We asked SAR personnel to offer simple tips that every hiker, climber, or skier could someday use in a backcountry emergency.

In addition to quicksand, officials report that harmful algal blooms have also been found in multiple waterways at concentrations at the high end of safe exposure levels.

Officials say someone chopped the blooms in Big Sur’s beloved Calla Lily Valley. Rangers are still searching for a motive, but some suspect the removal could be tied to overtourism.

The eruptions began in early February. It’s unknown whether the eruptions will continue into the busy summer tourism season, but it’s a reminder that Yellowstone is an ever-changing, dynamic landscape.

A beloved 144-mile singletrack route in North Dakota is ground zero for the Trump administration's erasure of recreation from public lands management.

An American swimmer recently announced his intentions to participate in the doping-friendly Enhanced Games. But he plans to race clean.

The Grand Canyon is bookended by two dams on the Colorado River, the Glen Canyon Dam upstream and the Hoover Dam downstream. A new set of rules will determine how much water will flow between the two—and through Grand Canyon.

The climber, whose name has not been released, suffered severe head and back injuries. Their helmet was destroyed in the fall—but officials say it likely saved the victim’s life.

After watching the new documentary by skiers Christina Lustenberger and Jim Morrison, our articles editor has a few thoughts on why ski mountaineering films overshadow other adventure movies.

After an unusually dry winter, the National Park Service says that it is preparing for lower-than-normal water levels at one of the country’s most popular summer hotspots.

Two ski industry mavericks believe they’ve discovered the secret of operating a heli-skiing business in the Golden State, where red tape, finicky snowfall, and plenty of danger have torpedoed past operations

First responders need capable off-road vehicles. Ford commits to helping, with a new program gifting customized Bronco®️ SUVs.

The National Fire is estimated at more than 30,000 acres and is zero percent contained as of February 27. Extreme drought in the region is contributing to the wildfire’s rapid spread.

SAR squads across the country rely on volunteer manpower to save lives. Experts share tips for how to join your local team.

A local mother reflects on the complex rush of emotions following the tragedy that claimed nine lives after California’s deadliest avalanche.

While plowing through waist-deep powder in California, two skiers came across a third buried below the surface. Their quick thinking likely saved the man’s life.

From alpine skiing, to freestyle snowboarding, and everything it takes to mountaineer, here is your Outside guide to winter sports.

Timed-entry programs just vanished from three of America’s busiest national parks. Other parks, meanwhile, are keeping them. Here’s what you need to know about national park reservations in 2026.

The Tahoe avalanche claimed the lives of six mothers who bonded over their love the outdoors. A writer explains why mom group adventures play a crucial role in her own community.

In Yosemite, displaying flags on El Cap is a time-honored tradition dating back decades. The former National Park Service ranger, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, is the first person to get fired from the park for the act.

Before he could walk, Aaron Benjamin’s parents put oars in his hands. He had rafted the Grand Canyon several times, and was defined by his friends as an experienced boater.

The 41-year-old downhill racer says she suffered a painful medical situation following her traumatic crash, and that the quick work of a surgeon prevented an amputation.

Honnold talks ‘Skyscraper Live,’ his relationship with the core climbing community, and how he assesses risk and danger as a 40-year-old father of two

The infamous Grossglockner case went to trial on February 19, when a surprise witness took the stand.

Breezy Johnson, downhill skiing’s Olympic champion, opens up about setbacks, her Olympic fears, and Lindsey Vonn’s devastating crash.

Federal documents show that the Department of Homeland Security signed waivers for 28 environmental laws to expedite construction of a Smart Wall within one of America's wildest national parks.

Gabriel Vaughn is what the river community would call a stout boater. He’s traveled intense sections of turbulent, dropped waterfalls, rafted whitewater all around the world, and guided countless customers down some of America’s most challenging commercially run rivers. Then, one day he disappeared.

A new clip shows three bears—what look to be a sow and two cubs—running across a powdery groomer. Skiers strapped to boards and skis stopped uphill and across from the trio, taking in the unusual sight.

A Tahoe avalanche expert explains how the state’s fickle winter weather has changed the way guides assess risk in the mountains.

In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to review how American history is portrayed at National Park Service sites. Here is the most comprehensive list yet of the signs that have been taken down or flagged for removal since.

One slalom event didn’t just result in a medal; it reshaped how the world will remember the most decorated women's American skier in Olympic history.

Thousands of people flock to Yosemite National Park every year to witness the short-lived spectacle.

At a Chicago-area training studio, moving ski treadmills and simulators promise to build confidence, technique, and muscle memory before you ever hit the mountain.

The Government of Nepal just took a step in approving sweeping legislation that would change who is allowed to climb the country’s highest mountains. If passed, a new bill would change requirements for expeditions, define how to declare a climber dead, and require trekking staff to be Nepali citizens.

America’s downhill racing queen in the nineties, Street, 54, discusses what it’s like to explain her sport to the Olympic audience

Meet Ben Ogden, the silver medalist in the Olympic cross-country sprint, who loves to flip, jump, and get wild on skinny skis

Following one of the deadliest summers on record, more than a dozen people have died in the Italian mountains this year. Rescuers are now issuing a warning to those hoping to visit Italy ahead of heavy snowfall.

The president's pick to lead the Park Service is Scott Socha, a longtime executive with NPS concessionaire Delaware North.

Damon Petrie, 60, mysteriously vanished in December 2025 near southern Oregon’s Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. A hiker just found his body in the woods.

Our articles editor takes a deep dive into the hellish and stressful mid-winter ritual of registering your kiddo for summer camp.

