Blog: Hiking and Backpacking - National Forest Foundation

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Hiking and Backpacking

Three Ways to Elevate your Favorite Hike

We all have a favorite trail – one that we return to year after year. But what happens when that beloved National Forest trail gets a little too familiar?

Three Trail Terrors to Conquer in National Forests

While some of us never hesitate to explore our National Forests, we know the idea of hiking in the woods can be intimidating. Here are a few common trail terrors and some tips for ensuring they don’t bother you.

Hiking the Angeles National Forest’s Ontario and Bighorn Peaks

CeCe Lorthioir, avid hiker in Southern California and founder of Hike Beyond the Hills, offers a trail report and photo essay of a beautiful hike on the Angeles National Forest.

A Hike Through History on the Angeles National Forest

Traveling through Big Santa Anita Canyon is like stepping back in time to the “Great Hiking Era.” As you walk along the paths trees and bushes give way to historic camps and cabins built from the 1890s to 1930s to ensure that the residents of the growing city would have a place to find peace in nature.

Eleven National Forest Activities for the First Timer

New to National Forests? Intimidated by the super-prepared hikers and other well-equipped folks at the trailhead? You don’t need to be. Here are some tips for those new to adventuring off the beaten path.

Get to Know the Trail Groups of the White Mountain National Forest

There are currently 11 different trail clubs in the White Mountain National Forest that steward the Forest’s more than 1,200 miles of trails. This is in addition to at least 16 other organizations that are current trail maintainers. To make it easier, we’ve put together a brief overview of some of the key trail clubs in the White Mountains for you.

Five Reasons to Visit the Scotchman Peaks

Located northeast of Spokane, Washington and 30 scenic miles from Sandpoint, Idaho, the Scotchman Peaks straddle the Idaho-Montana border over Lake Pend Oreille. Learn more about a few reasons you should visit these majestic mountains!

How a Walk in the Desert Expanded My Mind about “Forests”

NFF Executive Vice President Ray Foote reflects on a visit to Arizona’s Coronado National Forest.

A Pilgrimage to Mount Baldy

This past fall, the NFF sponsored a blog contest to celebrate local community connections the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument outside of Los Angeles. Special thanks to REI for helping to sponsor the contest and providing prizes for the winning entries. Read Jonathan's third place entry here.

Six “Off-the-Beaten-Path” Hiking Trails in the White Mountain National Forest

For many hikers, an important feature of an escape into the wilderness is the feeling of isolation and separation from crowds. This can be difficult in a popular National Forest, such as the White Mountain. For anyone who finds peak weekend hiking to resemble a wilderness highway more than a wilderness trail, we’ve highlighted six “off-the-beaten-path” trails in the White Mountain National Forest.