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You've heard of national parks, but have you explored any national monuments yet?

If not, you're missing out. Often, national monuments are less crowded than national parks, making for a more intimate experience with the special land. 

There are 128 national monuments in the United States alone.

Learn the significance of national monuments, find out why you need to explore them, and discover our top picks for national monuments you can hike in - they all count for your 52 Hike Challenge National Parks Series!

Do you know what to do if you encounter an aggressive animal on the trail? What about if your hiking partner shows signs of dehydration or heat stroke? What if a thunderstorm or wildfire comes out of nowhere?

While hiking is usually a pleasant experience full of great views and bonding time with your hiking buddies, the unexpected can happen at any time.

When you practice hiking safety, you reduce your risk of…

• Dehydration
• Heatstroke
• An animal attack
• Getting stuck in inclement weather 
• Getting lost in the wilderness

And much, much more.

 Of course, most of these hiking mishaps are out of your control. That’s why knowing how to react to hiking emergencies is not only important - it’s essential.

We want you to have fun and enjoy nature, but we also want you to be safe on the trails. 

Keep reading to learn…

• What to carry with you on ALL your hikes
• How to avoid dehydration, heat stroke and injuries
• What to do if you see a bear, mountain lion or rattlesnake
• How to plan for and react to extreme weather
• What to do if you get lost in the wilderness

And much more.

There’s nothing quite like a good hike to clear the brain, recharge, take in the views and get those muscles working.

But with endless options of great hiking trails all over the U.S., it can be difficult to decide which one to tackle next. Of course, we all have our bucket list hikes, but there are some unique ones out there that might just offer you a fresh perspective — fire lookouts.