The November issue of Blue Ridge Outdoors is live and on newsstands throughout the region. Pick up your copy or read online today for valuable beta on the winners of our Top Adventure Towns Contest, other must-visit outdoor meccas throughout the Blue Ridge, the rise of the professional hiker in the Blue Ridge and beyond, the latest and greatest field tested gear and much more!

THE DIRT

Moonwalks and other night adventures • Fighting fire with fire after Gatlinburg • Best Thru-Hiker Names • Red Wolf in the Crosshairs 

QUICK HITS

Philly bikers bare all • Expectant couple learns baby’s gender revealed at marathon finish line • High school mountain biking grows in Virginia

TRAIL MIX

Roots run deep—Four regional acts taking old sounds to new places

LAST WORD

Wally Smith has downed beers with industry supporters and diehard environmentalists while living in coal country—and is surprised by how much they all agree.

TOP ADVENTURE TOWNS

Thousands of votes poured in to our seventh annual Top Towns contest. 48 towns battled for the crown. Which one topped the podium?

CAPITAL CITIES

What are the biking, running, hiking, paddling, and climbing epicenters? Our editors and experts pick the outdoor hubs for every sport.

RISE OF THE PROFESSIONAL HIKER

How do professional backpackers make ends meet and maintain relationships? Follow in the sponsored footsteps of Andrew Skurka, Jennifer Pharr Davis, and ‘Hiking Viking’ Tom Gathman.

GEAR OF THE YEAR

Check out the best new hardware, apparel, and technology, with a spotlight on gear pioneers headquartered in the Blue Ridge.