Overland Expo Sets Its 2027 Dates, and Mountain West Moves to Brighton
Five Overland Expos run March through October, and most of the big rallies have dates. Here's the season so far.
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Outdoor Unc
The desk · California · filing since 2026
Staff byline used for desk-reported items assembled from the sources listed under each story. Anything written from first-hand experience carries a person's name instead.
Filed by Outdoor Unc 274
Toyota Adds Trailhunter Versions of the 2027 Tundra and Sequoia
Every Toyota truck and SUV from the Tacoma up now has an overland-focused Trailhunter trim.
Nissan's Pathfinder XE-V6 Concept Nods to Its Off-Road Roots
A SEMA build with a 4-inch lift and 35-inch tires. It's a concept, not a model you can buy.
Creator Watch List, a Bushcraft Shelter and a Rainy Tent Night
Joe Robinet spends 24 hours building out his shelter, a canvas air tent meets a storm, a fastpacking pack review and a Kendall Gray deer hunt.
MeatEater Season 14 Premieres November 14 on Outdoor Channel
Steven Rinella's show airs Saturdays at 6 p.m. Eastern, opening with South Texas hogs and a four-part trip to Nunavut.
Weekend Rain Slows the Wild River Fire; Containment Reaches 29 Percent
Crews expect full containment by Thursday, but the Forest Service says it will take a season-ending storm to put the fire out.
Big Bend's Boquillas Crossing Reopens After Three Weeks
The border crossing to Boquillas del Carmen reopened Saturday once mud on the trail to the Rio Grande dried out.
Wild River Fire Reaches 20 Percent Containment; Closures Remain
Minnesota's Deer Opener Brings Mandatory CWD Testing in the Southwest
The firearms season opened Saturday and runs through November 29, with licenses and harvest registration now in a new electronic system.
Davis Mountains State Park Closes Its Primitive Area for Public Hunts
Minnesota's Wild River State Park Closes for a Special Hunt Through Monday
Wild River Fire Closes Trails and a Road in the White Mountains
The fire near Gorham, New Hampshire, is 11 percent contained. The Appalachian Trail stays open, but nearby side trails are closed.
Big Bend's Boquillas Crossing Stays Closed as Mud Blocks the Trail
Recalls Hit an Electric Off-Roader, Youth ATVs and BMX Bikes
Creator Watch List, Grouse Over the Fire and a Hot Tent Night
Joe Robinet cooks grouse and tests a new woodstove tent, plus a minimalist hammock night and two shelter and pack reviews.
Washington Proposes Tighter Trout and Kokanee Rules on Two Columbia Lakes
Washington Weighs a Bigger Penalty for Unreturned Puget Sound Crab Cards
Grand Canyon Lifts Stage 2 Fire Restrictions on the South Rim
World Surfing Games Open Friday in Peru, With LA28 Spots at Stake
Thirty Olympians, including Italo Ferreira, Carissa Moore and Kauli Vaast, compete at Punta Rocas from November 6 to 15. The top men's and women's teams each earn their country an extra Olympic place.
Shimano Buys Japanese Lure Maker Jackall
Camping World Posts Its Biggest Quarterly Loss as RV Demand Slumps
Washington Razor Clam Digs Return Nov. 7 to 11, Northern Beaches Only
Record High Water Widens the PCH Bluff Crack at Crystal Cove
Southbound lanes of Pacific Coast Highway are partly closed between Reef Point Drive and Irvine Cove Drive while Caltrans stabilizes a 360-foot fracture in the slope above the beach.
Influencer Charged With Dragging a Great White Onto a Cape Cod Beach
Simmers and Medina Win the First Philippines Pro at Cloud 9
Medina's first Championship Tour win in more than three years moves him to second in the rankings. The tour's last stop is Pipeline in December.
Washington Holds a Virtual Town Hall on Next Year's Coastal Steelhead Seasons
Bodie Island Lighthouse Boardwalk Closes for About Four Months
California's Crab Opener Saturday Comes With a Trap Ban and a Closure
Recreational Dungeness crabbing opens November 7, but only with hoop nets and snares, and not at all north of Fort Bragg because of domoic acid. The commercial season is delayed until at least January.
Hot-Tent Season Starts on Outdoor YouTube, From Woodstoves to a Hobbit Tent
As the first snow falls in the West, two of the channels we follow fired up their woodstoves for cold-weather camping.
Yosemite Closes Tioga and Glacier Point Roads as the Storm Arrives
The Season's First Big Mountain Snow Hits the West This Weekend
Up to 18 inches in the Sierra high country and Colorado's San Juans and up to two feet in Utah's Cottonwood Canyons, with chain controls and difficult travel through Monday.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon Start Pile Burning November 1
Hatteras Island Reopens to Visitors, and Its Campgrounds Are Open Again
Dare County lifted the visitor evacuation Thursday as NC 12 reopened at Pea Island, a day ahead of the state's target. Frisco and Cape Point campgrounds and most beach ramps are open.
Rain Camps, a See-Through Blind and a Budget Tent From Outdoor Creators
Five new videos this week from the outdoor YouTube channels we follow, from a bushcraft shelter in autumn rain to a storm night in a cot tent and an ultralight tent review.