Rescue teams across the country are rapidly integrating flying drones and artificial intelligence programs into their processes and procedures. But one major hurdle is stymying the new tech.

Two weeks before social media influencer Gabby Petito disappeared, she was involved in an encounter with local police—a harrowing scene now etched in the minds of millions of people who have seen the body cam footage of the traffic stop in Moab, Utah. An excerpt from the new book 'Murder on the Trail' breaks it down.

Our articles editor analyzes the saga of Sturla Holm Lægreid, the Norwegian biathlete who admitted to infidelity while on the world’s biggest stage

Outside editors recall the search and rescue missions unlike any others. Here are the stories that will stay with us forever.

Inside the world of search and rescue—from what it’s really like on the ground to the harrowing rescues that stay with us forever.

A backcountry skier in Colorado suffered an unusual—and potentially deadly—injury.

Officials say more than 243 million gallons of sewage have flowed into the river since the pipe ruptured on January 19. Environmental tests have shown that significantly elevated levels of E. coli have also been detected in the area.

Florida’s MAHA-aligned report used EPA standards typical for soil—not food—prompting scientists to question whether its conclusions are meaningful or alarmist.

The opening weekend of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina featured politics, weird controversies, and Mariah Carey.

Our articles editor explains why Vonn’s comeback, injury, and untimely crash resonated with the general public in a way that most Olympic storylines do not.

The 41-year-old comeback queen of alpine skiing clipped a gate at the top of her run and was airlifted by helicopter.

Inspired by their shared love for the Mark Twain novel “Huckleberry Finn” and the desire for a great American adventure, a couple just finished their five-month canoe journey. It took them thousands of miles from Montana to Louisiana.

The alleged Yosemite jumper claims the video the NPS saw was generated by artificial intelligence

Colorado runner Erin Ton just shattered the FKT on 22,837-Foot Aconcagua. Ton, 29, recounts the adventure, one step at a time.

Luge? Ice Dancing? Biathlon? Outside editors discuss the competitions they plan to watch in Milan-Cortina. Which one is atop your list?

Vonn tore her ACL in a crash just days ahead of the Milan-Cortina Olympics. An orthopedic surgeon for skiers says her comeback will hinge on one specific moment.

If you’re hoping to swap your office cubicle for a campfire this summer, we’ve got you covered.

Water issues across national parks have been wreaking havoc on visitor experiences, and continue to shut down facilities at some of the United States’ most coveted public lands.

The longevity guru released a public statement after his name was revealed in the U.S. Justice Department’s latest batch of Epstein documents.

Sam Forstag has spent years as a smokejumper, soaring out of low-altitude planes, fighting wildfires across the entire West Coast. Now, he’s taking on Ryan Zinke in a bid for the Republican’s congressional seat.

Only the top multisport athletes will head to the Rocky Mountains this spring to compete for the title—and now you can help determine who will go

Three dogs were rescued from a remote gully near Texas Canyon, a popular climbing area near Santa Clarita, California. Watch the now-viral video where responders describe their heartwarming rescue.

BASE jumpers Boris Egorov, Vladimir Murzaev, and Konstantin Yaemurd take us inside their daring and historic leap from the summit of Fitz Roy.

January is all about Burrito League, the grassroots running challenge that grew out of the ashes of a corporate marketing gimmick

A new webcam captures the moment of truth as skiers attempt the 20-foot plunge into Corbet’s Couloir, a narrow ski line at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

In a statement posted online, the decorated alpine skier said that her Olympic dream "is not over."

Signs referencing slavery, climate change, and Native American history have been removed from at least 17 national park sites in six states.

Yosemite, Glacier, and other NPS sites are ditching timed-entry programs and reservation systems, raising fears that summer crowds may overwhelm some popular destinations.

Graffiti and other forms of vandalism at national park sites are federal crimes that carry penalties of up to $5,000 in fines and six months in jail.

A freak fly-fishing accident left industry veteran Jim Klug unable to see—and fighting his way out of one of the most remote places imaginable.

As temperatures plunge and ice coats parts of the Southeastern United States, the National Park Service has closed visitor centers, caves, and scenic drives from Kentucky to Washington, D.C. Here is the full list of closures.

The ‘Free Solo’ star wrote another chapter in the history of rock climbing with a high-profile stunt beamed live around the globe.

The apparel giant says the LGBTQ+ activist violated an agreement over the use of its trademark and logo.

Social media treats the tree-popping phenomenon as a sign of the apocalypse, but Indigenous peoples have long used the sound of cracking timber to mark the passage of winter. Turns out, it takes a specific set of meteorological conditions to turn a pine tree into a percussion instrument.

Christina Lustenberger and Gee Pierrel’s descent of a remote peak in British Columbia encompassed a hanging glacier, four sheer cliffs, and plenty of hair-raising moments.

Winter climbing in Mount Rainier National Park is technical and, when paired with extreme weather conditions, can turn deadly in an instant.

He recently ran 500 miles from Colorado Springs to Moab while microdosing psilocybin and other psychedelics, to understand how the chemicals impact human endurance.

The town of Page, Arizona, sold 500 acres of land near the Colorado River to a private developer. Some locals fear the facility will drain the region's already stressed water supply.

Running with a baby in a chest carrier can be dangerous. The stunt serves as a reminder that racing with a baby isn’t just a bad way to nab a course record—it’s also a serious safety hazard.

Mariah Reading was a national park ranger whose job was cut during the mass layoffs of 2025. Now, she’s fighting to save public lands one piece of trash at a time.