utilize some of these tools and tips to manage both your surroundings and your mental state to create a healthy sle
The Best Camping Apps Pull information to your fingertips that will enhance your camp experience, from critical maps and reservation inst
How to Choose Portable Speakers for Camping When you’re ready to take your tunes outside, here’s what to look for in terms of functionality, durability, and b
How to Plan and Pack Car Camping Meals New campers often spend considerable time organizing gear—tents, sleeping bags, chairs—and not enough time organizi
How to Choose a Car Camping Stove Picking the right car camping stove boils down to a few key points: performance (boil time, wind resistance, simmer
Car Camping Cooking Whether your car camping or boating, use this guide to strategize the menu when you really can take everything but
How to Stay Warm While Camping Here’s a few pieces of key guidance on how to stay warm when you’re outside: what to pack, what to wear, and how to
how to choose a backpacking stove For backpacking, you want a stove that’s light, compact, fast, efficient, adjustable, and durable. Oh, and affordab
The 7 Leave No Trace Principles The idea, of course, is that we can collectively do much to preserve public lands as they are if we all take these
How to Light Up Your Campsite Forget fragile kerosene lanterns; nearly all camp lights are now made with LED bulbs, which are highly efficient, c
Backcountry Cooking Tips Nothing seasons a meal like hunger and a good view. Still, you’ll want to make sure your camp cooking is easy and n
Your Guide to Free Camping Think of dispersed camping like backpacking, but with a vehicle assist—you’ll get access to wilder places than a de
What to Know About Portable Power Devices and Solar Panels Here’s how to choose the best portable power devices and solar panels for you.
Fun Games for Campers What's more fun than just camping? Camping with games, of course. Enjoy these 15 go-to games and outdoor diversions
How to Camp in the Rain and Snow With the right gear and a little know-how, you can camp comfortably even when it’s rainy, windy, buggy, cold, or ho
Tips for Camping with a Baby Follow our guide to sleeping, eating, pooping, and more for a successful camping trip with your baby—the first time
How to Go Winter Camping True, it’s not as easy as camping in other seasons, but in return you get unmatched rewards: snow-hushed wilderness
How to Visit Bears Ears National Monument President Biden just restored this remarkable Utah Preserve to its original size. Here's how to explore it.
How to Choose a Backcountry Campsite At the end of a long day of backpacking, it’s tempting to plop down at the first level site you encounter. Don’t. W
How To Choose Camping Cookware The options vary in price, weight, and cooking characteristics, and what’s best for an ultralight backpacker won’t
Adventure Guide to the Redwoods Explore one of the world’s most unique ecosystems across four co-managed state and national parks.
Glacier National Park Essentials Explore the vast and spectacular landscape that straddles the Continental Divide.
How To Treat Water in an Emergency Follow these water treatment steps in an outdoor survival situation.
How To Camp With Tarps Select the right tarp and use it effectively as an endlessly versatile piece of shelter for your next camp outing.
Your Guide To Camp Coffee That piping-hot jolt of joe never tastes better than when you sip it watching the sun rise over a backcountry lake
Understanding the People of the Public Lands in the United States Who are the caretakers and stakeholders of our extraordinary Public Lands? Meet the Indigenous tribes, rangers, his
What You Should Know About Public Lands in the United States There's a lot to learn about the third of the country that belongs to us all; here's where to start and what to kno
Why Shenandoah National Park Should Be Your Next Adventure From expansive mountaintop vistas to waterfall-laden hollows, Shenandoah National Park offers an awe-filled escape
15 Yellowstone Experiences You won’t fit them all in a single visit—but that’s all the more reason to keep coming back.
How To Choose a Bivy Sack Consider these simple, one-person sleeping shells when you’re going extra light, or needing the added assurance of
How To Plan a Backpacking Trip We’ve broken the planning process down into 10 steps to help you get started, get organized, and get out there.
Long Island’s Best Spots for Outdoor Snow Play Make the most of your next snow day at one of these 6 winter wonderlands for sled, snowshoe and cross-country ski o
Camper’s Guide to Lake Allatoona and Red Top Mountain State Park Spend a weekend immersed in nature without ever having to leave town.
5 Must-Do Outdoor Adventures in Cleveland Here’s the Cleveland locals’ guide to finding big adventure without a big commute.
Dark-Sky Destinations for Stargazing Expand your sense of cosmic awe with a visit to these 8 stunning Dark Sky Parks, lookouts, and observatories.
Adventure Guide: Crater Lake National Park Frolic this alpine wonderland in the crown of the Rocky Mountains.
Campsites With a View: Kalalau Beach Earn the seclusion of your own private Hawaiian beach campsite with an 11-mile hike into Kauai’s rugged and iconic
Cohutta Wilderness Camping Guide Escape the Atlanta heat with a weekend camping trip to the Cohutta Wilderness.
