After the largest layoffs in the history of public lands and with the high season—and fire season—around the corner, park and forest rangers and other federal employees say they’re worried about what comes next.

From extreme ultralight tactics to the fate of a decades-old, Instagram-famous trail, these were the biggest controversies we wrote about this year.

Weaving nearly 70 miles through the Sekida Mountains, the Shinetsu Trail has become a crown jewel of Japanese hiking. And if it hadn't been for two backpackers' visit to the Appalachian Trail more than 20 years ago, it might never have happened.

Abandoned, poop-filled WAG bags are multiplying on trails. Why does this keep happening?

For years, tensions have run high between AT thru-hikers and rangers in Baxter State Park. One hiker wonders, could moving the terminus solve the problem?

A common nuisance for hikers and backpackers, mosquitoes are moving to higher altitudes nationwide. 

PFAS, or forever chemicals, provide stellar water, stain, and oil repellency to everything from clothing and carpets to dental floss and paper plates. But at what cost? New regulations are forcing industries across the globe to rethink their chemistries because of the severe health implications of PFAS.

A viral video showed a group of thru-hikers ordering food delivery to the trail. Is there any harm in a little self-indulgence?

Putting up your own tent inside a communal shelter may sound cozy, but it takes up room and can be frustrating to weary hikers who just want to get some rest. Is there ever a situation where it’s all right to do?

One of the most popular mountains on the Appalachian Trail closed to overnight visits after visitors trashed it in 2020. Now, those temporary restrictions are starting to look permanent.

The Idaho Centennial Trail is a long trail experience that takes hikers through some of the most remote, beautiful terrain in the lower 48. But years of deferred maintenance mean that it’s in danger of vanishing into the wilderness.

Each year, more families seem to earn attention by taking to long trails with small children. What are their motivations, and is it bad for the kids?

Deaf people look for community on the trail, just like all backpackers. But some hearing hikers don’t know how—or don’t care enough—to bridge the gap.

A group of dedicated trail lovers are working to protect America’s favorite wilderness footpath from the hordes of people who walk it each year

Across the country, hard-to-nab spots are sitting vacant. How do we make sure these coveted spaces aren’t going to waste?

Thanks to the warming world, Lyme infections are on the rise in the Northeast—and hiking there might never be the same again.

The natural world has a lot to say, if we’re willing to listen.

Environmental activists are pursuing legal steps that would allow natural entities to sue in their own defense through a human spokesperson. But maybe it’s the conversation, and not the law, that matters most.

Environmental activists are pursuing legal steps that would allow natural entities to sue in their own defense through a human spokesperson. But maybe it’s the conversation, and not the law, that matters most.

With Biden’s oil and gas moratorium derailed, Bears Ears is back on the chopping block. Here’s the latest.

Humans have unmatched power to alter natural landscapes. Let’s use it for good

Hunters and anglers say other outdoor users need to step up as the costs of conservation skyrocket

The new era of wildland firefighting is a war with no end in sight.

Just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, a fire ecologist reckons with damage and recovery after last year’s calamitous wildfires.

From plus-size packs to shoes for people who have undergone amputations, outdoor brands are starting to recognize the importance of catering to customers who don’t fit traditional outdoor norms.

Researchers tracking bears resettling in the southeast watch and learn their habits to help humans adjust to their new neighbors.

There are hundreds of thousands of black bears in America, and we know precious little about what they do with their time. The researchers of the #BearsEyeView project are trying to change that.

From non-profits to trail builders, organizations around the outdoors are working to make the simple pleasure of a day in the woods available to everyone. And they need your help.

When the rigors of warfare prove too much for standard-issue gear, the military turns to the outdoor industry. But the flow of innovation, equipment, and profit is anything but leakproof.

That scenic path you’re hiking didn’t spring up out of nowhere. We talked to trail designers to find out what goes into creating a hike.

Yes, apple cores and banana peels are "biodegradable." But tossing them into the woods isn't just gross, it's bad for wildlife too.

Three scientists chronicle life, death, and the last stand of the Grizzly Glacier.

An accidental litterer receives their penance in this edition of Leave No Trace Confessional.

We're not going to lie to you: This is bad.

Just don't do it.

In the six months since Boy Scouts of America announced they would allow young women to join their ranks, the Girl Scouts of the USA have become some of its fiercest critics. Does the BSA have what it takes to serve its newest members?

Whether you’re up for a two-minute phone call or a two-hour meeting, follow these tips to save the lands you love.

Being American makes you part owner of some of the finest terrain in the world. Better get a handle on your portfolio.

Protecting land is only the first step. Hikers need trails, and trails don’t build themselves. Grab a Pulaski and create new paths and restore lost routes on these 10 trips.

In Arizona, the National Park Service and the Navajo government are building a better way to run a park.

When three parks in America's biggest state were on the brink of closure, Valdez Adventure Alliance stepped in to help.

The U.S. may have pioneered land protection, but Scotland leads the charge when it comes to accessing wild terrain. Can we learn from one of the most hikeable countries on Earth?

Not since the days of the Wild West has the public land picture seemed so unsettled.

The Navajo Nation and four other tribes are going to court to restore Bears Ears National Monument's original boundaries. If they fail, it could change American public lands forever.

Can a rare breed of highly trained, Russian-bred dogs help keep hikers—and bears—safer? Land managers around the country are betting on it.

As more and more outdoor brands adopt give-back programs, it’s time to wonder: What does my purchase accomplish? Can good gear really do good? On a trip with LifeStraw’s clean-water campaign in Kenya, Dennis Lewon investigates.