If you鈥檝e ever thought something like, 鈥淚t鈥檚 just corn out there in Nebraska,鈥� we鈥檙e gonna enjoy telling you how wrong you are. Beneath its wide skies and quiet prairies lies a rugged and surprising variety of landscapes with trails galore. Whether you’re winding through ponderosa pine forests, trekking past otherworldly rock formations, or standing atop towering limestone bluffs, the Cornhusker State delivers big on adventure. From quick day hikes to multi-day treks, these five standout trails showcase the natural diversity that makes Nebraska a hidden gem for hikers of all kinds.

Scotts Bluff National Monument

When you see the imposing formations of rise improbably out of the surrounding plains, you might get the impression they were hurled from the Rockies by some long-forgotten giant. The real answer involves less lore and more limestone, but the monument鈥檚 recent history is pretty interesting too: The towering formations have been important markers for both Native cultures and Western emigrants. Hike the moderately challenging 3.2-mile for a close-up view of the namesake bluff (including a tunnel through the rock) and sweeping views of the surrounding formations, towns, and plains.

Extend your adventure: Not done hiking? Hit the Turkey Run Trail in nearby .

Pine Ridge Trail

This trail will knock the whole 鈥淣ebraska is flat鈥� notion right out of your head, one vertical foot at a time. Located in the , the has more than 4,500 vertical feet over its roughly 40 miles. The rollercoaster of an elevation profile travels through ponderosa pine forests, over creek beds and streams, up and down steep canyons, across scenic ridgelines and grasslands, and through some sections of wildfire regrowth. The trail鈥檚 length, scenery, and difficulty make for a great three-day backpacking trip. Shorter sojourns can be enjoyed from several access points.

Fun fact: The Pine Ridge is a 100-mile-long escarpment of sandstone bluffs and the main geologic feature of northwest Nebraska.

Toadstool Geologic Park

It鈥檚 fair if the moonlike hills and hoodoos of don鈥檛 fit your vision of Nebraska; they probably don鈥檛 fit your vision of Earth, either. Trek through the heart of the namesake toadstools and other unique badlands formations by setting out on the one-mile . It’s a short but unforgettable look at the amazing work of time and erosion, and it may even reveal a fossil or two. You鈥檒l also have an option to add on the three-mile (one-way) Bison Trail, which winds through badlands and canyons before opening into the wide expanse of the Oglala National Grassland.

Fun fact: The Bison Trail takes its name from the Bison antiquus, an extinct form of modern bison whose fossils can be seen at the park鈥檚 .

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center

An oasis of woods and wildlife just south of Omaha, is home to 17 miles of easy and moderate hiking trails. The trails are marked out in short segments, most of which are less than a mile. This allows lovers of adventure and/or paper maps to choose their mileage by combining segments through wetlands, past waterfalls, over ridgetops, and along the Missouri River. A $15 day fee helps support area conservation efforts, like the raptor conservation and education program.

Extend your adventure: Your day pass also grants access to the , north of Omaha.

Schramm Park State Recreation Area

Dedicated peak baggers might think of as more of a walk than a hike, but when you retreat to this shady Shangri-La on a hot summer day, you won鈥檛 care. Enjoy a peaceful stroll through the canopied woods on the bluffs of the Platte River, choosing between a 1.5- or three-mile loop and adding the short River View Trail. The longer loop is especially cool, featuring a unique suspension bridge that travels over a leafy creekbed canyon. The park is popular with local runners thanks to the gentle terrain and shady trails.

Extend your adventure: The Schramm Education Center has aquariums and exhibits with more than 60 species of freshwater fish, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians found in Nebraska.

The mission of Visit Nebraska is to expand Nebraska鈥檚 dynamic and diverse travel industry making it more viable by creating awareness, attracting increased visitors which results in greater tourism revenue and economic gain throughout the state. To learn more, go to .

The post 5 Great Hikes in a State You May Have Overlooked appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

When Teresa Martinez was a mountain-bike racer, she suffered a recurring anxiety dream. Days before any competition, Martinez would envision herself woefully unprepared, five minutes before the start. First, her shoes would go missing, then her bike, then her water bottle, then her gloves. With her gear finally gathered, she still had to find the starting line. 鈥淎nd then, you wake up in a cold sweat,鈥� she told me recently. 鈥淎nd think, 鈥極h my god, that was crazy.鈥欌€�

Martinez doesn鈥檛 need to sleep to feel that way these days. Now the executive director of the Coalition, the nonprofit that supports and sustains the 3,100-mile trail across the country鈥檚 rocky spine, Martinez has spent the last four months navigating the administrative roller-coaster of edicts and executive orders from the Trump Administration and its Department of Government Efficiency that have gutted public land agencies.

She has seen staff cut at partner agencies, wondered if the CDTC would be reimbursed for money it had already spent with prior government approval, and fretted about changing plans to balance the books for this fiscal year. It鈥檚 neither a dream nor a nightmare, just reality. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like the racecourse is being built while we鈥檙e riding it,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like you鈥檙e waiting for the next shoe to drop as we continue down the path, not knowing if we鈥檙e going to get there.鈥�

Throughout the spring, I’ve had similar conversations with the leaders at four other iconic American trails鈥攖he Appalachian, Colorado, Ice Age, and Pacific Crest鈥攁bout how federal uncertainty has hamstrung them. The nonprofit groups that manage these trails all depend, to varying degrees, on federal funds and symbiotic relationships with federal organizations such as the United States Forest Service and National Park Service.

Their concerns, of course, varied: The Pacific Crest Trail Association had just cut six expert trail workers and more than a year鈥檚 worth of trail maintenance to be done by youth crews when I spoke to leaders there. The Colorado Trail Foundation worried about water spigots and pit toilets at trailheads. The Ice Age Trail Alliance paused registration for its trail-building season.

But they all agreed on one partial remedy: Ordinary people donating their money or volunteering their time could not only help plug some gaps created by federal instability but also bolster the spirits of those still left to do hard work with less resources. Too, it鈥檚 a way for those frustrated by the administration鈥檚 decisions or indecision to feel a little less helpless.

鈥淲e鈥檙e in an unprecedented time, the middle of this dust storm, so we鈥檙e not exactly sure where our needs are going to fall. But I have no doubt that they鈥檙e going to grow,鈥� said Sandi Marra, the ever-candid head of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to need skilled volunteers. We鈥檙e going to need people in numbers that we haven鈥檛 needed in the past, because we鈥檙e not going to be able to rely on the federal support we鈥檝e had in the past.鈥�

At the Colorado Trail Foundation, for instance, executive director Paul Talley was looking for a few people who could wield a chainsaw. Cutting trees on trail is subject to a series of byzantine regulations and certifications. If a downed tree can鈥檛 be handled with a handsaw and requires either a crosscut saw or a chainsaw, volunteers have to be trained and approved by forest service personnel. But since the Federal government began slashing jobs at the Forest Service, many people with the power to vet amateur sawyers have been let go or accepted buyouts. So Talley is working his connections in Colorado and networking with other organizations to find folks who have already been certified that simply might not know about the Colorado Trail’s needs.

鈥淲e鈥檙e making a call list: 鈥楬ey, can we call you?鈥� We need help with this big tree,鈥欌€� Talley told me. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also developing a process where trainers can come to our facilities to get people certified. If we鈥檙e just relying on the Forest Service at this point, it鈥檚 a multi-year wait.鈥�

All volunteers, of course, don鈥檛 need to be highly specialized. Megan Wargo, who leads the Pacific Crest Trail Association, listed a half-dozen ways folks who couldn鈥檛 wield a chainsaw might help. Each year, the trail must be 鈥渂rushed,鈥� essentially meaning someone walks it to clear it of any overgrowth. Others lead mules to remote trail work sites, literally taking the loads off the backs of other volunteers. Some still command the kitchen, cooking for trail crews on sites, while others can help with administrative tasks and educational outreach from the association鈥檚 Sacramento office. Still, there is a catch.

