onX Backcountry Blog

Looking for a FATMAP alternative? Explore onX Backcountry for U.S. skiing and hiking with 3D terrain, offline maps, slope angles, and curated routes.

“Best hiking trails near me” looks different depending on whether “near me” means Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, or Columbus—and the Midwest doesn’t get nearly enough credit for what it offers hikers willing to look past the coasts. Sandstone gorges in southern Ohio, wind-carved sea caves on Lake Superior, quartzite bluffs rising 500 feet above a […]

Redwood National and State Parks protect the tallest trees on Earth along roughly 40 miles of Northern California coastline, and the hardest part of visiting isn’t finding a trail, it’s picking one. Between four jointly managed parks (Redwood National Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods, Del Norte Coast Redwoods, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks), there are […]

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the country, and it earns that ranking one trail at a time. Straddling the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, the park holds more than 800 miles of trails, over 90 named waterfalls, and enough elevation change to turn a lowland stroll into a […]

A backpacking trip with friends is one of the best ways to experience the backcountry. This guide walks through how to plan a group backpacking trip from start to finish, including the tools and strategies that keep your team aligned and prepared from the first map to the final mile.

Cody Townsend returns with The FIFTY+, continuing his ambitious journey to conquer some of the most legendary ski descents. In this second episode, Cody and his team venture to Alaska, taking on the awe-inspiring challenge of Pioneer Peak.

Cody Townsend returns with The Fifty+ reigniting his quest to tackle some of the most iconic ski descents in North America. In this next chapter, Cody sets out to explore the meaning of a “classic ski descent.” Is it defined by its aesthetic beauty, technical challenge, or cultural significance? As he navigates the breathtaking and perilous Northstar Couloir, Cody pushes deeper into the heart of what makes a descent truly legendary.

How to find ski routes, assess snow quality before heading out the door, and get key info on avalanche hazards and snow safety right on your laptop or mobile phone.

Planning an activity during a heatwave can be challenging. Fortunately, onX Backcountry and the GOES Health app offer powerful tools to help you plan your outdoor adventures while mitigating the risks associated with extreme heat. Here are some essential tips on how to use them to plan your next outing during a heat wave.

Discover 7 must-do backpacking trips in Colorado with our detailed guide. From scenic trails to challenging routes, explore the best bucket list adventures this stunning state has to offer.

Some of the most quintessential and incredible backpacking trips are found in California’s Sierra. However, it can be very confusing and exhausting to navigate the reservations, lotteries, and regulations associated with them. Once you’ve secured the permit and grasped the regulations, you still have to plan the dang trip! At onX Backcountry, our Local Experts have been working on our route and trailhead information within our National Parks, among many other regions in California. So we asked them to put together a few Shared Folders with all the info you need to discover these backpacking trips.

Heading out on a multi-day trip might seem a bit daunting when you aren’t sure where to go (there’s so much to choose from!). But, with one or two of these in your pocket, you’re ready to enjoy your next Utah backpacking adventure. Using the onX Shared Folder feature, we’re giving you waypoints, routes, and more, with advice specific to a backpacking trip.