Trail safety

Latest Stories

Essays

My Reactive Dog Makes People Uncomfortable. I’m OK With That.

Bear or man, I let my dog vocalize her feelings about whomever is approaching us in the great outdoors. And I'm done apologizing.

Erin StroutJune 5, 20268

Wellness

10 States Facing the Worst Mosquito Surges This Summer

The 2026 bug boom is here. Don’t let pesky mosquitoes derail your outdoor plans this season.

Laura ScholzMay 5, 20262

Exploration & Survival

New Research Finds Hikers and Runners Are Forgetting These Essential 13 Items in the Backcountry

A study of hundreds of hikers and runners reveals a dangerous gap between how safe we feel and the gear we actually carry. Here is what you really need to survive a day in the mountains.

Alex HutchinsonApril 9, 20266

Hiking

If You’re Hiking During Hunting Season, You Need to Follow These Safety Tips

For those who aren’t chasing game but still want to wander the woods, Outside rounded up five safety tips to keep yourself safe while adventuring outside

Madison DapcevichSeptember 26, 2025

Travel Advice

We Know What You Did This Summer. How Not to Be a ‘Bad Tourist’ in the Outdoors.

From taunting bison to walking on a Yellowstone hot spring, here's what some tourists were up to this summer—and how to avoid making headlines yourself

Kassondra CloosSeptember 10, 20251

Training & Performance

The Deadliest Mistakes Trail Runners Make

Patterns emerge in a database of more than 100 trail-running fatalities

Alex HutchinsonJuly 9, 20251

Hiking

Hiking with Your Dog? Watch Out for These Dangerous Plants

Prevent a costly vet bill by identifying hazards before your pup gets a foxtail up her nose or cactus spine in her paw

Amelia ArvesenApril 5, 2025

Travel Advice

This Is Why More and More Hikers Are Getting Rescued in Hawaii

Lots of visitors find themselves off track, whether they're chasing Instagrammable moments too far, facing unpredictable weather and variable terrain, or simply lacking preparation. Here’s why this seems to be happening—and how to trek safely when you go.

Jen MurphyJuly 1, 20253

Hiking

16 Essential Tips to Stay Safe and Be Seen While Running in the Dark

From visibility concerns to navigating uneven terrain, running in the dark poses real challenges—but we have solutions

Jenessa ConnorJuly 2, 2025

Hiking

This Is How to Properly Dispose of Bear Spray Canisters

Don’t just chuck it in the trash. Here’s the right way to get rid of your spent bear spray.

Jenny WisniewskiSeptember 28, 2024

Hiking

Yellowstone’s Most Dangerous Hazard Isn’t What You Think

A hiker suffered severe burns after falling into a hydrothermal feature this week. The park responded with a reminder that its hot springs are its deadliest feature.

Corey BuhaySeptember 22, 2024

Hiking

Here’s How to Avoid the Most Common National-Park Mistakes

After a recent Death Valley National Park rescue, we gathered some tips for staying safe on public land

Wes SilerAugust 20, 2024

Hiking

Heatstroke Kills Thousands of Dogs Every Summer. Here’s How to Avoid It.

These are the symptoms to look out for and how to save your dog’s life if they start to overheat

Wes SilerJuly 31, 2024

Hiking

A Single Lightning Bolt Just Killed 34 Cows in Colorado

The tragedy offers some sobering lessons for anyone who spends time outdoors

Mary Beth SkylisJune 2, 2024

Hiking

Someone’s Setting Booby Traps for Dogs on the Appalachian Trail

Officials warn pet owners to remain vigilant after finding at least a dozen barbed treats. No dogs have been reported injured so far.

Mary Beth SkylisMay 8, 2024

Science

Backcountry Medicine Experts Recommend These Essential Five Tips to Run Safe This Fall

As popularity in trail running skyrockets, so too are wilderness medicine courses that focus on common trail running injuries. Here are some critical ways to stay safe on the trail as seasons change.

Andrew CochraneOctober 17, 2023

Trail safety

Latest Stories

My Reactive Dog Makes People Uncomfortable. I’m OK With That.

10 States Facing the Worst Mosquito Surges This Summer

New Research Finds Hikers and Runners Are Forgetting These Essential 13 Items in the Backcountry

If You’re Hiking During Hunting Season, You Need to Follow These Safety Tips

We Know What You Did This Summer. How Not to Be a ‘Bad Tourist’ in the Outdoors.

The Deadliest Mistakes Trail Runners Make

Hiking with Your Dog? Watch Out for These Dangerous Plants

This Is Why More and More Hikers Are Getting Rescued in Hawaii

16 Essential Tips to Stay Safe and Be Seen While Running in the Dark

This Is How to Properly Dispose of Bear Spray Canisters

Yellowstone’s Most Dangerous Hazard Isn’t What You Think

Here’s How to Avoid the Most Common National-Park Mistakes

Heatstroke Kills Thousands of Dogs Every Summer. Here’s How to Avoid It.

A Single Lightning Bolt Just Killed 34 Cows in Colorado

Someone’s Setting Booby Traps for Dogs on the Appalachian Trail

Backcountry Medicine Experts Recommend These Essential Five Tips to Run Safe This Fall

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