鈥淣ew volunteers and existing volunteers putting in more hours can make a big difference, but they can鈥檛 close the whole gap of not having federal funding,鈥� Wargo said, noting that the PCTA鈥檚 federal funding of just less than $700,000 has remained flat for a dozen years even as material and labor costs have risen. 鈥淭he PCTA can help provide training to get those folks on the ground. But if we don鈥檛 have staff to do that, it鈥檚 hard to increase those volunteer hours.鈥�

And so, of course, it all comes down to money. Most trail organizations told me they鈥檇 found ways to mitigate their dependence on federal funding. The Colorado Trail, for instance, has built a sizable emergency fund through 20 years of compounding interest on a surplus. The Appalachian Trail intentionally diversified its revenue streams after recognizing that their federal partners were chronically understaffed, anyway, even before the genesis of DOGE. The Ice Age Trail reinstated its trail-building season not only after most of its funding finally started to trickle in but also when private donors stepped up to help because they cared about the work. The Ice Age, after all, hopes to finish 15 new miles of trail this year.

As questions loom about if and when money will arrive, such contributions mean that work that鈥檚 already been planned and authorized can proceed for now, that the effort of building and maintaining the country鈥檚 hiking trails doesn鈥檛 end with any specific administration. 鈥淎s we have funding uncertainties, private money can either step in and cover some of the costs that aren鈥檛 being covered by federal grants right now or provide us with stability when we鈥檙e asking for federal reimbursements that have been paused,鈥� Wargo, at the PCTA, said. 鈥淭hat gives us flexibility to be able to continue our operations.鈥�

But times, of course, aren鈥檛 only tight for trail organizations. Some estimates, by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, say 60 percent of Americans now live paycheck-to-paycheck; new tariffs will compound that problem, because, as The New York Times , 鈥淸they] will touch almost every aspect of American life.鈥� While hiking across the United States multiple times, I鈥檝e seen at least a half-dozen trail crews consisting only of white-haired retirees. I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 because older Americans have some special relationship with civil service and volunteerism. They, instead, have more disposable time and resources than most Americans cannot afford. Trails need help鈥攎oney, time, energy鈥攖hat many working Americans do not have the ability to spare.

But Martinez reminded me that there are ways to assist that don鈥檛 cost much at all. You can call American officials, both elected and appointed, and tell them that supporting trails matter to you. You can drop caches of water off at trailheads where there鈥檚 no working spigot. (Remember to pick up the refuse.) You can deliver a box of donuts to an agency鈥檚 office, whether it鈥檚 the headquarters of a trail coalition or park rangers, and tell them you support the work they do for public lands. See a forest service crew at a bar? Buy 鈥檈m a beer and say thanks. That鈥檚 all, Martinez said, volunteerism.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 picking up trash at a trailhead or leaving water or setting up a feed station for volunteers, if it鈥檚 something somebody wanted to do, we could say yes and support that,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an act of kindness, and right now, we need to be reminded of how kind we can be.鈥�

The post Do You Love Hiking Trails? It鈥檚 Time to Donate and Volunteer. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Meet , , and 鈥� three content creators redefining what it means to be a triathlete in the digital era. With massive followings on TikTok and Instagram, they鈥檙e not just documenting workouts and race days 鈥� they鈥檙e inspiring a whole new generation to dive into the swim-bike-run life.

In this roundtable, we dig into the real impact of social media on the sport as Carolyn, Noel, and Nikki open up about the challenges and the perks of influencer life 鈥� and why they鈥檙e committed to showing the unserious side of the sport.

Triathlete: Let鈥檚 start from the top 鈥� why did you decide to share your triathlon journey on social media? Was it intentional or more organic?

Mulkey: It was super organic. I wasn鈥檛 planning to become an influencer. Around 2020, I was getting ready for a 100-mile bike ride and decided to do a simple 鈥済et ready with me鈥� video. I didn鈥檛 think anyone would care 鈥� but it blew up. It got like half a million likes overnight. That鈥檚 when I realized, 鈥淲ow, people are actually interested in this sport.鈥�

Hawkes: I鈥檝e been doing triathlons for maybe six years now, but I only started creating content properties in the last year and a half. At first, it was more just to hold myself accountable, but it evolved into this personal diary where I could look back on races and not take myself too seriously. My camera roll was full of me running, cycling, or swimming anyway, so I figured 鈥� why not make something out of it?

Carter: I started triathlon in 2016 and like Nikki, I was mainly documenting my journey for myself. It wasn鈥檛 until around 2022 that my account really started to grow. For me, it was pretty organic. When I started, there weren鈥檛 that many influencers in this space. I just posted race photos and then later made a reel that did really well, which got me more into content creation.

 

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Of the billions of accounts on social media, why do you think people are drawn to your content?

Mulkey: I don鈥檛 try to be anything I鈥檓 not. My videos aren鈥檛 overly edited 鈥� you can see the mess in the background of my vlogs sometimes. I鈥檓 an open book. I think people connect with that kind of raw honesty.

Hawkes: I can be quite spicy, and I think that stands out. Also, I鈥檓 really consistent with my branding. I always call my followers 鈥渓ittle beans,鈥� and I think people remember that, even if they don鈥檛 necessarily like me. It sticks with them, whether they鈥檙e rolling their eyes or laughing.

Carter: For me, it鈥檚 about being funny and making light of the sport. I also think the whole idea of being a 鈥渟low pro鈥� is unique. I鈥檓 not the fastest, but I still got my pro card, and I think that shows people that it鈥檚 possible, even if you鈥檙e not super fast. I like to make that goal feel attainable for others.

Is that the goal with your platform? To make the sport more approachable?

Hawkes: The internet can sometimes make triathlon feel way more complicated than it is, with all these crazy coaching plans and gear recommendations. My goal is to make it clear that you can be an average Joe and still take on those big races. Plus, I want to entertain people! I want to make you laugh and forget about your problems for a bit.

1 planned cafe stop and one impromptu one when we came across a charity bake sale Total cycle was about 119km by the time I got home

Carter: When I started triathlon, I was pretty young, and honestly, the sport was really intimidating. I didn鈥檛 see many women out there at my age doing this. So I try to create content that鈥檚 welcoming and helpful for people, especially women, who might be in the same spot I was in back then.

Mulkey: I鈥檝e been in this the longest, and at this point, I have realized that my end game is to just help people, whether it鈥檚 to build mental health awareness or to talk about sobriety 鈥� I鈥檓 open about having bipolar two disorder and my past addiction 鈥� and to inspire them to change their life. That wasn鈥檛 my intention setting out, but now it鈥檚 kind of morphed into that.

Let鈥檚 talk about content creation. How do you come up with fresh takes on swim, bike, and run?

Carter: A lot of times, I scroll through social media in the evenings to get inspired by trending audio or something funny I can make into content. But often, I鈥檒l just be on a ride or a run, and an idea will pop into my head. I鈥檒l jot it down in my notes app and then film it later. If I鈥檓 on a particularly beautiful ride, I鈥檒l make sure to grab clips. So, it鈥檚 a little chaotic, but it works!

Hawkes: Oh my gosh, my notes app is a complete mess! I write down anything that comes to mind, whether it鈥檚 something funny I hear or a meme I find. I don鈥檛 really have a strategy, but I鈥檒l try to create a storyline if I鈥檓 building up to a race.

Mulkey: Most of it鈥檚 off the cuff. You can probably tell. I used to be way more organized, especially when I was making a lot of money the first few years. But recently, after injuries and a less-exciting year, I鈥檝e just been posting whatever鈥檚 happening in my life. It鈥檚 second nature for me to just pull out my phone and film stuff.

Do you feel like you are actually influencing people to get into triathlon?

Carter: I do get messages from people who鈥檝e never done a triathlon and want to try it. They鈥檒l tell me I鈥檝e inspired them to do their first race, and that鈥檚 the ultimate reward. I鈥檒l also get recognized at races, which is pretty cool. It鈥檚 such a fun community.

Hawkes: I鈥檓 more on TikTok, and I find that there鈥檚 a different, younger audience over there. They鈥檙e new to triathlon, so I do get a lot of questions from followers. Like, 鈥淲hat shoes do I get?鈥� 鈥淲hat outfits do I wear?鈥� 鈥淗ow do I get into this?鈥�

Mulkey: People have told me my videos are the reason they started riding or signed up for a race. I never expected that kind of impact, and it鈥檚 been the coolest, most humbling part of it all.