Outdoor Tom's Latest Trip Brings 103 Salmon and Seven Grizzlies at Katmai
The family fishing channel spent four days at a lodge on the Alaska Peninsula, and it's a good watch with Alaska's salmon season winding down.
Young Camping Posts Three Solo Nights in California's Mountains and Forests
The California camping vlogger posted three new trips this week, from a mountain campsite to a night near a summit and one in the forest.
Paving Starts on NC 12, With One Lane Still Targeted for Friday
Flash Flood Watches Cover Southwest Hiking Country Through Friday
Tropical moisture is bringing storms to Big Bend, the Guadalupe and Davis mountains, Sedona's canyons, the Superstitions and New Mexico burn scars. Stay out of washes, slot canyons and swimming holes.
A Great White Splashes a Surfer at Oceano, and Swims Off
New York Officers Use Thermal Drones to Catch Night Salmon Fishing
Black Diamond Refreshes Its Headlamps, Led by a 3,000-Lumen Megawatt
The fall lineup redesigns the Storm, Storm+ and Cosmo, updates the Spot and makes USB-C charging standard across the range.
The Jeep Gladiator Finally Gets Factory 35-Inch Tires
Grand Canyon Asks for Comment on Removing Old Inner-Canyon Phone Wire
NC 12 to Hatteras Could Reopen to One Lane by Friday Noon
Crews have begun tearing out damaged pavement at Pea Island, but king tides through Thursday could push more water over the road. Visitors are still barred, and the state plans to move a mile of the highway inland.
Man Gored Trying to Free a Mule Deer Buck Tangled in Wire
Cloud 9 Hosts the Philippines' First Championship Tour Event From October 31
Siargao's famous right-hand barrel is Stop No. 11 of the World Surf League tour, with Molly Picklum arriving in the yellow jersey and a reduced postseason field.
Firearm Deer Openers Are Coming, From Minnesota on November 7 to Pennsylvania
Minnesota goes first, then Michigan on November 15, Wisconsin's nine-day hunt on November 21 and Pennsylvania on November 28. Dates and zones below; confirm the details with each state.
California's Recreational Dungeness Crab Season Is Set to Open November 7
Openers have been delayed by whale-entanglement risk and domoic acid in recent years, so check the state's notices before setting a trap.
Texas Monthly BBQ Fest Brings 35-Plus Top 50 Joints to Lockhart
Saturday's BBQ World's Fair downtown is free. Sunday's Top 50 Picnic, with every joint from the magazine's top ten, has general admission left at $140; VIP is sold out.
Holy Smokes Barbecue Festival Returns to North Charleston November 14
More than 40 pitmasters and chefs, four all-you-can-eat barbecue villages, and $95 general admission, with proceeds for families of children with brain cancer.
Calgary's SmellaQue Wins the Jack Daniel's Invitational Barbecue
The Calgary team beat 98 others from around the world in Lynchburg and takes home $25,000. B's Que was reserve grand champion.
King Tides Flood Orange and San Diego Coasts Through Thursday
The Weather Service warns of significant coastal flooding at late-morning high tides, with an atmospheric river due this weekend. Beach lots, bike paths and boardwalks are going under from Ventura to the border.
Picklum and Colapinto Win the Rip Curl Pro Portugal at Supertubos
Snow Peak's Landlock X Arrives in the US, Stove Not Included
The first major update to the two-room Landlock in nearly 20 years costs $1,999.95. Burning wood inside it takes a stove and fly cover sold only in Japan so far; there, the pair runs about $3,285.
South Kaibab and River Trails Reopen at Grand Canyon After Flood Repairs
Bright Angel reopens to hikers between Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse and Havasupai Gardens. Phantom Ranch, both river bridges and the North Kaibab stay closed, and there is no water on the trail all winter.
Every Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore Is Open Again
Rocky Mountain National Park Plans a Prescribed Burn Near Bear Lake Road
Blue Ridge Parkway Reopens the Peaks of Otter Section
Chilnualna Falls Trail Reopens in the Dome Fire Area
First Razor Clam Dig of the Season Is Tonight at Mocrocks
Digging is allowed noon to midnight, with low tide at 7:18 p.m. Copalis follows Tuesday and Wednesday, and Mocrocks again Thursday.
Wonderland Trail Stays Closed on Rainier's North Side
Stillaguamish River Fishing Closure Runs Through November 1
Sandy Bay Parking Lot Partly Closes November 2 for Power Work
Grant Grove Trails Are Open Again After the Prescribed Burn
Chehalis River Advisory Gives Way to a Full Fishing Closure
NC 12 Takes a Seventh Day of Overwash, With No Reopening Date
The damaged stretch near the Pea Island Visitor Center now exceeds 1,100 feet. Hatteras Island stays closed to visitors, and emergency ferry lines are long.
Black Bear Attacks a Woman Walking Her Dog in Index, Washington
She was seriously hurt but expected to recover. Two bears, possibly a sow and cub, had been seen nearby; officers have set a trap.
Most Yellowstone Roads and Three Entrances Close November 1
Saturday, October 31, is the last day to drive most of the park this year. Only the North-to-Northeast road through Lamar Valley stays open all winter.
No Timeline for Reopening NC 12 to Hatteras Island
Drought Closes Most Washington Coast Rivers to Fishing Saturday
The Chehalis, Humptulips, Willapa and Naselle systems, the Copalis and Moclips, and Marine Areas 2-1 and 2-2 close October 24. The Dungeness opens Friday with a two-coho limit.
