Best Hiking Quotes: Embrace the Freedom of the Great Outdoors

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Here's over 50 of the best motivational hiking quotes to help inspire you to take a walk in nature and enjoy the beauty of the trail.

The 50 Best Hiking Quotes

Inspiring Quotes About Hiking

Feed your soul with inspirational words from those who have trekked the earth's breathtaking trails. I've chosen some of my favorite hiking quotes, sayings and captions for this collection.

They're perfect for going with photos you want to post on Instagram of your latest hiking trip, or if you're just looking for a little inspiration to get you back out on the trail.

So, let's put one foot forward and get to these amazing hiking quotes!

Hiking Inspirational Quotes

“An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.”

– Henry David Thoreau

“There is always an adventure waiting in the woods.”

― Katelyn S. Bolds

“The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot.”

– Werner Herzog

“Jobs fill your pocket. Adventures fill your soul.”

― Jaime Lyn Beatty

“Hiking and happiness go hand in hand (or foot in boot).”

― Diane Spicer

There's no such thing as ‘too much fresh air

Always take the scenic route

“On a hike, the days pass with the wind, the sun, the stars; movement is powered by a belly full of food and water, not a noxious tankful of fossil fuels. On a hike, you're less a job title and more a human being….A periodic hike not only stretches the limbs but also reminds us: Wow, there's a big old world out there.”

― Ken Ilgunas

Related: Camping Captions

Mountain Hike Quotes

The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain he is inspired by it.

– William Artur Ward

The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain he is inspired by it. - William Artur Ward

“There is wisdom in climbing mountains… For they teach us how truly small we are.”

– Jeff Wheeler

Life is better in hiking boots

“Each fresh peak ascended teaches something.”

— Sir Martin Convay

You Can’t Climb Up A Mountain, With Downhill Thoughts.

You Can’t Climb Up A Mountain, With Downhill Thoughts.

The long distance hiker, a breed set apart,
From the likes of the usual pack.
He’ll shoulder his gear, be hittin’ the trail;
Long gone, long ‘fore he’ll be back.

The long distance hiker

There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.

– Sir Rannulph Fiennes

There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing. – Sir Rannulph Fiennes

I like being near the top of a mountain, One can’t get lost here.

– Wislawa Szymborska

I like being near the top of a mountain, One can’t get lost here. – Wislawa Szymborska

You need mountains, long staircases don't make good hikers.

– Amit Kalantri

You need mountains, long staircases don't make good hikers. - Amit Kalantri

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”

– John Muir

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.

– Edward Abbey

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

In every walk with nature, one received far more than he seeks.

– John Muir

In every walk with nature, one received far more than he seeks. – John Muir

The best view comes after the hardest climb.

The best view comes after the hardest climb.

DEET is nature's cologne.

– Every Hiker

DEET is nature's cologne. - Every Hiker

“Hiking is not escapism; it's realism. The people who choose to spend time outdoors are not running away from anything; we are returning to where we belong.”

– Jennifer Pharr Davis

Related: Sky clouds captions for Instagram

Inspiring Hiking Quotes

Here's another 10 hiking quotes to give you inspiration and motivation. Are you ready to hit the hills soon, and cover some miles trekking through nature?

Check out my blog post about hiking the Poon Hill – Ghorepani trail in Nepal!

And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.

And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

– Henry David Thoreau

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. - Henry David Thoreau

Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.

– Walt Whitman

Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth. - Walt Whitman

“Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.”

– Andy Rooney

Related: Hills quotes and captions

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

– Lao Tzu

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Lao Tzu

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.

– Frank A. Clark

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere. - Frank A. Clark

Hike Your Own Hike.

– Thru-Hiker

Hike Your Own Hike. - Thru-Hiker

“To walk into nature is to witness a thousand miracles.”

– Mary Davis

Walking is a man's best medicine.

– Hippocrates

Walking is a man's best medicine. - Hippocrates

Great things are done when men and mountains meet; This is not done by jostling in the street.

– William Blake

Great things are done when men and mountains meet; This is not done by jostling in the street. - William Blake

Anywhere is ‘within walking distance'.

– Anonymous Hiker

Anywhere is 'within walking distance'. - Anonymous Hiker

Motivational Trekking Quotes

Here's the next 10 hiking quotes that will inspire you to conquer mountains and marvel at nature!

You won, this time. But you are as big as you are ever going to get. And I’m still growing.

– Sir Edmund Hillary

You won, this time. But you are as big as you are ever going to get. And I’m still growing. - Sir Edmund Hillary

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.

– Aristotle

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous. - Aristotle

Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in an office or mowing the lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.

– Jack Kerouac

Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in an office or mowing the lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain. - Jack Kerouac

If the winter is too cold and the summer is too hot, you are not a hiker.

– A Bitter Hiker

If the winter is too cold and the summer is too hot, you are not a hiker. - A Bitter Hiker

Related: Summer Vacation Quotes

We live in a fast-paced society. Walking slows us down.

– Robert Sweetgall

We live in a fast-paced society. Walking slows us down. - Robert Sweetgall

The mountains are calling and I must go.

– John Muir

The mountains are calling and I must go. - John Muir

In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.

– John Muir

In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks. - John Muir

Mountains have a way of dealing with overconfidence.