 

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So let鈥檚 talk about the darker side of social media. Noel, as the OG of the group, can you speak to that?

Mulkey: When I first went viral, people didn鈥檛 know how to label me based on my voice or appearance. I posted this video on TikTok of me winning a race, and it got a ton of hate. People thought I was a trans woman competing in the women鈥檚 category. Every comment 鈥� thousands of them 鈥� were just hateful. I couldn鈥檛 read them. It was driving me nuts. But once I found a real community, the positive outweighed the negative. These days, when a reel goes viral, it鈥檚 shown to a new audience, which can bring fresh hate, but honestly, after six years, it doesn鈥檛 phase me anymore. I鈥檒l even clap back sometimes 鈥� I don鈥檛 mind saying something. But it doesn鈥檛 cut the way it used to.

How do you build up that resilience?

Mulkey: I鈥檝e trained myself not to give it that much mental energy. Comments help engagement anyway. And once I found my community, it was really cool 鈥� like, they鈥檒l defend me when trolls come in. I have a whole little army now.听 There were times when things got stressful, especially when I was really busy with brands. But the negative comments are never going to make me want to walk away.

You each put it all out there, including the build-up to big races. So if you have a bad day out there, do you feel like you owe the world an explanation?

Carter: My first pro race was Santa Cruz 70.3 in 2022, and I just had a terrible race. I cramped, didn鈥檛 feel well, and it was just a mess. So many people were tracking me, and I knew I had to say what went wrong. But honestly, I posted about it, shared my mistakes, and everyone was super supportive. Most people get it 鈥� bad races happen, and there鈥檚 no shame in that.

Hawkes: I feel like I鈥檝e been pretty open about my journey, and I tell people that I鈥檓 not a pro, I鈥檓 just someone training while working a full-time job. That makes it feel more real, and people appreciate the honesty.

Mulkey: Back in the day, I used to be self-conscious 鈥� like, 鈥淥h no, this race went bad, what do I say?鈥� But now? I鈥檒l say exactly what happened. I don鈥檛 care. One of my best videos was after I did an 11.5-hour Ironman in Kona, which was really, really bad for me, and I was just honest. Turns out, people really connect with the tough days more than the good ones. I always tell people, don鈥檛 go silent after a bad race. Just be real. No one鈥檚 judging you the way you think they are.

What about when you put content out there and it doesn鈥檛 perform as well as you hoped? Do you take it personally?

Carter: Oh, definitely! I think it affects everyone. Instagram鈥檚 algorithm changes all the time, so one month reels are the thing, and the next it鈥檚 all about carousels. It鈥檚 hard not to take it personally when something doesn鈥檛 do well, especially if you put a lot of effort into it. But I try to remind myself that it鈥檚 not always about the content 鈥� it could just be the algorithm.

Hawkes: I do, yes. I try not to take it personally, but sometimes it鈥檚 hard not to. The algorithm is constantly changing, and it can be frustrating. I just try to make content that I enjoy creating and hope others enjoy it too. If it doesn鈥檛 do well, I remind myself that it鈥檚 just the algorithm, not necessarily the content. It does feel personal, though, sometimes.

Mulkey: It鈥檚 funny. The more time I spend on something, the worse it performs. I think we each have our own flavor, and if I try to be something I鈥檓 not, people are going to see through that. They won鈥檛 like it if it鈥檚 not what they鈥檙e used to.

OK, so spill a bit about the perks of being a triathlon influencer.

Mulkey: There have been so many! I鈥檝e gotten some awesome trips out of this. Ironman flew me out to Cairns, and I got to see the Great Barrier Reef. I remember being out there thinking, 鈥淭his is purely because of social media.鈥� It was my first time in Australia, and that was just wild.

I also got media credentials during the Ironman World Championships in 2022. Like, I had a mo-ped and could go along the course 鈥� apparently, even The New York Times had trouble getting that access. That was one of those 鈥渉ow did I end up here?鈥� moments.

Carter: I just literally got home last night from a Zwift event in Mallorca. It was a group of influencers plus people from the Zwift community, who paid to attend. We were there to hype up Zwift and the event. It was really an amazing trip.

Hawkes: I was invited to do Ironman 70.3 in Valencia in a couple of weeks, which is fun. I鈥檝e also done a campaign with for swimsuits made from recycled plastic. Fun collabs pop up here and there, and I try to grab them!

What鈥檚 the end game? Do you see yourself doing this for the long term and continuing to build your brand?

Hawkes: At first, it was just about having fun and creating content. But the more effort I put in, the more I realized there are opportunities to work with others. I think you start to see the benefits of partnerships, so now it鈥檚 definitely a mix of fun and building a business, so I鈥檓 curious to see where it takes me.

Carter: That鈥檚 a great question. I still don鈥檛 know. If it became a full-time thing, that would be incredible. But the thing is, the income can be inconsistent. Some months you get brand deals, and other months, it鈥檚 pretty quiet. So I鈥檓 not sure yet, but I鈥檓 also open to seeing where it goes.

Mulkey: It鈥檚 funny, since I鈥檝e been in this the longest of most folks in the triathlon space, I鈥檝e seen how much you can make as a content creator, and now I鈥檓 not making much at all. I probably need to find another way to make a living, but I grew up with social media, and I can鈥檛 imagine not being part of it. I don鈥檛 know what I鈥檇 do with my phone! If anything, maybe I would step back and take a week off here and there, nothing鈥檚 going to make me walk away. I鈥檓 here for good!

The post The Good Influence of Triathlon鈥檚 Social Media Stars appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Spring is normally quiet at national park conservancies, the nonprofit groups that raise money and recruit volunteers for the U.S. National Parks. In March and April, staffers at these charity organizations finalize fundraising campaigns in advance of the busy summer months.

But this spring has been exceptionally busy at the Shenandoah National Park Trust, which raises money for Virginia鈥檚 Shenandoah National Park. The office is abuzz with ringing phones and pinging email notifications, Jessica Cocciolone, the executive director, told 国产吃瓜黑料. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had more than 150 inquiries about volunteering in just the past two months,鈥� Cocciolone said. That鈥檚 more than triple the total number of inquiries the group received in 2024.

It鈥檚 a similar story with the Friends of Acadia, the nonprofit attached to Maine鈥檚 Acadia National Park. When I exchanged emails with Perrin Doniger, the group鈥檚 vice president of marketing, the group was making final preparations for its Earth Day Roadside Cleanup on April 26.

Friends of Acadia had already reached its capacity of 350 volunteers, Doniger told me. 鈥淲e’re seeing a tremendous amount of support for Acadia National Park from our members and volunteers right now,鈥� she said in an email.

This is , or the rest of America鈥檚 63 national parks and 433 National Park Service-managed sites. Starting in February, the Federal government fired 1,000 NPS workers and persuaded 750 to take buyouts. Since then, the听 government has issued a flurry of unprecedented orders that range from requiring parks to giving the power to 鈥渆ffectuate the consolidation, unification and optimization of administrative functions鈥� within the NPS.

As the NPS has been shaken up, the nonprofits associated with individual National Parks have seen a major uptick in volunteers and cash donations. 国产吃瓜黑料 reached out to some of the most prominent NPS nonprofits, and heard a similar story.

鈥淲e’re seeing a lot of interest among our supporters and our members in finding ways they can express their care for the park,鈥� said Elizabeth Silkes, chief executive officer for the Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC). The organization launched a new fundraising campaign on April 24 called Stand Together for Grand Canyon.

The includes information on how to connect with elected representatives to speak up for national parks, as well as links to sign up to volunteer and to donate money. Silkes said the GCC is still auditing their donations from the first quarter of 2025, but she anticipates an increase from 2024.

While the NPS is funded by the federal government, nonprofits like the Grand Canyon Conservancy pay for a wide array of programs, from trail maintenance, to educational classes for kids, to seasonal staff inside of the park. Each conservancy has its own strategy for investing funds and manpower.

At Grand Canyon National Park, the GCC operates six park stores next to visitor centers, and also completes annual building maintenance at two historic buildings: the Kolb Studio and Verkamp Residences.

The GCC also provides funding and volunteers for the Grand Canyon’s Preventative Search and Rescue teams, which educate visitors on how to stay safe on the trails.

