Mountain Gazette Review: Is This Magazine Worth It?
Why I keep reading Mountain Gazette and holding onto every issue.
WordsbyMichele Underwood | Photos by Michele and Mountain Gazette
Flipping through Mountain Gazette with a furry trail buddy — ski season stories worth slowing down for.
Is Mountain Gazette Worth It?
Yes — if you care about print quality, visual storytelling, and outdoor culture beyond gear guides.
It’s not cheap, especially for just two issues a year. But it’s built like something you keep. It feels more like an art book than a magazine, and it’s something you come back to, not flip through once.
If you value design, story, and substance, it’s worth it.
Why I Keep Reading Mountain Gazette
As an art director by trade, I’m always drawn to design that tells a story. Mountain Gazette nails that — from its large-format layout and authentic photography to the immersive storytelling and unexpected illustration work that weaves through every issue.
Reading Mountain Gazette Issue 201 at Overland Girl HQ — where stories, design, and outdoor dreams come together.
I keep every issue on my coffee table—not just because it’s beautiful, but because I like going back to the stories, photography, and design long after I first read it.
I’ve taken it to camp a few times, especially for relaxed reading by the fire. But most of the time, it’s part of my daily life back home—flipping through an issue while sipping coffee is its own kind of ritual.
I also wrote more about why Mountain Gazette stands out from a design perspective.
Why Mountain Gazette Stands Out (From a Designer’s Perspective)
If you're already sold on timeless design, mountain culture,
and immersive storytelling—this is where to start.
What You’ll Find in Mountain Gazette
Adventure Essays & Personal Narratives
Stories from climbers, hikers, skiers, and wanderers who live life off the beaten path.
Photo Essays
Large-format photography and photo essays are a big part of every issue, and there aren't ads interrupting the stories.
Photo essay spread from Mountain Gazette: a blurred forestscape in Park City, Utah.
Profiles of Mountain Culture Icons
Featuring climbers, artists, and outdoor pioneers who are shaping the conversation.
Environmental Writing & Conservation Essays
Real takes on access, sustainability, and the meaning of protecting wild spaces.
What I Don’t Like About Mountain Gazette
The price is probably the biggest drawback. It’s expensive compared with a traditional magazine. A subscription is currently $89 for two issues a year. But these aren't magazines I read once and recycle. I keep every issue, which changes how I look at the price.
The size can also be a little awkward. At 11 x 17 inches, Mountain Gazette isn't something you're going to casually throw into a small bag. But the oversized format is also one of the things I like most about it, so I can't really complain too much about that.
Print Ain’t Dead: A Mountain Gazette Anthology
If you like the magazine, there’s also a book worth looking at: Print Ain’t Dead: A Mountain Gazette Anthology
It pulls together stories, photography, and design from Mountain Gazette into a format that feels more permanent than a single issue. Like the magazine, it leans heavily into visuals and long-form storytelling, but as a collection, it works well as something you keep on a shelf or revisit over time.
Print Ain’t Dead anthology—built like something meant to stay on your shelf
It follows the same idea as the magazine—less about quick reads, more about slowing down and spending time with it.
I bought the anthology after becoming a fan of the magazine, and I wrote a separate Print Ain’t Dead: A Mountain Gazette Anthology Review if you want to see what’s inside. Read the review →
Subscribe to Mountain Gazette
A print magazine you’ll actually keep, revisit, and be proud to display. If you’re into slow stories, striking photography, and real outdoor culture — this one’s worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mountain Gazette worth the subscription price? I think it is if you care about long-form outdoor storytelling, photography, and print design. I keep every issue rather than reading it once and getting rid of it, so I look at it more like buying a collectible book than subscribing to a traditional magazine.
How often is Mountain Gazette published? Mountain Gazette publishes two issues a year, one in the spring and one in the fall.
How big is Mountain Gazette? Mountain Gazette is printed at 11 x 17 inches, so it's considerably larger than a traditional magazine. That's part of what makes the photography and design stand out.
Is Mountain Gazette available digitally? No. Mountain Gazette is a print magazine, which is part of the reason I like it. It's something I can leave on my coffee table, pick back up, and keep rather than read on another screen.
Michele Underwood writes Overland Girl, where she shares firsthand travel experiences across the American West — from desert landscapes and national parks to small towns layered with history. Her work blends movement, place, and the stories that shape them.
Some posts may include affiliate links to products or services she uses on the road. If you choose to purchase through those links, she may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. It helps support continued travel and storytelling. She only links to items she personally uses or would use herself.