Emergency Ferry Links Hatteras to the Mainland as NC 12 Stays Closed
Three boats run around the clock between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe from Thursday morning. Visitors still cannot go to Hatteras Island.
White-Nose Syndrome Reaches Glacier National Park's Bats
The fungal disease that has killed millions of bats was confirmed on the park's east side, a first for Glacier County. A vaccine trial there is under way.
Grand Canyon Takes Comments on Hiding the Hermits Rest Water Tank
Crews Assess Pea Island Damage as Hatteras Stays Closed to Visitors
NC 12 is still closed from the Basnight Bridge to Rodanthe. On Ocracoke the highway is open again.
Rip Currents and 3- to 6-Foot Surf on LA and Ventura Beaches
Ocean Overwash Closes NC 12 Between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe
Hatteras Island stays closed to visitors until the road is no longer threatened. Seashore off-road ramps are closed for weather.
Razor Clam Digs Approved at Copalis and Mocrocks, October 26 to 29
Four evening digs, one beach at a time. Long Beach and Twin Harbors stay closed for marine toxins.
Record Stingray Stings in Orange County as a Strong El Niño Arrives
Lifeguards at Huntington and Bolsa Chica logged more than 3,500 incidents this year. The warm water bringing them, and dorado and yellowfin, should last through winter.
Vermont's Antlerless Muzzleloader Season Runs October 29 to November 1
Big Surf Now Runs From the Outer Banks to Palm Beach
Florida and Georgia beaches get 6 to 12 feet through Tuesday and Wednesday. Hatteras and Ocracoke flood warnings are extended to Wednesday evening.
Gulf Islands National Seashore Reopens Fort Pickens and Opal Beach
Most of the seashore is open again after Hurricane Isaias. Naval Live Oaks, the Fort Pickens campground and Okaloosa stay closed for downed trees.
Wounded Black Bear Attacks Woman Tracking It in Pend Oreille County
The bear had been shot with a crossbow the day before. It chased the couple's dog, then attacked her; officers later killed it.
Hatteras Island Still Closed to Visitors; Ocracoke Ferries Suspended
Coastal flood warnings for 2 to 4 feet of water run through Tuesday, and surf of 9 to 14 feet through Thursday morning.
Outer Banks Surf Stays Big Into Thursday
Dome Fire Reaches 100 Percent Containment
Cape Hatteras Closes and Dare County Orders Visitors Off Hatteras Island
Campgrounds, off-road ramps and visitor facilities shut at noon Saturday ahead of a long coastal storm with 45 to 55 mph gusts, overwash and flooding.
Hoh and Quillayute Watersheds Close to All Fishing Monday
The Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah, Dickey and Hoh close October 19, until further notice, as coho runs come in low.
Grant Grove Burn Moves to October 17; Trails Close Day by Day
482 acres in Kings Canyon. The General Grant Tree Trail and Grant Tree Road close from Sunday.
Quinault's North Shore–South Shore Road Link Comes Out October 22
New Mexico Closes Bear Zone 1
Sneaker Waves Expected on Bay Area Beaches This Weekend
Naselle Hatchery Reopens to Anglers, With New River Structures to Watch
Olympic National Park Starts Pile Burns October 20
Big Surf and Coastal Flood Threat From Virginia Beach to Ocracoke
Breakers of 8 to 14 feet from Saturday into Tuesday, and the Weather Service now warns of 2 to 4 feet of flooding on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, where NC 12 may go under.
South Texas Coast Gets High Surf, Rip Currents and Beach Flooding
Clearwater River on the Olympic Coast Closes to All Fishing
Low water and weak coho catches in the Queets basin. The closure runs until further notice.
Cascade River Now Open Daily; Skagit Tribal Closures Move to October 19–21
The middle Skagit closed only on October 15; its next closure runs three days next week.
Tularemia Found in Two Dead Hares in Glacier's Many Glacier Valley
One was on the trail to Swiftcurrent Falls. The park asks visitors not to touch carcasses and to treat their water.
Dome Fire Crews Cut to 278 as Yosemite Takes Back Command
Capistrano Beach Gets Emergency Sand After Rachel's Surf Damages Homes
OC Parks is placing up to 9,000 cubic yards through October 30; parts of the beach may be closed while trucks work.
World Tour Heads to Peniche With Three Stops Left
The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal window opens Friday at Supertubos. Defending champion Yago Dora arrives at No. 1.
Long-Period South Swell and High Tides Bring Beach Hazards to Southern California
Surf of 3 to 5 feet with sets to 6 in San Diego and Orange counties, plus rip currents and minor tidal flooding from Ventura to the border, through 2 p.m. Thursday.
Denali Road Rule Allows 160 Vehicles a Day Past Mile 15
A final rule replaces the seasonal cap of 10,512 permits and fixes the season's end date. Buses return to the west end in 2027.
Yosemite Takes Back the Dome Fire at 95 Percent Contained
Idaho Proposes Banning Carcass Moves Between Units Inside CWD Zones
A second proposal would let bird hunters tag electronically. Comments close October 28.
Texas Quail Surveys Point to Another Good Season Opening November 1
Bobwhite counts beat the 15-year average in most regions, and scaled quail keep climbing. South Texas and the Trans-Pecos look best.