Silkes said the funds garnered from the 2025 campaign campaign will go directly toward ensuring 鈥渢he stability of the park.鈥� She doesn鈥檛 have details about how the funds will be spent, but said that in times of financial uncertainty, NPS programs around scientific research, climate research, and conservation are put under threat. Partnership initiatives with the Grand Canyon鈥檚 eleven associated tribes are also jeopardized. “GCC funds are always applied to the priority areas identified by our park partners, and we are prepared to be responsive as their needs evolve,” said Silkes.

Rocky Mountain Conservancy (RMC), the nonprofit for Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, has a 鈥渉ealthy best-use fund,鈥� according to Kaci Yoh, Communications Manager, that鈥檚 designed to help its partner park pivot in times of, say, shifting priorities in the White House. But with so many changes happening so fast, the RMC hasn’t yet received guidance from Rocky Mountain National Park about how to spend those funds in 2025.

Like the GCC, Yoh has seen a surge of calls and emails from people looking to volunteer, particularly offering to help fill in where Rocky Mountain Park has lost staff.

Yoh said that volunteers cannot overcome the park’s need for full-time staff. 鈥淧ark staff are necessary to fulfill the roles that they have because they’re highly trained and vetted for their particular position,鈥� said Yoh.

Or as Cocciolone at Shenandoah put it, 鈥淭he challenge isn鈥檛 interest鈥攊t鈥檚 capacity. As park staff numbers go down, there鈥檚 less ability to train, manage, and support volunteers.鈥�

The Shenandoah Trust has, in the past, helped the park during government shutdowns, providing portable restrooms and volunteer support, Cocciolone said. During normal years, the Shenandoah Trust supplies campground hosts, volunteers to remove invasive species, and trail crews, among other positions.

“Historically, philanthropic support has not replaced federal funding or paid for permanent government roles,” Cocciolone said. “Our role is to provide additive support that enhances what the federal budget enables, not to supplant it.”

But the staff cuts within the NPS have forced some conservancy leaders to rethink this approach. Shenandoah National Park Trust is considering expanding its role to fund permanent park positions. 鈥淲e firmly believe it鈥檚 the federal government鈥檚 job to operate and steward these parks in line with the NPS mission,鈥� Cocciolone said. 鈥淏ut we also know these are unprecedented times, and we鈥檙e being asked to do more.鈥�

Cassius M. Cash, President and CEO of Yosemite Conservancy, echoed that sentiment .听鈥淚f park leadership needs new solutions to keep visitor services running, how can we be creative in our approach while remaining true to our own mission?鈥� Cash wrote.

Cash also stated that while the Yosemite Conservancy is a nonpartisan organization, the group would work closely with 鈥減artners and stakeholders who understand the importance of protecting national parks in times of transition.鈥�

Cocciolone concurred. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also leaning more into advocacy鈥攈elping educate donors, policymakers, and our community about what these cuts really mean on the ground,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about what gets funded, but what gets lost if we don鈥檛 act.鈥�

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Last winter, now 17-year-old Isobel Chi found herself on Washington鈥檚 Sasse Mountain with a group of fellow high schoolers and a handful of adult leaders. The early February hike was a regular outing for the Seattle-based Mountaineers 国产吃瓜黑料 Club (or MAC, pronounced as one word), a youth program designed to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for 14- to 18-year-old Seattleites. Every teen on the hike had practiced using traction devices and ice axes, and they鈥檇 put their skills to the test on a snowy ridgeline traverse between Sasse and Howson Peak. Off-trail, traveling 鈥渟traight uphill,鈥� Chi felt herself approaching her limit. Then, nearing the top, the group . To Chi, it looked unstable, and alarm bells went off in her head. Most of the group seemed unconcerned, but sharing Chi鈥檚 apprehension, one of the student leaders spoke up.

鈥淪he said, 鈥業 don鈥檛 think this is the best idea, I don鈥檛 feel safe doing this. And then we turned around and I thought that was really impressive,鈥� says Chi.

Chi learned a few important lessons that day about trusting her intuition, speaking up in a group setting, and that it鈥檚 OK to turn around short of an objective. Even for adult adventurers, that type of knowledge is often hard-won over the course of many seasons鈥攁nd sometimes close calls鈥攊n the mountains. But Chi and her peers in MAC are getting a head start.

Today, Chi, who has been involved with MAC since she was in eighth grade, is herself one of six student leaders elected by their peers. The program consists of monthly meetings and a jam-packed calendar of weekly trips and workshops, including hiking and backpacking, rock climbing and rope skills, wilderness first aid, navigation, skiing, and technical mountaineering including snow and glacier travel skills.

MAC鈥檚 youth leaders are supported by adult volunteers and a small staff; but it鈥檚 the kids who run pre-trip meetings, organize groups of students, help teach skills, cook meals, and facilitate in-the-field experiences. While some of the student participants have grown up going outside with their families, for many of them, MAC is a first foray into the outdoors.

Caroline Sherley, 18, serves alongside Chi on MAC鈥檚 leadership team to help organize trips and monthly meetings, teach skills, and wrangle gear and food for outings.

鈥淭he program is about learning climbing and outdoor stuff, of course, but it鈥檚 also kind of taking you through a complete progression of 鈥業鈥檓 learning this skill, I鈥檓 relearning it and refining it, and then I鈥檓 teaching it,鈥欌€� said Sherley. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice for learning skills about being outdoors, it鈥檚 nice for getting off your phone, it鈥檚 nice for being outside with great people, and it鈥檚 also nice for building your confidence.鈥�

MAC鈥檚 program calendar reads like any adult : Mt. Shuksan, Mt. Baker, Eldorado, Forbidden Peak, a 10-day excursion to Squamish, British Columbia, and more. While youth programs across the country get kids into nature, MAC is unique: The curriculum provides teens with big-mountain skills like crevasse rescue and snow camping, and, more importantly, hands them the reins as often as possible.

鈥淥ne of the biggest things that I think that leadership really does is they really set , both on trips and also just through intention at leadership meetings,鈥� says Emile Blouin, a volunteer for MAC who has spent a decade working with kids and teens as a teacher and tutor. 鈥淭here鈥檚 been really a push to create more space for the youth leadership to really be the ones that are driving everything.鈥�

While summiting some of the nation鈥檚 most challenging and scenic peaks is enough to incite jealousy in any adult hiker, it鈥檚 the soft skills that resonate the most with MAC students.

鈥淭his year especially I鈥檝e been learning how to put myself in uncomfortable situations鈥攏ot just physically, but like if you need to tell somebody that they鈥檙e doing something wrong, now that I鈥檓 in more of a leadership position,鈥� said Chi. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 like doing that, but it鈥檚 important and it is beneficial to everybody involved, so I鈥檝e been working on that.鈥�

For her part, Sherley鈥檚 learned to embrace what鈥檚 familiar to any longtime backpacker: type two fun. On a recent climbing trip in central Washington, Sherley found herself camped out in a raging rainstorm that forced her to move her tent in the middle of the night.

鈥淭he next morning we were making pancakes and kind of miserable and just very wet and cold, and we were still laughing and having a really good time,鈥� she said.听 鈥淸I鈥檝e learned to find] ways to be happy in less than desirable conditions,鈥� she said.

Backpackers know that the resilience and empowerment found on the trail can serve a person well in all aspects of life. Blouin agrees that the skills learned in MAC will set kids up for success in future chapters. He said that he鈥檚 been especially impressed watching student leaders interact with adult volunteers and parents and handle interpersonal conflicts with maturity and poise.

鈥淎s somebody who works with youth a lot, you don鈥檛 see that happening. You don鈥檛 see youth in leader positions being able to go to an adult and say 鈥� 鈥榯his needs to be managed in this way,鈥欌€� he said. 鈥淭here is a level of empowerment that allows these youth to actually hold space and feel 鈥� that they have the knowledge that they need to be able to speak up in those ways.鈥�

As she wraps up her senior year of high school, it鈥檚 Sherley鈥檚 last year in MAC. Over the past three years, she鈥檚 learned how to manage a rope, how to plan camp meals for a group, and the basics of multi-pitch climbing. But Sherley has learned something more personal, too: spending time outside will always be a big part of the rest of her life. 鈥淚 know that this is where I鈥檓 really happy,鈥� she said.