Best of Boston: Escape the City at These 3 Campgrounds Pockets of deep forest and quiet parkland surround Greater Boston. Target these camping spots for a perfect weekend
How To Build the Perfect Backcountry Bar Assemble a camp bar setup that’s suitable for party animals, kiddos, and sober friends alike.
Gear Repair 101 Save money, avoid disaster, and get more out of your technical outdoor goods and equipment with these essential rep
Camp at Long Island’s Most Scenic County Park Find trails, tent sites, and glassy ponds at central Long Island’s Blydenburgh County Park.
Exploring Pisgah National Forest Wander amid hardwood forest and cascading waterfalls in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Adventure Guide: Umpqua National Forest Forged by volcanoes and shaped by glaciers, southern Oregon’s Umpqua National Forest offers some of the most otherw
Tent Care 101 With so much riding on a single piece of gear, it’s important to treat it right. This guide will cover the four bas
12 Tips to Enjoy Your Backyard All Year With the right gear, you can throw a cozy backwyard barbeque no matter how cold it gets.
How Wild Virginia is Protecting and Connecting Habitats How this Charlottesville-based non-profit is making roadways safer- for humans and wildlife alike.
George Washington National Forest Adventure Guide When crowds flock to Shenandoah National Park, keep going: The park’s lesser-known neighbor, George Washington Nati
How To Celebrate July Fourth Without Fireworks With fire bans and wildfire risk on the rise, consider swapping the Roman Candles for these eco-conscious Independe
8 Outdoor Date Ideas Whether you’re just getting to know someone or keeping a long-term romance fresh and fun, the best way to liven up
Nemo Osmo and the Future of Sustainability This outdoor brand just invented the Holy Grail of sustainable tents. Plus, 3 other ways NEMO Equipment is pushing
Explore the Gold Bluffs Beach Campground This northern California campground offers up the best of two equally idyllic worlds: lush forest and sandy coastli
Public Lands Guide to the Grand Canyon Arizona’s Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World—and it’s not hard to see why. The marvels o
Camp Accessories We Love Before you head out again, consult this list for some ideas of the gadgets that can elevate your campsite.
Everglades National Park Chickee Hut Camping The Everglades are an other-worldly paradise: mazes of mangrove tunnels, rivers, bays, and marshes that span 1.5 mi
Explore the Kalaloch Campground in Washington The ocean provides a relaxing soundtrack and each site has a fire pit and a picnic table, so there’s not much reaso
Tips for Camping in the Rain Don’t bail on a camping trip just because there’s rain in the forecast. Get prepared and you can stay (mostly) dry.
How To Choose a Headlamp You don’t want to be stuck night-hiking with a beam better suited for reading a book, so use this guide to lumens,
How To Stay Safe From Wildfires If you’re enjoying the outdoors, it pays to prepare, pack and make the right choices when exploring at-risk areas.
Adventurer’s Guide to Mount McLoughlin Camp, hike, or climb Southern Oregon’s highest volcano in this wilderness playground.
Head to the Blue Hills Pack up for this undeveloped swath of land just outside of the Boston metro area that’s ready for near-any outdoor
Camping at Pawtuckaway State Park Head to Nottingham, N.H., for overnight adventures at this geological attraction and spacious activity hub.
How To Execute an Ultralight Hiking Trip Launch a fast-and-light overnight adventure with these tips for planning, packing and pulling off an ultralight hik
Campsite With a View: Assateague Island Enjoy a beach vacation loaded with activity options—and likely a wild horse—right on the mid-Atlantic coast at Ocea
Camping at Dry Tortugas National Park Experience secluded island life at the far end of Florida at the Garden Key compound.
Alternative Adventures at Shenandoah National Park There are so many different ways to get to know Shenandoah National Park when you visit. And at just 90 minutes fro
The Grand Canyon’s Best Car Camping Follow the full-rundown guidance below on car camping around the Grand Canyon, both inside and outside the national
Camping on Stafford Beach in Cumberland Island National Seashore Fall asleep to the sound of the ocean while nestled beneath oak trees dripping with Spanish moss at Stafford Beach
Big Bend National Park Travel Guide Dive into Big Bend National Park, located in far West Texas. Hemmed in by the nearly 8,000-foot-tall Chisos Mountai
The College Student's Guide to Getting Outside Here’s how to make the most of free time that’s worth carving out in formative years to learn outdoor activities—an
How To Pack a Cooler So, you just purchased a premium cooler. Congratulations. Now it’s time to make it walk the walk and live up to its
Camper’s Guide to Prentice Cooper State Forest Pitch a tent amid the pines in this outdoor recreation wonderland.
Winter Camping Guide Winter camping does require skill and planning to stay comfortable and safe in colder temperatures and in changing
Forest Fire Safety Tips Wildfire outbreaks were once confined to the hot, dry summer months. But that’s no longer the case.
How to Choose Overland Communications Beyond leading to a fulfilling trip, good communication keeps people safe when pushing personal limits, or just pla
Music Festival Camping Tips With a little prep, you'll have everything you need to relax and enjoy the music.