Wisconsin's Elk Season Opens Saturday With 16 State Hunters
Drawn from more than 34,000 applicants. New this year, tags are tied to specific units.
Gravel Race Shares Prescott Deer Units on the Second Weekend
SAAMI Publishes the First Public Standard for a 5.56 Cartridge
Hornady's 5.56 Commercial runs hotter than .223 Remington, and SAAMI says it cannot vouch for compatibility with rifles marked 5.56 NATO.
Humminbird Fish Finders Become Minn Kota as Johnson Outdoors Merges the Brands
Humminbird's sonar lives on as "Humminbird Imaging" inside Minn Kota units, and existing Humminbird gear stays supported.
New This Week From Buck, Benchmade and Leatherman
A blacked-out Buck 120 General in Cru-Wear, a Griptilian in Z-Wear, and a Leatherman built around a corkscrew.
Newfound Gap Road No Longer Listed as Closed in the Smokies
Several Hood Canal Shellfish Beaches Reopen Wednesday as Biotoxin Levels Fall
Duckabush, Triton Cove, Belfair and Point Whitney reopen or extend seasons. Port Gamble Bay and Mats Mats to Paradise Bay stay closed.
Blue Ridge Parkway's Soco Gap Section Reopens; Peaks of Otter Closed Again
The last storm closure near the Smokies is lifted. Apple Orchard to Peaks Road, including the lodge, is listed as temporarily closed.
Bouquet Fire Fully Contained; Drinkwater OHV Area and Forest Roads Reopen
Every closure from the fire northeast of Santa Clarita has now been lifted. A post-fire team is still assessing the burn.
Dome Fire Reaches 95 Percent; Yosemite Takes Back Command Thursday
Containment jumped to 95 percent by Tuesday evening, with no perimeter change in days. The trails inside the fire stay closed.
Minnesota Takes Comment on a 57-Mile ATV Trail in Becker County
The Ice Cracking ATV Trail would join existing roads and trails between Two Inlets and White Earth state forests. No new construction is proposed.
CWD Testing Is Mandatory in Southwest Minnesota on Deer Opener
Every deer a year or older taken November 7 and 8 in the southwest must be sampled, the first year of a statewide four-year rotation.
Minnesota Floats Fishing Rule Changes, From the St. Croix to Grand Marais
Most of the Blue Ridge Parkway Reopens After Isaias
By 2 p.m. Monday only the Soco Gap section near the Smokies was still closed for weather. This morning's long Virginia closures have been lifted.
Dome Fire Reaches 73 Percent as Rain and Snow Arrive
Bouquet Fire 93 Percent Contained; Drinkwater Still Closed
Prescribed Burn Near the General Grant Tree Starts Tuesday
521 acres west of Highway 180 in Kings Canyon. Several Grant Grove trails close during ignitions.
Dome Fire Lines Hold Through the Wind; Containment Reaches 69 Percent
Rain and mountain snow move in tonight through Monday night. Crews have begun pulling equipment off the fire.
Appalachian Trail Hikers Told to Postpone Southern Trips Until Isaias Passes
The trail conference warns of flash floods, landslides and falling trees from Georgia to Virginia, especially in Helene-damaged areas.
Glacier Point Road Reopens as the Dome Fire Holds
Open since 7 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters are still working along the road, and the trails inside the fire stay closed.
Bouquet Fire Evacuations Lifted; Rowher Flat OHV Area Reopens, Drinkwater Stays Shut
Every order was lifted Friday evening. A post-fire assessment team is now on the burn.
Deception Pass, Skagit Bay and Port Susan Open for Winter Crabbing
Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2 open October 10 after the crabs hardened. Seattle and Tacoma are still undecided.
New Mexico Closes Bear Zone 10; Five Zones Now Shut
Pile Burns Planned at Ross Lake and Lake Chelan Through November
Smokies Close Newfound Gap Road Tonight as Hurricane Isaias Approaches
U.S. 441 shuts at 8 p.m. Friday with gusts to 70 mph forecast. Balsam Mountain Campground closed at 5 p.m.
Going-to-the-Sun Road's Alpine Section Closes for a Weekend Storm
Avalanche to Jackson Glacier Overlook shuts at 7 p.m. Friday, with rain, snow and wind possible through Sunday.
Zion-Mount Carmel Highway Reopens After the September Rockfall
The full route through the park's east side is open again, on temporary gravel until it is repaved.
Skagit Keeps Tight Coho Rules; Middle River Closes October 12 to 15
Bait stays banned and barbless hooks required as Chinook encounters pass 80 percent of the season's allowance.
Idaho Pheasant Season Opens Statewide October 15, With a Three-Rooster Limit
New this year: one opener for north and south, and a bag of three. Nearly 29,000 birds are being stocked at 24 sites.
Minnesota Keeps Its Six-Duck Limit, Declining the Three-Bird Option
Washington Proposes Year-Round Two-Pole Fishing on the Snake and Columbia
Van Rysel Gravel Bikes and a Snow Peak Propane Insert Recalled
The bikes, sold at REI, can lose a front wheel. Snow Peak's lava rocks can explode in the propane insert.