To learn more about the Mountaineers 国产吃瓜黑料 Club, contact Hank Stein, Teen Clubs Coordinator for the Mountaineers.

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A vast grassland in central Montana might seem like an odd place to go snorkeling. Comprising nearly 463,000 acres of private and leased public land centered on the , the reserve is decidedly un-tropical, a rolling shortgrass prairie that stretches out to the horizon, punctuated by smatterings of trees and rocky buttes. Unless you鈥檙e planning on jumping into the Missouri River, or you have the bad luck to be out when the snowmelt and spring rains turn the ground into gumbo-like mud, you鈥檙e unlikely to get wet. But to go 鈥渓and snorkeling鈥� on this largely trailless backcountry, you don鈥檛 need fins, a mask, or even water鈥攋ust a willingness to rethink what a hike looks like.

The term 鈥溾€� may be unfamiliar. But the idea, as described by Clyde Aspevig and Carol Guzman, the Montana-based artists and longtime American Prairie volunteers who came up with it, is simple: Just wander through nature with no destination, paying close attention to the plants, animals, and natural features around you, like a snorkeler floating through the shallows of a coral reef. While every hiker has land snorkeled at some point in their life, it鈥檚 something many of us become less and less willing to dedicate our time to as we become more focused on making miles and reaching summits, says Anna Schale, American Prairie鈥檚 public access manager.

鈥淜ids are really good at land snorkeling,鈥� Schale says. 鈥淎ny kid that sees a dandelion that has the white puff, they go straight to it, pick it up, and blow on it. I think somehow as adults, we really lose touch with looking at where our feet are moving.鈥�

If you want to recapture that mindfulness and joy in the details of nature, Schale believes that the American Prairie is an ideal place to start your land snorkeling journey. Founded in 2001, the American Prairie Foundation aims to create a wildlife conservation preserve that they hope will eventually cover more than 3 million contiguous acres of never-plowed mixed grass prairie. Counting the adjacent Russell National Wildlife Refuge and , they鈥檙e nearly halfway there, with about 1.3 million acres of both private land and public land managed under grazing leases, where the foundation has reintroduced free-ranging herds of bison. Both the privately-owned and leased sections of the prairie are open to the public, including hikers, cyclists, horseback riders, and hunters. Wildlife abounds, including ungulates like deer and pronghorn, American porcupines, and prairie birds like sharp-tailed grouse and western meadowlarks.

Schale鈥檚 tips for beginner land snorkelers: Plan your day by time, rather than distance. Shift your mindset away from objectives. Instead, let your interest and the natural features of the land guide your walk.

鈥淭here are so many flowers that bloom close to the ground, grasses that are unique and different,鈥� she says. 鈥淓ven to the untrained eye, there鈥檚 just a lot to see in the variations of dirt鈥攚here it鈥檚 really crackly or maybe it鈥檚 different-colored. We have horned toads, woodhouse toads, and several kinds of bugs and beetles.鈥� Dry creekbeds, she notes, can make for natural walking paths.

American Prairie is one of the most remote landscapes in the lower 48, with some sections located hours from pavement. Schale notes that it鈥檚 important to come prepared, even if you鈥檙e just planning on an aimless walk. Besides packing essential gear and bringing maps and appropriate layers鈥攖emperatures can vary from -40 掳F to more than 100 掳F throughout the year鈥攊t鈥檚 important to note that road conditions can be difficult, especially when rain and snow turns the dirt into 鈥減rairie gumbo鈥� that can trap tires. Drive a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle, and check the weather forecast before you leave. With a few exceptions, most of the camping on the prairie is dry, so campers need to carry their water in with them.

Where to Go Land Snorkeling

Visitors to American Prairie can dispersed-camp almost anywhere they want, but Schale recommends that first-timers start at Antelope Creek Campground, a developed campsite just off US 191 featuring cabins ($73), camping ($20 for a tent spot; ), and a bathhouse, as well as potable water. Nearby attractions include a prairie dog town, wetlands, and a 2-mile interpretative trail鈥攐ne of the few dedicated hiking paths on the preserve. For those ready to venture further, she recommends Buffalo Camp on the reserve鈥檚 Sun Prairie Unit. Like Antelope Camp, it has access to water and electric hookups meant for campers or small RVs; unlike that campground, it鈥檚 more than 50 miles from the nearest paved road, making it ideal for spotting the reserve鈥檚 bison herd and stargazing under its dark skies.

For a different perspective on the prairie, head to the reserve鈥檚 PN Unit at the junction of the Missouri and Judith Rivers, which features the steeper topography of the Missouri Breaks and a more forested vibe. Hikers there can spot wading birds like great blue herons and American avocets, find shells on the riverbanks, and wander the thick cottonwood galleries on their shores.

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Winter in Toronto has a way of stripping the excitement out of life. The days are short, the conditions are frigid, and oftentimes I lack motivation to step outside to go shopping, let alone go for a jog.

But, when I heard that the e running event was headed to Toronto this past January, my motivation to get outdoors spiked. I got my running shoes out. I was prepared to suffer.

For anyone unfamiliar with the Chipotle City Challenge, it’s a somewhat ridiculous but tempting ordeal for runners. The Mexican eatery gifts the runner who records the most laps around a specific Chipotle restaurant in a months time free burritos for a year.

You read that right. Free food for a year. For any runner, this is like having an unlimited supply of gels at mile 20 of a marathon鈥揺xcept dressed in foil with extra guac.

Chipotle Helped me Kickstart my Spring Marathon Training

I couldn鈥檛 resist the prospect of free food. It seemed like the perfect antidote to winter blues鈥攁nd, of course, a fun way to kickstart my spring marathon training.

At first, I approached the challenge with casual intention. I participated in Chipotle’s kickoff event on January 2 where I ran a few laps around the location at the heart of the challenge, asking other runners how many laps they thought they could run during the month. During the first few days, I ran between six to ten laps a day to keep things chill, and scout out the segment and my competition.

It was sometime around Day 5 of the challenge that my burrito campaign really kicked into overdrive. Running around听Chipotle was no longer a joke. I mentally decided to absolutely shred the challenge into beef barbacoa.

A Legend is Born (So I Thought)

I quickly claimed the title of “Local Legend” on Strava鈥攁 designation given to the man or woman who completes the most recorded workouts on a stretch of road or trail. By mid-January, I was averaging 40-50 miles each week around the restaurant.

Let me tell you, this was not an easy athletic feat. The Chipotle in question is located in the heart of Toronto, near the city’s main train station. The sidewalks are slammed with pedestrian traffic at all hours of the day. The lap itself is a tight 1,000-foot city block. Every lap felt like a mind-numbing carousel ride through car exhaust and past bewildered pedestrians, while inhaling burrito-scented air. I started my day with听a morning run between 7 and 8 a.m. I’d return each evening to complete more laps between 5-7 p.m.

By the final week of January I had logged around 400 laps around Chipotle, which equated to 150 miles. According to the data on Strava, I was comfortably in first place. In fact, I had a 150-lap lead on the second-place runner heading into Jan. 31. Victory seemed inevitable at this point. My girlfriend and I went to the Chipotle on the final day to snap some celebratory photos. I even made a homemade crown.

An Undercover Victory

But then, as the final hours ticked off, my victory fell apart. As it turns out, I was undone by cunning Strava trickery. Another runner, who I will title Mr. Tricky Tactics, outwitted me.

Back on Jan. 21, this runner wrote on his Strava account that he was withdrawing from the Chipotle x Strava challenge due to a hip injury. He posted the news alongside a photo of him receiving acupuncture on his hip. At that point there were four serious contenders鈥攎yself included鈥攚ho were vying for the title. We all thought the guy was done for. But he wasn’t.

In the final days of the challenge, he returned to the Chiptole and ran hundreds of laps, undercover. He waited to upload the data from those runs to Strava. So, those of us who were following the leaderboard didn’t know he was secretly amassing amazing mileage. He ran 110 miles in the final ten days, even sprinting a personal best 15-kilometer split just a few hours after he announced his injury.

