After three years of hiking Georgia’s Stone Mountain, Zach Cross lost weight, gained, confidence, and turned his life around.

Known for its majestic peaks and rugged beauty, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most iconic national parks in the U.S. It also happens to be a quick 1.5-hour drive from Denver—but that’s just the beginning of what the area around Colorado’s capital has to offer.  The Centennial State is packed with breathtaking [...]

In July 1900, Benton Mackaye climbed a tree at the top of Vermont’s Stratton Mountain. That moment, he would later claim, was the origin of what we now call the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). Decades of planning, trail building, and love for the outdoors have since given us the A.T. in its current form. This singular [...]

One of the best gifts we can pass on to our kids is a love for the outdoors. Like anything parenting though, figuring out how to transfer this passion to easily distracted, screen-obsessed, easily-tired mini-humans can be a challenge. Start by packing the Ten Essentials of Hiking and then add our parent-tested, kid-approved adventure items [...]

Each year, deer—as well as elk, moose and caribou—shed their antlers before growing a new pair a few months later.  While scouring the woods in search of this headgear has long been an off-season hobby for hunters, shed hunting has picked up steam among other outdoors folks who enjoy the thrill of a found trophy.  [...]

From tropical wetlands and fields of wildflowers to barrier islands and yawning canyons, Texas boasts some of the most diverse (and gorgeous) ecosystems in the United States. The best way to see everything the Lone Star State has to offer? On foot. Here are the top hikes through Big Bend National Park, Hill Country and [...]

Studded with more than 50 mountain peaks exceeding 14,000 feet (known as “14ers”), there’s no doubt about it—Colorado is a hiker’s paradise. But the Centennial State’s other spectacular trails are worth the trip, too. From otherworldly red rock formations and blossoming wildflower fields to ancient river canyons and serene pine tree forests, here are the [...]

Many hiking enthusiasts come to Arkansas for the Ozarks, but there’s plenty of outdoor magic to be found throughout the Natural State, from towering waterfalls and soaring mountains to babbling creeks and verdant forests. The best part? Some of the most unforgettable adventures you’ll have are located just a short drive away from Little Rock. [...]