Dome Fire Jumps to 61 Percent Contained Ahead of Saturday's Wind
6,829 acres. Southerly gusts of 25 to 35 mph and highs in the 50s arrive Saturday; anything that spots outside the line could run.
Clean Water Act Proposal on Streams and Wetlands Closes to Comment Friday
EPA and the Army Corps added new options to last year's proposal. The deadline is October 9.
Forest Service Takes Comment on Roca Honda Uranium Mine Near Mount Taylor
Bouquet Fire Evacuation Order Shrinks to the Burn Area, 83 Percent Contained
Residents in Bouquet Canyon are no longer affected. The Drinkwater and Rowher Flat OHV areas stay closed.
Dome Fire Holds Inside Its Footprint at 47 Percent
Texas Expects a Good Deer Season; Hunters Asked to Watch for Screwworm
The whitetail herd is estimated at 5.64 million after three strong fawn years. New World screwworm was confirmed in Texas this year.
Black Bear Attacks Two People at a Home in Salmon, Idaho
The bears had been feeding on unsecured garbage and chickens for days. Idaho Fish and Game says drought is pushing bears toward people.
California's First Bobcat Plan Is Open for Comment Through November 1
The draft puts the statewide population at more than 62,000 and is the step the law requires before any bobcat season could return.
Wisconsin Seeks Comment on Draft Turkey Plan, Open Houses Next Week
Comments run through November 20. In-person sessions are in La Crosse, Merrill and Appleton, plus one online.
Interior Seeks Members for Its Hunting and Shooting Access Council
Buck Commander Returns for Season 17 on Outdoor Channel Sunday Nights
New episodes at 10:30 p.m. Eastern, from Florida invasives to a New Mexico elk hunt. Outdoor Channel is free to preview through October.
Stillaguamish River Closes to All Fishing Friday Over Chinook Encounters
The mainstem shuts October 9 through November 1, a week after the neighboring Snohomish.
Washington Postpones Razor Clam Season Over Rising Marine Toxin
The digs set for October 9 to 14 on four coastal beaches are off until tests come back clean.
Chilnualna Falls Trail Reopens as Dome Fire Reaches 47 Percent
The trail to the top of the falls is open again, and containment climbed to 47 percent by Wednesday evening. The fire's estimated cost rises to $60 million.
Bouquet Canyon Road Reopens; Fire at 74 Percent, OHV Areas Still Closed
The road reopened at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Drinkwater and Rowher Flat stay closed for fire danger, a day after the forest said they had reopened.
Yosemite's High Country Campgrounds Close This Weekend
Porcupine Flat closes October 11, Crane Flat and Tamarack Flat October 12. Overnight parking ends on Tioga and Glacier Point roads October 15.
Glamis Season Is Open, With the Ranger Station Moved to Cement Flats
Permits are required at the Imperial Sand Dunes from October 1 to April 15. The Cahuilla station is coming down, and Cement Flats is closed to camping.
Overland Expo East Returns to Arrington, Virginia, October 23 to 25
The last Overland Expo of 2026, with 200-plus exhibitors, 175-plus classes and on-site camping. The 2027 dates are out too.
Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel Are Free to Watch Through October
A free preview on DISH, Sling and several cable systems runs to October 31, with Rinella's new Field Notes among the fall premieres.
Montana Pheasant Season Opens Saturday With 15,000 Released Birds
Nonresidents hunting public land or Block Management must wait until October 20 for most upland birds.
The Jack Comes to Lynchburg This Weekend, a Week After the Royal
Barbecue's hardest invitation to get runs October 9 and 10, free to attend. Last weekend's American Royal Invitational was decided by 0.0116 points.
HotHands Rechargeable Hand Warmers Recalled, 77,000 Sold at Bass Pro and Target
The same fire hazard as last week's Gobi Heat recall, on a far bigger scale. A portable camping shower is also recalled.
Mount Hood's Grasshopper Fire Closure Shrinks to 43 Trails and 23 Roads
An October 1 order covers the Barlow and Hood River districts through December 31. Zigzag and Surveyor's Ridge trails are open.
Wonderland Trail Fire Closure Runs Carbon River to White River
Mount Rainier's fire closure ends at White River Campground. Sunrise Road stays shut to cars for the rest of the season.
Bouquet Fire Evacuations Mostly Lifted, OHV Areas Reopen at 67 Percent
Rowher Flat and Drinkwater are open again. Bouquet Canyon Road and two forest roads inside the fire stay closed.
Dome Fire Crews Push East Line Before Weekend Winds and Cooling
6,760 acres and 40 percent contained. A trough brings wind Saturday, then significantly cooler weather and a slight chance of rain.
Quillayute River Reopens With Lower Salmon Limits and No Bait
Fishing resumes today on the short main stem below the Sol Duc and Bogachiel, under tighter rules while the river stays low.
Bouquet Fire Near Santa Clarita Closes Canyon Road and Two OHV Areas
About 1,048 acres and 48 percent contained, unchanged Monday. Evacuation orders remain for three zones as the heat holds.
Dome Fire Quiet on South and West as Crews Work East Flank
A slopover across the Ostrander Trail is being worked by helicopter. Estimated cost of the fire rises to $40 million.
Vermont Stocks Trophy Trout in Five Southern Waters This Fall
More than 2,000 brook and rainbow trout averaging 13 to 14 inches go in from mid-October.