We all learned about his impressive running feats when he uploaded his mileage from those ten days to Strava in the final hours before the deadline. I was blindsided! I wondered how the heck he’d run so far.

Considering I spent the last three days of the challenge running around that Chipotle, I couldn鈥檛 fathom how I’d been outsmarted. During those last ten days, I ran between 8-10 miles each day. I was out there at dawn running through snow and ice. I never saw the guy.

The Hard Lesson I Learned

I protested the result to Chipotle. Their response was diplomatic but logical: 鈥淗e employed unique tactics.鈥� Technically legal? Sure. Morally sound? Up for debate. But their decision was final. My foe had 鈥渆mployed unique tactics鈥� and, of course, ran more laps than I had. The free burritos weren’t mine鈥攖hey belonged to him.

The hardest part was that I was so confident in my strategy: rack up a huge lead early in the month and do anything to defend it. If I鈥檇 known my nemesis was still running, I believe I could have run big miles on the final few day to win. I would have gladly endured 24 hours of running if it meant scoring free burritos for a year.

But hindsight is 20/20. Instead of earning a year鈥檚 worth of guac, I instead learned a lesson in听trust. Don’t trust everything you read online, and always be prepared for soul-crushing tactics when you’re chasing a Strava challenge.

Marley Dickinson has been a staff writer for for five years. He has covered events ranging from Jamaica’s Reggae Marathon to the Paris Olympic Games. Beyond running, Marley is a diehard Toronto Blue Jays fan and shares his love for baseball on his website .

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Sure, snowy trails are beautiful in the winter, but months of barren, black-and-white scenery have us dreaming of color. This time of year is synonymous with budding flowers, but peak blooms vary throughout the country. Where should you start 鈥� and most importantly, when? We dug through the archives to find our favorite wildflower hikes plus current information on when you should expect to see the bulbs at their most chromatic. 鈥� Emma Veidt, Associate Editor

Featured Hike: Porters Creek Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

Now is the best time to see wildflowers in the Smokies at their peak bloom. These flowers鈥攄elicate, white trillium and fringed phacelia鈥攁re much more gentle on the eyes than the showy posies out West. That doesn鈥檛 mean they aren鈥檛 impactful. When you reach tree cover on the Porters Creek Trail, look down. From the forest floor, they make a beautiful contrast against the hunter green old-growth forest.

Featured Hike: Dog Mountain, Columbia River Gorge, WA

With over 3,000 feet of vert in less than 3.5 miles, this hike up Dog Mountain is a steep one, but luckily you鈥檒l have to take it slow to see all the blooms. You鈥檒l climb to the top of a meadow and look down over panoramic views of bright wildflowers, the Columbia River Gorge, and off in the distance, Mt. Hood. When the balsamroot peaks (which tends to be early to mid May), the hills are blanketed in golden yellow. Bonus buds that time of year include lupine, Indian paintbrush, and chocolate lily.

Featured Hike: Alpine Pond Nature Trail, Cedar Breaks National Monument, UT

This 2-mile hike between colorful corridors of columbine, desert globemallow, mariposa lilies, and more gives you the most bang for your buck this wildflower season. Plus, Cedar Breaks National Monument has such a diverse biome that you don鈥檛 only get fields of wildflowers, you also get views of the badlands, ancient volcanic deposits, and mixed spruce, fir, and aspen forests. Catch the florals at their brightest between late June and early July 鈥� or join the festivities during this year鈥檚 20th annual Cedar Breaks Wildflower Festival, dates TBD.

Featured Hike: Scenic Overlook to Davis Trail, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, KS

The Sunflower State lives up to its name in Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The preserve, an 11,000-acre oasis of never-plowed prairie, is home to poppy mallow, wild bergamot, narrow-leaf bluets, and wild sunflowers. The Scenic Overlook to Davis Trail is the best place to see it all. Plan your trip for early July through late August for peak bloom.

Featured Hike: Four Lakes Loop, Trinity Alps Wilderness, CA

If your spring and summer are already booked, you still have a chance to see high-altitude blooms come September. On the Four Lakes Loop, catch white Solomon鈥檚 seal, pink monkeyflower, and bright purple and blue fringed gentian. The loop itself is only 5.2 miles long (although tough, with 2,500 feet of gain), but you won鈥檛 want the show to stop there. You can turn the loop into an 18.4-mile-long lollipop backpacking trail by tacking on the Long Canyon Trail from the Long Canyon Trailhead.

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America’s 63 national parks and 433 NPS-managed sites should remain fully “open and accessible” to visitors, despite the recent staffing cuts, according to Interior Secretary Douglas Burgum’s .

Burgum’s mandate included another order: before reducing operating hours or closing visitor services like trails and campgrounds, national parklands must first consult with the NPS director and the assistant secretary for U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

The statement has sparked a debate within the NPS and the advocacy groups in its orbit. Proponents say that the order provides a roadmap for the Department of the Interior to ramp up staffing at the NPS sites so that the general public can enjoy them.

But critics say that the move forces understaffed parklands to proceed with services and open infrastructure despite a lack of manpower.

鈥淭he way that it’s written is hugely problematic,鈥� Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) told 国产吃瓜黑料. 鈥淵ou can’t wait for a political appointee in Washington D.C. to get back to you on a closure you need to make right now.鈥�

Brengel referenced Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where the Kilauea volcano has been erupting on and off since December 2024. It鈥檚 currently on again and spewing lava. 鈥淧ark superintendents need to be nimble in order to keep visitors safe,鈥� Brengel said.

NPCA is one of several non-profit organizations that have sounded the alarm about the feasibility of implementing the order. 鈥淚t sets up a situation that could be highly dangerous for park visitors,鈥� Brengel said.

But Rachel Pawlitz, public affairs chief for the National Park Service, told 国产吃瓜黑料 that the order is a win for the parks. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not unusual for the staffing needs to fluctuate,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his order spells out a process that will allow us to coordinate closely with leadership in the Interior Department to meet the evolving needs of our visitors, adapting as needed, to ensure visitor satisfaction.鈥�

In Section 4 of the memo, Burgum orders the Interior Department to “take action to ensure that NPS is properly staffed to support the operating hours and needs of each park unit.”

Another group praising Burgum’s order is The American Bus Association, a trade group representing coach and tour bus companies.听鈥淥verall, this action by the Department of the Interior underscores a commitment to keeping national parks open, accessible, and welcoming,” the group wrote in a statement. “For tour operators who rely on predictable access to NPS-managed sites, the order offers much-needed clarity and assurance, ensuring their ability to deliver high-quality travel experiences in partnership with the nation鈥檚 public lands.鈥�

The order comes on the heels of a challenging two months for the NPS. Starting in February, the Trump Administration began enacting mass layoffs, firings, and hiring freezes across the agency. More than 1,000 NPS employees were cut, and another 700 took buyouts. Since then, the NPS has been quietly hiring back some workers and also bringing on thousands of seasonal employees for the busy spring and summer months.

Several NPS sites, including California鈥檚 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Yosemite National Park, have had to cancel programs and scale back on opening hours. Arches National Park in Utah hiking area on March 23 due to staffing shortages. A park spokesperson told听国产吃瓜黑料 that the move to close Fiery Furnace was due to safety.

“The Fiery Furnace is a labyrinth, and one sprained ankle can trigger a rescue,” Karen Henker, a spokesperson for Arches National Park, said. “And that鈥檚 five hours and ten staff people to carry someone out.”

On Thursday, April 10, Arches National Park announced on its website that to hikers on April 15. Ranger-guided tours will resume on May 4.

A National Park Service ranger speaking anonymously to 国产吃瓜黑料 expressed concern that reopening some closed areas could damage the parks. 鈥淪ure we can keep everything open,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut who wants to recreate in a park with broken down facilities and no maintenance and no search and rescue?鈥�

Bill Wade, the executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, a non-profit group that advocates for NPS employees, said that the order puts park superintendents in a difficult situation. Under the Organic Act of 1916, NPS employees are to protect the nation鈥檚 parks and monuments while also providing for public enjoyment now and for future generations.

Wade, who was superintendent at Shenandoah National Park for ten years, said the order places the needs of the public ahead of conserving park resources.

