Tucked against the rugged edge of Virginia’s western border at the headwaters of the Potomac, Highland County holds a small, close-knit community in the mountains, but for two weekends in March the area gets a little more crowded, when thousands of tourists flock to Highland’s corner of Virginia for a treat better known as a […] The post This Year’s Highland County Maple Festival in 10 Photos appeared first on Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine ..read more

The Kids are in Tents Parenting is hard. Parenting is a flimsy nylon shelter in the middle of the woods is even harder. To make camping with your kiddo less of a muddy, mosquito-ridden nightmare, we have rounded up five tips from outdoor educators across the Southeast. Tip #1: Choose the Right Campsite   In […] The post Expert-Backed Tips for Camping with Children appeared first on Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine ..read more

On the cover: Cover Illustration by Steven McQuilkin. @mcquilkinsteven Departments Essay A family hike helps a top ultrarunner process getting older. The Out and Back After one too many blunders in the outdoors, I now endorse using a guide. The Goods Great gear for family camping. Trail Mix New tunes from Bonny Light Horseman and […] The post April 2024: Outdoor Family Issue appeared first on Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine ..read more

Everyone’s gotta go. So here are the best practices for relieving yourself in the woods. As the owner of Blue Ridge Hiking Company, a guide service based in Asheville, N.C., Lindsey Barr spends a lot of time teaching adults how to potty. More specifically, she teaches adults how to potty while adhering to Leave No […] The post Answering Nature’s Call: Tips for Relieving Yourself Outdoors appeared first on Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine ..read more

The Blue Ridge region is full of innovative outdoor brands making gear to get you outside. Here are some of our favorites. Recover Brands Pisgah National Forest Short Sleeve T-shirt Made from a shockingly comfy blend of recycled cotton and plastic fibers, this tee shows off your pride for the region’s public lands. Based in […] The post Local Cred: Southern Gear appeared first on Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine ..read more

Whether padding through the wild Everglades, biking pine-laden paths, or exploring subtropical Dry Tortugas National Park, winter is the best time to cruise through Florida for a variety of adventures. We were just past Jacksonville, driving south on forest-lined I-95, when the temps began to rise. While watching for swerving vehicles, I noticed the ambient […] The post Sunshine State Road Trip appeared first on Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine ..read more

You could say that there are two kinds of people in this world: those that stake the corners of the tent down before erecting the poles, and those that slide the poles through the tent sleeves first and stake the corners of the tent down last.  Of course, there are so many other kinds of […] The post Two Kinds of People appeared first on Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine ..read more

Even if you can’t stand frigid air, you can still comfortably pitch a tent and sleep under the stars when the temperature drops. Are you someone who hates the cold? If so, sleeping in the backcountry when the temperatures turn frigid probably sounds miserable. Fortunately, there are ways to increase the warmth of your camping […] The post Cold-Weather Camping Tips appeared first on Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine ..read more

Dudes are lonely. I’ve read a number of articles recently that examine the American adult male’s inability to make friends. They’re calling it an epidemic—an entire generation of guys wandering the earth by themselves, unable to connect with other guys. Saturday Night Live even has a skit about it, revolving around a dog park designed […] The post How to Make Friends  appeared first on Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine ..read more

From hiking and paddling through old-growth forest, to camping and mountain biking at nearby Poinsett State Park, adventures abound in this overlooked corner of South Carolina sandhills. “I saw your bikes,” said the campground host, Rusty, nodding toward our site. “I can tell you’re into riding.” It was an early spring morning at Poinsett State […] The post Big Fun Around Congaree National Park appeared first on Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine ..read more