Rebelle Rally Starts Wednesday, Adding Utah to the Route
The women's off-road navigation rally runs October 7 to 17 on paper maps and compass, starting from Las Vegas.
Bear Canyon Wildlife Area Near Mimbres Closed Monday Through Thursday
Post-fire sediment work shuts the New Mexico wildlife area on weekdays through the end of the year.
Alone Crowns Two Arctic Winners as Next Seasons Wait for Dates
Both the History series and Alone Australia crowned winners on September 9. Neither has dated its next season, but both are in the pipeline.
Crews Wrap the Ostrander Ski Hut as Dome Fire Flares Southeast
6,736 acres and 40 percent contained. The biggest jump in fire behavior Saturday was on the southeast side.
GMU 34 Elk Hunters Asked to Bring Heads for CWD Testing
A collection station runs October 17 to 21, and carcass restrictions in the unit are mandatory.
Gobi Heat Recalls Rechargeable Hand Warmers Over Fire Risk
About 5,500 two-packs sold online since October 2024. Stop using them before you pack for a cold sit.
Hotshot Crews Ordered as Dome Fire Spot Fires Push Past 6,600 Acres
The fire grew about 470 acres Friday. Containment holds at 40 percent, and the weekend stays hot and dry.
Lower Eagle Creek Closed to Angling to Protect Coho
Oregon has shut the lowest reach of the Clackamas tributary for the third fall running. Its own pages disagree on when it reopens.
Raptor Rally Closes Parts of Standard Wash OHV Area October 14–17
The BLM will close the racecourse and restrict the rest of the open area near Lake Havasu City for the event.
Dome Fire Closure Now Reaches Mono Meadow and Buena Vista Trails
Wind and low humidity Thursday pushed a spot fire out ahead near Bridalveil Creek. A new team took command this morning.
Snohomish River Closes to All Fishing Saturday Over Weak Coho
Washington shuts the river from the mouth to the Skykomish and Snoqualmie confluence, October 3 through November 1.
Walmart Recalls 4.4 Million Expert Grill Wire Brushes
Bristles can break off, stick to the grate and end up in food. Stop using them and get a refund.
Campfires and Target Shooting Return on BLM Redding Lands
Seasonal fire restrictions in place since June 24 eased October 1 across five Northern California counties.
Dome Fire at 40 Percent as Crews Burn Out Near Glacier Point
5,777 acres. Containment has risen from 17 to 40 percent in a week; Glacier Point Road is still closed.
Next Fee-Free Park Day Is Tuesday, October 27
Cape Royal and Point Imperial Roads Close as North Rim Winds Down
The two scenic roads shut for repairs until November 3, the campground closes October 16, and there is no fuel in the park.
Summerland Trailhead Closed Through 2029 for Fryingpan Creek Bridge Work
The Wonderland Trail stays open, but hikers headed for Summerland need another way in.
An Abandoned Campfire Started the Dome Fire, Investigators Say
The campfire was illegal under restrictions in place since August. The fire is 5,585 acres and 39 percent contained.
Chehalis Tribes May Cite Anglers on 10 Miles of the Chehalis River
The tribe wants non-members to buy its permits. Washington disputes that, but tells anglers to steer clear for now.
Winter Crabbing Opens October 1 in Seven Puget Sound Areas
Seattle, Tacoma, Deception Pass and south Sound stay closed for now. Summer catch cards are due Thursday.
Dome Fire Reaches 34 Percent as the Cool Spell Ends
5,392 acres. Crews tied in more of the north and northeast edge; warmer, drier weather returns for the rest of the week.
Plaskett Fire Handed Back to Los Padres National Forest Today
Dome Fire Passes 5,000 Acres; Cooler Weather Due Through Tuesday
5,215 acres and 30 percent contained after a 406-acre day.
Santa Rosa Island Camping Reopens October 14, Southeast Stays Closed
Water Canyon Campground and beach camping in two quadrants return after the spring fire. The burn area does not.
Dome Fire Reaches 30 Percent as Smoke Shifts to Tuolumne
4,809 acres. Wawona gets good air today; Tuolumne Meadows gets the smoke this afternoon.
Dome Fire Containment Jumps to 28 Percent Overnight
4,498 acres, and the first real move in containment in a week. Glacier Point Road stays shut.
Big Sur Backcountry Closure Now Runs to January 31
A new Los Padres order replaces the August one for the Timber and Plaskett fire areas, and it is long.
Glacier Point Road Closes, and Containment Moves for the First Time in a Week
4,129 acres and 16 percent contained. The road shut on smoke and visibility, not flame — and you can still walk up from the Valley.
Both National Days Fall on Saturday, September 26
Pomona Hosts the Southern California Overland Show Next Month
Two days at the Fairplex on October 24 and 25. Hundreds of exhibitors, 15,000 to 18,000 people expected, kids under twelve free.
The Closure Was Extended, and the Fire Is Past Four Thousand Acres
Up 234 acres since yesterday morning. Containment holding at 15 percent, personnel steady, and the park's closure list unchanged.
Two Yosemite Closures That Have Nothing To Do With the Fire
Two Much Bigger Fires Have Been Burning on Los Padres All Summer
The Timber Fire is 25,000 acres and 59 percent contained after six weeks. The Plaskett is nearly 30,000 and all but out. Neither got a fraction of the attention Yosemite did.