“The law gives priority to protecting the resources, so if you are a superintendent, you must be able to do this, even if you have limited resources, before you put them toward keeping the trails open, keeping the visitor centers open, keeping the public restrooms clean, those sorts of things,” Wade said.

He added, 鈥淚 hate to say it, but I’m glad I’m not a superintendent right now.鈥�

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The Appalachian Trail will change your life, but maybe no single mile of it will. Unlike its great western counterparts along the Pacific Crest or the Continental Divide, the United States鈥� most iconic footpath is subtle鈥攁 green tunnel through some of the oldest and most graceful mountains in the world, not some sizzle reel of endless panoramas. You can stand atop a 14er or a high Sierra pass and instantly feel altered; the AT takes time to shape you over miles, months, years.

While it鈥檚 hard to pick a birthday for the trail, which Benton MacKaye proposed in 1921 but wasn鈥檛 completed until 1937, you could reasonably say the founding of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) in 1925 was when the AT became what it is. While the ATC has had its fair share of controversy, no other individual or organization has ever done more to protect and promote the trail鈥檚 2,197.4 miles and the land around it. At a time when federal resources for public lands are in the air at best, the ATC continues its century-long mission to safeguard the trail, from volunteers they lead on crucial maintenance missions to their audacious .

In that spirit, two of us who have had our lives changed by the Appalachian Trail鈥�Backpacker writers and 鈥攈ave selected our 鈥渂est鈥� 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail. (Fine, it鈥檚 103.8, but more trail is better than less.) All these mileage markers represent a northbound hike and are subject to change, like the trail itself.

We debated these picks, arguing about their accessibility, their beauty, the way they loom large in our memory. Underneath it all, we were discussing the ways certain bits of land strung together by white blazes had changed us. Not everyone has the opportunity to thru-hike, but there鈥檚 a chance, that these 19 chunks of trail, from a 14-mile roller coaster in Virginia to the climb up Katahdin in Maine, can still change you, anyway.

Prologue: The Arch to The Stairs, Georgia

Though the Appalachian Trail officially begins on Springer Mountain before heading (at least at the moment) 2,197.4 miles to Maine, you should begin at , beneath a simple stone arch. This is the 8.5-mile Appalachian Trail Approach, infamous for being debated by thru-hikers for its value and the 600-plus stairs to the top of the falls, which are as entertaining and challenging as almost anything on the actual Appalachian Trail. Legend has it that would-be thru-hikers have jettisoned their entire kits while climbing those stairs, returning to the parents still waiting below. And you will stun a dozen tourists when they ask you where you鈥檙e going and you simply answer 鈥淢aine!鈥� The falls, it should be said, are beautiful; pose for a photo, and keep grunting up that hill. 鈥擥贬颁

Blood Mountain to Neel Gap, Georgia (3.2 Miles: 28.1-31.3)

Blood Mountain is one of the first landmarks for northbound AT hikers. It鈥檚 also the highest peak on the Georgia section, the sixth highest in the state. But it鈥檚 best known for another reason: ghosts. Some hikers point to the peak鈥檚 history as a battleground between the Cherokee and the Muscogee people as the origin of the stories. Others point to , who went missing in 2008 on the mountain, to explain its shelter鈥檚 eeriness. The trail log is often full of stories about strange occurrences from those who are brave enough to stay the night. 鈥拟叠厂

Rocky Top and Thunderhead Mountain to Beechnut Gap, North Carolina/Tennessee (2.8 Miles: 184鈥�186.8)

The 72-mile path that the AT takes through Great Smoky Mountains National Park could have commandeered nearly three-quarters of this list, but that would be a copout. Still, less than 200 miles into a northbound journey, the Smokies offer a quick study on how the trail will push you around (if you take four days to hike the Smokies, the adage goes, you will encounter four seasons) and how stunning the whole thing will be. I love the wide-open views from Rocky Top and Thunderhead, plus how quickly you exit and reenter tree line. (There are some century-old names carved into rocks along the trail, too, predating the park itself.) And I have a distinct memory of being battered by wind so much that these mountains, as low-slung and ancient as they are, reasserted their power. 鈥擥贬颁

Max Patch Road to Lemon Gap, North Carolina (6.2 Miles: 254.6鈥�260.8)

Before and after my first AT thru-hike, I lived in a cabin a few ridges over from Max Patch, one of those scattered through the South. They can be so idyllic you will feel like you鈥檙e in a beautiful dream. It was essentially my backyard, so I鈥檝e hiked to, on, and around the iconic spot maybe more than anywhere else. Still, I鈥檇 accept an invitation right now. A panopticon of Appalachian grace, it offers views of multiple states, distant ridgelines, and several river drainages. And the northbound descent down its gentle slopes and across multiple creeks into Lemon Gap exemplifies the woods of the region鈥攚ildflowers sprouting through the damp forest floor in spring, a look at the bones of some of the world鈥檚 oldest mountains with fall鈥檚 arrival. 鈥擥贬颁

Views of the Nolichucky River to Beauty Spot, Tennessee/North Carolina (11.7 Miles: 343.5鈥�355.2)

Talk to a veteran AT hiker, and chances are you鈥檒l get a strong opinion about the green tunnel, or the prevailing sense that you鈥檙e mostly navigating 2,200 miles of tree cover from Georgia to Maine. They鈥檒l say it鈥檚 boring or it鈥檚 beautiful. I say it鈥檚 both, and the moments when it breaks affirm that. As you head into Erwin, Tenn., the trees split onto postcard-worthy shots of the Nolichucky River鈥檚 gorge far below. And after you cross the river (post-Tropical Storm Helene, you鈥檒l do it ), you鈥檒l steadily ascend a series of gaps and ridges, views offered by powerline clearings and natural overlooks alike. Just shy of 4,500 feet, you鈥檒l reach Beauty Spot, a mountaintop meadow ringed by little trees, so picturesque you may be tempted to make it your permanent address. I first encountered Beauty Spot after getting off trail for a funeral; it was the sight that galvanized my northward quest. 鈥擥贬颁

Cloudland Hotel on Roan Mountain to Little Hump Mountain, Tennessee/North Carolina (9.3 Miles: 378.7鈥�388.0)

I have always struggled with the obvious question: What is your favorite part of the Appalachian Trail? No one ever accepts 鈥渁ll of it,鈥� so I soon launch into a list that feels just shy of 鈥渁ll of it.鈥� But if my life depended on recommending one stretch, this right here is the one: From the top of rhododendron-crowned Roan Mountain, where remnants of the grand remain, you drop into a seesaw of dips and dives, the rugged old trail carved across the faces of some of the oldest mountains in the world. You cross three balds in a little more than a mile, drop way down, and then climb Little Hump Mountain. (The section misses some charm now since the loss of the fabled , but it still goes.) I stupidly camped on its flanks once during a strong storm, and weathering that felt like preparation for future, bigger adventures. The next morning, the sky was all cotton candy, and I briefly wondered if I might have slipped off in my sleep toward heaven. 鈥擥贬颁

Dennis Cove Road to Laurel Fork Falls, Tennessee听(1.2 Miles: 420.3-421.5)

Located in the just outside of Hampton, Tenn., a strenuous stretch of trail takes you to the 40-foot tall, 50-foot wide Laurel Fork Falls. While springtime air temperatures are often in the high 70s or low 80s, the falls are notoriously cold. That doesn鈥檛 stop hikers from going for a soak, even in early spring. My trail family and I packed out a few beverages from the Black Bear Resort and stuck them in the water during our ice baths. By the time we were done splashing, they were ready to sip. 鈥拟叠厂

Buzzard Rock to Mount Rogers, Virginia (7.3 Miles: 491.9-499.2)

By the time I made it to Buzzard Rock, I finally had my trail legs. The climb to the summit of Buzzard Rock is a little bit of a monster, but for the first time in nearly 500 miles, the strain barely phased me. What鈥檚 more, the whole section offered 360-degree views, made even more beautiful by springtime blossoms. The bald-style peaks in this region make for consistent views across the , a stretch of trail known for wild ponies grazing around Wilburn Ridge. 鈥拟叠厂

