Category: Outdoor Resources

AMC Staff / 2 minute read It can be difficult to shop for those who love the outdoors, but AMC has you covered, whether you’re looking to go the traditional route with books and gear or would rather gift an experience. We’ve put together a gift guide for the outdoor adventurers in your life. And when you give an AMC gift, […]

AMC Staff / < 1 minute read Don’t miss out on peak colors this season! Get a head start on your autumn adventure plans by using our fall foliage tracker. Whether you’re headed out for a day trip, looking to join a guided adventure, or planning to set up basecamp at one of our huts or lodges, our tracker will help guide […]

AMC Staff / 6 minute read This hike takes you along a former logging railroad past beaver wetlands to one of the premier locations in the White Mountains for seeing birds and other wildlife, including moose and beavers. You get a clear view of Zealand Notch from AMC’s Zealand Falls Hut, and you can easily spend hours at the falls and […]

AMC Staff / 7 minute read   If you’re seeking to escape the urban bustle and find some forest bathing comfort in the woods, look no further than Harriman State Park. The second-largest state park in New York, Harriman offers visitors an assortment of outdoor adventures to choose from and lots of great hiking trails to explore. Whether you’re looking for […]

AMC Staff / 6 minute read   Experiencing the magnificence of the Southern Presidential Range in the White Mountains is unmatched—within a few miles of hiking, the trail brings you above the treeline to pristine views of rolling blue summits that attract millions of visitors each year. But what makes this experience one of a kind is the addition of staying […]

Dede Sullivan / 4 minute read While there may still be some remnants of snow in the mountains, spring has gradually begun to creep up on us. With the first buds on the trees and warmer weather approaching, you might be itching to dust off the hiking boots and prepare for your first hike of the season. Getting out on the […]

Robert N. Buchsbaum / 6 minute read The White Mountains compose a region of bare mountain summits; extensive views; deep, glacially scoured ravines; fascinating plants and animals; enchanted evergreen forests; and cold mountain streams tumbling over boulders in fantastic patterns. It’s no wonder that so many flock to the trails and summits of this Northeast region, and AMC is here to be […]

Dede Sullivan / 2 minute read   Spring has sprung! And even though these April showers may have you longing for warmer and sunnier days, the recent buds on trees and the appearance of purple blooms of crocus and yellow daffodils are harbingers of the nicer weather to come. We’ve all been cooped up during this winter, but things are looking […]

Lyla Harrod / 3 minute read During early fall in 2021, I set out on a record-setting end-to-end “thru-hike” of the Bay Circuit Trail (BCT). I completed the 230 mile trail northbound between August 28th and September 3rd, 2021, for a total of 6 days, 7 hours and 7 minutes, which marks the current Fastest Known Time for a self-supported thru-hike […]

Sara Delucia / 4 minute read Snowshoeing is a fun way to get outside during the winter—it makes traveling in deep snow easier, opening the door to year-round hikes and walks. Snowshoeing is almost as easy as walking, but even so these tips and tricks will help any beginner get started. Should I rent or buy my snowshoes? If possible, rent or […]

Matt Morris / 5 minute read Planning a hike with a disability is no easy feat. Information on trail accessibility can be hard to come by or inaccurate, even in the age of the internet. What’s wheelchair accessible in one part of the year may also be impassable mere weeks later, whether because of snow, ice, or mud. So, what’s an […]

AMC Staff / 4 minute read Staying overnight at an AMC hut is a fun and enjoyable way to experience the White Mountains. Of the eight huts, three (Lonesome Lake, Zealand Falls, and Carter Notch) are open during the winter months for a self-service option, providing a roof over your head and a bed to sleep on, albeit without the warm […]

AMC Staff / 6 minute read   This is an excerpt from the guide book Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast, Second Edition, by David Goodman.  Check availability and book your stay at Cardigan.   Every time skiers glide from a trailhead and vanish into a winter wilderness, we feel like explorers setting off for the New World. Laying first tracks […]

Andrew Vietze / 5 minute read   The following is excerpted from AMC’s Essential Guide to Winter Recreation, by Andrew Vietze. A comfortable camp can make all the difference on a winter backpacking trip. After a long, cold day on the trail, the comforts of “home” mean even more than they do in summer, and replicating elements in this setup will […]

Hannah Hergenrather / 3 minute read   AMC volunteers are the driving force that moves AMC toward its goals. AMC volunteers touch all corners of conservation, recreation, and outdoor education and leadership with the work they do daily. From Maine to Virginia, volunteers maintain public trails, lead trips, and participate in conservation advocacy and community science. Looking for a way to […]

AMC Staff / 2 minute read   Help AMC expand the Community Snow Observations (CSO) network in the Eastern US. This community science effort engages winter recreationists in making snow measurements around the world and helps crowdsource mountain snow depth in the Appalachian Mountains filling in gaps where traditional measurements are scarce. Your measurements will help scientists improve snow cover estimates […]

Robert McLaughlin / 7 minute read   Fall is a magic time for all of us, but is particularly magical for photographers as they try to capture this awesome but fleeting display. It is common for casual photographers to feel the urge to set out to capture the colors around them. It is also common to feel frustrated that the resulting […]

Cindy Crosby / 3 minute read   Herb Greenberg was an accomplished psychologist and a professional colleague who left an indelible impression on my life, not because he was blind, but because he had a “soft spot for those who have not been given an equal and fair shot due to prejudice,” as Patrick Sweeney describes in his 2015 biography, What […]

James Wrigley / 6 minute read   The White Mountain National Forest is one of New Hampshire’s most beloved outdoor playgrounds. Its world-class hiking, mountain biking, cycling, and fishing—not to mention Mount Washington, the Northeast’s tallest peak—draw visitors from around the world. But overuse and underpreparedness have both strained the White Mountain landscape and resulted in an increase in rescues in […]

Clare Arentzen / 2 minute read   You’re out in the backcountry, miles from the nearest AMC composting privy and without a toilet-in-a-bag, and nature is calling. It’s a bowel movement. Never fear: if you know how to dig a hole for your waste—known colloquially as a “cat hole”—that complies with Leave No Trace principles, you’re free to go whenever. Here’s […]