Comment Deadlines Worth Knowing
The Closure Order Runs Out at Midnight Tonight, and the Fire Is Still Growing
3,795 acres on mapping done this morning. Handlines are holding on the west. The order that shut Chilnualna Falls expires at 11:59, unless it is extended.
The Procession for the Pilots
Competition Barbecue Now Has a Million-Dollar Prize
A Las Vegas final with a seven-figure purse, a back-to-back grand champion in Memphis for the first time in 42 years, and a new open-fire title alongside the old one.
Food Network Built a Barbecue Show Around the Part That Actually Hurts
Nine two-person teams, a whole hog to break down, four proteins on a rolling schedule and no rest. Pitmasters premiered in July.
The Biggest RV Show of the Year Says Smaller, Again
A folding camper under 700 pounds returns after a decade away, a no-slide overland trailer gets bigger, and two new van lines arrive from a mainstream builder.
This Year's Showcase Build Is a Midsize Truck, and It Goes to Auction This Autumn
A Nissan Frontier PRO-4X under a 350-pound pop-up topper, built as an argument against the oversized rig.
A Motorhome Company Built an Off-Grid Truck
Winnebago's ARKA claims fourteen days without hookups, sleeps four and seats six. The mainstream RV industry has noticed where the buyers went.
Two Pilots Killed When a Water-Dropping Helicopter Went Down on the Dome Fire
Greg King and Ryan Cutter died Sunday afternoon southeast of Ostrander Lake. They were the only two aboard.
The Closure Has Grown to Ostrander Lake and Everything South of It
3,420 acres on the latest federal mapping, 15 percent contained, 784 personnel. The fire is now burning into a nine-year-old burn scar.
Dome Fire Past Three Thousand Acres, With Containment Holding at Fifteen Percent
Six days on: 581 personnel assigned, the closure area now defined from Wawona to Chinquapin, and every road into the park still open.
Two National Days Land on Saturday
Most of the Salmon Season Closes September 30
Forest Fee Comments Close September 29
Powered Hiking Is Quietly Becoming a Product Category
Another hiking exoskeleton landed this month, alongside barefoot trail shoes and a travel pack under two and a half pounds. The weekly release cycle is telling you where the money is going.
Archery's 2026 Pitch Is Tuning Without a Press
The flagship compound bows this season are built so you can square them up yourself, which matters more to a hunter fifty miles from a shop than another five feet per second.
Both Big Survival Franchises Went International in the Same Year
History ran a world championship in the Arctic. Discovery ran a forty-day showdown between countries. Neither was a coincidence.
The Biggest Refuge Access Expansion on Record Came With a Lead Rollback Attached
More than 1,450 new hunting and fishing opportunities across 32 states. Buried in the same rule: non-lead requirements at nine refuges, rescinded weeks before they took effect.
Two Free Saturdays Land on the Same Day
The Gate Price Changed in January and a Lot of Coverage Still Has It Wrong
Two tiers of annual pass, a $100 surcharge at eleven parks, and fee-free days that are no longer free for everyone.
The Dome Fire Has Nearly Doubled Again, With the First Containment Line Held
From 100 acres Tuesday to 1,177 Wednesday and 1,976 by the latest federal mapping. Ten percent contained, and a management team now in command.
Parks Are Free Today, If You Live Here
Smoke Is Travelling Further Than the Fire
Dome Fire Closes Chilnualna Falls While the Rest of Yosemite Stays Open
A hundred acres north of Wawona Dome, moving away from the community — but the best-known trail out of Wawona is shut.
Hyundai Has a Ladder Frame Coming, and the Boulder Is the Tell
A surprise New York concept previews the company's first body-on-frame platform in America. The truck it underpins is a 2030 proposition.
Field Notes: Weigh the Rig Before You Buy Anything Else
The most common build mistake is not a bad part. It is four good parts that together put the truck over its payload.
Field Notes: Fishing a Restricted River Without Killing Fish
Hoot-owl rules limit when you can fish. They do not tell you how to handle what you catch.
Field Notes: Planning a Hunt Around a Testing Requirement
Sampling is not the hard part. Getting the head to a station before the meat spoils is the hard part.
Field Notes: What a Campsite Actually Costs and Where You Can Sleep Free
The booking fee is not the camping fee, fee-free days do not cover camping, and dispersed rules are stricter than most people assume.
Field Notes: Getting More Out of the Grill You Already Own
Most complaints about pellet grills are solvable without buying another one.
Field Notes: The Three Things That Keep You Off the Recovery Bill
Tire pressure, a full-size spare, and knowing the closure before you drive to it.
Traeger Keeps Adding Lineups, and the Field Keeps Filling In Behind It
The Westwood series arrived in April, the Woodridge grew a Pro Plus, and the company is no longer the only serious name on the shelf.
What a Pellet Grill Actually Buys You, and What It Does Not
Set-and-forget convenience is real. So is the reason competition cooks still run stick burners.
An Old Flat-Top Recall Worth Checking
The Knife Industry Spent 2026 Competing on Engineering
A hidden slider took overall honours in Atlanta, Microtech shipped its first production fixed blade, and the steel conversation moved to MagnaCut and Vanax.
