Mountain Gazette Review: Is This Magazine Worth It?
A closer look at the magazine’s storytelling, design, and what makes it different from traditional outdoor publications
Words by Michele 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.
If you're searching for the best magazine for outdoor lovers, Mountain Gazette is it. I keep every issue on my coffee table—not just because it’s beautiful, but because it delivers the kind of deep, thoughtful stories that stick with you. Printed in an oversized 11" x 17" format, it feels more like a collectible art book than a magazine.
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)
What Makes Mountain Gazette One of the Best Outdoor Magazines
High-quality, thick paper stock — built like a keepsake
Oversized format — perfect for large, immersive photo essays
No fluff or filler — just real stories, long-form essays, and artful layouts
Focus on mountain culture, conservation, and the outdoors lifestyle
Every issue is timeless — I revisit them months later and still find something new
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.
Stunning Photo Essays
Magazine-quality visuals that rival coffee table books — no ads breaking the experience.
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 what it means to protect wild spaces.
Looking for a magazine with real outdoor storytelling that goes beyond gear reviews and trail stats? This is it.
What I Like
Magazine-quality paper that feels like a collector’s item
Outdoor storytelling that goes deeper than surface-level trip reports
Photography and layout that’s worthy of display
Keeps me connected to mountain life even when I’m at home
What I Don’t Like
Expensive compared to standard magazines — but worth it for the format and quality
Only published a couple times a year — makes each one feel special, though
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
Print Ain’t Dead: A Mountain Gazette Anthology—same storytelling and design, just in a format you keep.
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.
Print Ain’t Dead anthology—built like something meant to stay on your shelf
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.
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.