McAfee Knob to Tinker Cliffs, Virginia (5.6 Miles: 714.5鈥�720.1)

is the most photographed overlook along the Appalachian Trail鈥攁nd for good reason, since the view it offers feels so epic. But truthfully, I found nearby Tinker Cliffs to be equally stunning, minus the crowds. After McAfee Knob, the trail winds through trees and shrubs before climbing through some boulders to a cliffside that gives you access to several different overlook options. You can complete the Virginia 鈥淭riple Crown鈥� by adding the .听鈥拟叠厂

The Roller Coaster, Virginia (14.0 Miles: 996.4-1,010.4)

Reaching the 1,000-mile mark of a northbound thru-hike, which you do during this infamous stretch, is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster in itself, but these 14 miles are better known for their literal ups and downs. The elevation profile is so tedious and repetitive it鈥檚 almost comedic. I carried an avocado for a friend through this section, contemplating whether or not I should just eat it myself to save my knees from 7 ounces of extra weight. My spirit proved valiant despite more than 3,500 feet of gain. After failing to find my friend after three days, I sliced the avocado into fat chunks, placed it on a burger I bought, and ate it myself, anyway.听鈥拟叠厂

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (4.4 Miles: 1,025.4鈥�1,029.8)

The AT鈥檚 2,200 miles are chockablock with history, from the indigenous thoroughfares it overlaps to the battlefields it bypasses. But few places in the United States are crucibles of the country鈥檚 struggles and progress quite like . A gap in the ridge and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers so close to D.C. essentially ensured important events, like the de facto start of the Civil War, would occur here. An idyllic town suspended in amber, Harpers Ferry is glorious on a spring day. Cross the Shenandoah by footbridge and then the Potomac (and into Maryland). Cruise the first few miles of the state on the C&O Canal Trail, surrounded by lush woods and families pushing strollers. The home of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (happy anniversary, and thanks!), Harpers Ferry offers a perfect break at what we call the AT鈥檚 鈥渆motional halfway point.鈥� 鈥擥贬颁

New Jersey-New York State Line (1.9 Miles: 1,369.7鈥�1,371.6)

A recovering van dweller, I was a state-line enthusiast long before I began thru-hiking, curious about how sometimes-arbitrary distinctions between this and that could impact people鈥檚 lives. Maybe the AT made a zealot out of me, crisscrossing as it does 14 states. My favorite crossing happens when, after dancing across the border multiple times, the northbound trail exits New Jersey (great AT state, by the way, for real) into New York. The distinction is painted blaze-white on a massive hunk of rock, part of a series of very brief scrambles (with occasional ladders for help) and open rock faces that offer expansive views of tree-lined ridges, deep blue lakes, and small towns. Few other bits of the AT are quite like it. Bonus: You鈥檙e very close to , some of the trail鈥檚 best ice cream. 鈥擥贬颁

Bear Mountain Recreation Area to Anthony鈥檚 Nose, New York (2.3 Miles: 1,408.2-1,410.5)

The stretch of Appalachian Trail that runs past New York City marks an odd juxtaposition between the trail鈥檚 quiet backcountry and civilization. I made it to just听before Father鈥檚 Day on a balmy summer afternoon, noticing locals gathering for picnics near the lake. Upon reaching Bear鈥檚 summit, I spotted a rattlesnake, poised and ready to strike, just seconds before I peered across the New York skyline. Continuing north, I made my way past a small zoo before crossing the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain Bridge. By the time I reached Anthony鈥檚 Nose on the other side, my brain was still processing a rattlesnake, a skyline, a zoo, and a sprawling bridge in a matter of miles. 鈥拟叠厂

Route 9/Split Rock to Glastenbury Mountain, Vermont (10.4 Miles: 1,618.0鈥�1,628.4)

Vermont doesn鈥檛 get the Appalachian Trail love it deserves. If you鈥檙e headed north, you鈥檙e anticipating the big bosses at the end; if you鈥檙e headed south, you鈥檙e anticipating the four-state rush that begins with Massachusetts. But the 151-mile stretch through Vermont is memorable because of its seasonal mud, its rendezvous with the Long Trail, and its absolute wealth of rich forests, broad meadows, and dreamy ponds. Easily accessible from Bennington, this 10-mile span is an unexpected gem in the . You鈥檒l pass through a striking split rock, ford a stream, navigate slippery boardwalks through forest so green it feels like a sea of melted crayon, and slowly climb nearly 2,000 feet to a lookout tower where the woods blur into a horizon of endless ridges and sky. Get there at sunset, and you鈥檒l instantly understand that Vermont is possibly the AT鈥檚 most gently exquisite state. 鈥擥贬颁

Franconia Ridge to Mount Garfield, New Hampshire听(7.0 Miles: 1,827.0鈥�1,834.0)

greeted me with 50-mile-per-hour winds, making it difficult to stand at my full height. Still, the views were worth it. The majority of this trail section is above treeline, making it high on exposure but easy on the eyes. As the day wore on, the wind died down just in time for me to make the steep climb up majestic Mount Garfield, studded with tiny trees like so many of its White Mountain kin.听鈥拟叠厂

Lost Pond to Carter Notch Hut, New Hampshire (5.2 Miles: 1,878.5鈥�1,883.7)

The White Mountains are not for the faint of heart, as the Wildcat Mountains taught me. This section of trail required rock scrambling, squeezing myself through small spaces, and crawling at a snail鈥檚 pace due to the relentless elevation gain. In fact, if this section were any steeper, it could be placed on the Yosemite Scale and given a rock-climbing grade. Some even call this the AT鈥檚 most challenging bit. One quality that makes the Whites so unique is its hut system. The Appalachian Mountain Club operates , a potential relief for hikers who are looking to get inside for a snack or stay. The Wildcat stretch includes the Carter Notch Hut鈥攓uiet, beautiful, and a great place for a cup of coffee before continuing on.听鈥拟叠厂

Mahoosuc Notch to Speck Pond Shelter, Maine (3.4 Miles: 1,922.0鈥�1,925.4)

For 2,000 miles of the AT, you will resent switchbacks and PUDS (that is, pointless ups-and-downs), all moves the trail makes to get you where you need to go without ruining the landscape. In Maine, where native son Stephen King must have convinced some poor trail builder that building switchbacks would haunt them, hikers face hard climbs. This wondrous little stretch starts with the Mahoosuc Notch, a mile-long jungle gym of enormous boulders that you will climb atop, under, and around. Finish that, and it鈥檚 time for the Mahoosuc Arm, a 1,600-foot climb on a little more than a mile of rock that鈥檚 so consistently wet it seems to be leaking grease. Finish that, and it鈥檚 time for your true reward: the glorious Speck Pond Shelter, one of the most stunning places to spend the night on the entire trip. 鈥擥贬颁

Pemadumcook Lake, Maine (2.7 Miles: 2,149.1鈥�2,151.8)

I will forever be grateful for the shores of Pemadumcook Lake, because that鈥檚 where, a few days into a trek of the , I inexplicably found a bag of unopened Pop-Tarts, my favorite trail food. I ate them all. But when I see photos of that moment, I am wowed again by how massive Mount Katahdin appears on the horizon, though it鈥檚 still 50 trail miles north. In its isolation, especially against a pale blue morning, it looks like the continent鈥檚 biggest peak. No wonder . If you鈥檙e heading north, summit fever will soon set in, so take time to enjoy the way Katahdin frames this placid Maine lake. And maybe eat a Pop-Tart? 鈥擥贬颁

Katahdin Spring Campground to Katahdin Summit, Maine听(5.2 Miles: 2,192.2鈥�2,197.4)

Within days of finding my trail family in Georgia, our peers dubbed us 鈥渢he Breakfast Club,鈥� because we were infamous for waking up before the sun to catch sunrise on a summit somewhere. My hiking partner and I tackled Katahdin in the same spirit, rising from our quarters at Katahdin Spring Campground at 3 a.m. before beginning the ascent. Halfway up the climb, we turned to the sky and glimpsed the Milky Way, peppering the darkness with color. We slogged on, equal parts ecstatic and devastated to be nearly done. By the time we reached the summit of Katahdin, the sun winked over the horizon, making us some of the first people to greet a new day along the east coast while we ended our thru-hike. 鈥拟叠厂

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