REI Put Prices on the Plush Camp Trend
The co-op's Westward line is the clearest statement yet that car camping and backpacking are now different businesses.
Snow Peak Refreshes the Tortue
The Two Convertibles Keep Climbing Past Each Other
Wrangler still undercuts Bronco at the door and over the top, and Ford has a heritage-workwear edition coming for 2027.
Fall Stocking Starts, and Michigan Changed the Rules Last Week
Hatchery trucks roll in the last week of September across the Northeast, while a pair of Michigan fisheries orders took effect September 10.
The East Is Still Rebuilding What Helene Took
Detours, demolished shelters and closed trailheads from North Carolina to New York, as the northbound season winds down and southbounders come through.
Car Camping Went Plush and Stopped Apologising
Big sealed vestibules, foam-backed chairs with wooden arms, and sleeping bags that fold over you like a quilt.
Tahoe Rim: Construction, and a Campground Already Shut
Michigan Rebuilt Its Public-Hunting Map
National Forests Are Quietly Repricing the Campground
A wave of fee proposals is moving through Western and Eastern forests at once, and two of the California comment periods close September 29.
Montana Is Already in Season, With a Rewritten Rulebook
Archery opened September 5, wolves and black bears came in on the 15th, and the commission changed how lions and hounds are handled.
Alone Australia Left the Southern Hemisphere
Season four put ten Australians into Sapmi, in northern Finland, chasing $250,000 through a subarctic winter.
Last Expo of the Year Is October 23
Two Recalls Still Sitting in People's Kits
The Wasting Disease Rules Moved Again Before Opening Day
Colorado flips mandatory testing from deer to elk, Idaho redraws its unit list, and Delaware writes emergency rules after a first detection.
California's Salmon Season Is Running Out the Clock
The first full season since 2022 closes September 30 in most zones, with a 20,000-Chinook guideline riding over the fall openings.
Overlanding Starts Shedding Weight
Roof tents are no longer the automatic answer, fridges get designed in from the start, and the show floor is getting lower.
Northern California: What Is Still Burned Over
A Slovenian Outlasts the Arctic, and Alone Crowns Its First World Champion
Ninety days in the Beaufort Delta, nine rivals gone, and a $500,000 prize that ends the strangest season the show has run.
Public Lands Day Grew a Month Long, and Quietly Stopped Being Free
The volunteer window now runs September 12 to October 10 — but the Park Service took the date off its fee-free list this year.
The Trail Trim Is No Longer a Niche
Hybrids with lift kits, a Hyundai concept pointing at a production truck, and Subaru's Wilderness badge spreading across the lineup.
Ultralight Shelters Take Another Turn Through the Shop
Gossamer Gear reworks The One, Durston's offset-pole design keeps spreading, and Big Agnes goes after wet down.
Outdoor Boys, a Year and a Half After the Goodbye
Luke Nichols still is not posting. His subscriber count kept climbing anyway, and his son has started filming his own trips.
Grand Canyon's Single Water Line Still Broken
Roadless Rule Rollback Moves Ahead
Montana Lets the Rivers Back Open
Cooler weather at the end of August has lifted most hoot-owl restrictions, and the Madison has gone from closed to merely limited.
Loveland Drew 18,500 and Possibly the Most Debuts the Series Has Seen
Three days at the foot of the Rockies, 300-plus exhibitors, and a run of new campers and platforms shown in public for the first time.
Toyota Puts the Tundra Trailhunter in Front of People Who Will Actually Use It
A full-size overland trim and a Hilux-based concept, shown at a expo rather than an auto show.
No Full Wonderland Circuit This Year
Fires have closed the trail between Carbon River and Summerland, and Rainier has stopped issuing circuit permits.
Outdoor Retailer Starts Over in Minneapolis, Smaller and Stranger
The industry's big show left the Mountain West, moved later in the summer, and filled the floor with brands nobody has heard of.
The Suppressor Rules Moved Twice This Year, and the Headlines Overstated Both
The $200 stamp went to zero in January. A Texas court then blocked registration enforcement for some buyers. Neither means you can walk out with one.
Nineteen Waters Restricted, and the Season Is Tracking Like the Worst One on Record
Below-normal snowpack and a hot summer have Montana running close to 2024, the most restrictive year the state has had.
What the Grizzly Proposal Actually Changes for Western Hunters
Not a season. Not delisting. But the tiered system decides who makes the calls in country you already hunt.
Fifty-Four Trails Shut on Mount Hood, and the Order Runs to New Year's Eve
The Grasshopper Fire has taken most of the Barlow Ranger District off the map. The Pacific Crest Trail is holding, for now.
Western Montana Joins the Afternoon Shutdown
The entire Clark Fork, the Bitterroot and a long stretch of the Blackfoot are now closed from 2 p.m. to midnight.
The Summer Gear Show Says 2027 Is About Shaving Poles and Grams
A budget ultralight tent from a mainstream name, a short-pole shelter, and a camp chair designed around the dog.
Angeles Goes to Very High
Montana Closes a Stretch of the Madison and Puts Six Rivers on the Clock
Warm outflows from Ennis reservoir are keeping the river from cooling overnight, and the drought policy has started to bite.
Interior Moves to Hand Grizzly Management to the States Without Delisting
A proposed rule would give Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington day-to-day authority over roughly 2,000 bears that stay federally threatened.