– Hermann Buhl

Mountains have a way of dealing with overconfidence. - Hermann Buhl

When everything feels like an uphill struggle, Just think of the view from the top.

– Anonymous

When everything feels like an uphill struggle, Just think of the view from the top. - Anonymous

Fall down seven times and stand up eight.

– Japanese Proverb

Fall down seven times and stand up eight. - Japanese Proverb

Great Walking Quotes

More classic hiking quotes from famous outdoors legends such as John Muir. We'll have to put a collection of the best walking quotes and John Muir quotes together at some point!

Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.

– Edward Abbey

Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. - Edward Abbey

To travel, to experience and learn: that is to live.

– Tenzing Norgay

To travel, to experience and learn: that is to live. - Tenzing Norgay

They are able who think they are able.

– Virgil

They are able who think they are able. - Virgil

If you’re going through hell, keep going.

– Winston Churchill

If you’re going through hell, keep going. - Winston Churchill

Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.

– John Muir

Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity. - John Muir

Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.

– John Muir

Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt. - John Muir

It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.

– Sir Edmund Hillary

It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves. - Sir Edmund Hillary

Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.

– Frank Herbert

Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken. - Frank Herbert

Walking: the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise.

– Carrie Latet

Walking: the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise. - Carrie Latet

Returning home is the most difficult part of long-distance hiking; You have grown outside the puzzle and your piece no longer fits.

– Cindy Ross

Returning home is the most difficult part of long-distance hiking; You have grown outside the puzzle and your piece no longer fits. - Cindy Ross

Inspiring Outdoor Quotes

Our final section of the best hiking quotes. Are you ready to get outdoors, find a trail, and start hiking? These wilderness quotes should give you that final push!

Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.

– Albert Einstein

Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better. - Albert Einstein

After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value.

– G.M. Trevelyan

After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value. - G.M. Trevelyan

Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.

– Henry David Thoreau

Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. - Henry David Thoreau

I have two doctors, my left leg and my right.

– G.M. Trevelyan

I have two doctors, my left leg and my right. - G.M. Trevelyan

A vagrant is everywhere at home.

A vagrant is everywhere at home.

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

– Beverly Sills

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. - Beverly Sills

The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.

– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Funny Hiking Quotes

A crude meal, no doubt, but the best of all sauces is hunger.

– Edward Abbey

A crude meal, no doubt, but the best of all sauces is hunger. - Edward Abbey

Carry as little as possible, but choose that little with care.

– Earl Shaffer

Carry as little as possible, but choose that little with care. - Earl Shaffer

A walk in nature walks the soul back home.

– Mary Davis

Sleeping bags are the soft tacos of the bear world.

– Bears

Sleeping bags are the soft tacos of the bear world. - Bears

Hiking Captions for Instagram

Looking to spice up your Gram feed? Here's some ideas of hiking instagram captions and hashtags you might want to use to go with your next photo from your walk in nature:

1. I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I soar.

2. The only path that leads to no where is the one you never take.

3. Let's get outside and explore!

4. Always go for a hike with the person you would want to be stranded with.

5. A picture can speak a thousand words, but not as much as just listening to your surroundings will do.

6. Keep calm and hike on!

7. Hiking is life, without it what good are we?

8. Having an adventure every day of the week isn't weird at all, it's just called fun!

9. Living the simple life means taking time to enjoy

10. I'm never lost because I'm always following my own path.

11. The only way to go is forward.

12. A day without an adventure is a day that has gone to waste.

13. Always take the hike with someone you want to be stranded with.

14. Hiking isn't about being physically fit, it's about being mentally strong enough to resist the temptation of your phone or TV screen long enough to truly enjoy this breathtaking world around us!

15. Live life by hiking every day, without it what are we?

Seeking creative ideas for hiking hashtags? Take a look at these:

#hiking #adventure #mountains #forest #cabin #nature #throughmylens #hike #photooftheday #instapic #nature_seekers #naturelovers #livethehikelife #hikingisfun #enjoythelittlethings #hikingisfoodforthought #weekendvibes #bestdayever #exploremore #keepcalmandhikeon #findyourpeace

FAQ About Hiking Sayings

If you enjoyed these hiking captions, the following questions and answers might also be of interest to you:

What are some nature quotes?

“I think Nature's imagination is so much greater than man's, she's never gonna let us relax!” “Nature to be commanded must be obeyed.” “My wish is to stay always like this, living quietly in a corner of nature.” “Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would never see the true beauty of their carvings.”

Why does hiking make you happy?

Hiking is one of the most fun ways to explore the great outdoors and enjoy nature. Hiking offers a plethora of natural colors and sights that often can't be seen from just looking at them in photos, such as spectacular mountain ranges, stretching valleys with rivers running through them, open fields with swaying crops or wide open skies filled with fluffy white clouds. Hikers get to experience these amazing things up close and person which give hikers an appreciation and love for the beauty of nature.

What is trekking vs hiking?

Trekking and hiking are both recreational outdoor activities that a lot of people do, but they have a few key differences. Trekking typically involves carrying everything that you need with you, including food and water. Hiking is often done without heavy backpacks or lots of supplies. Trekking may also be considered more “pack oriented” as trekkers will often carry large backpacks to carry all their gear in.

More Outdoor Quotes and Travel Inspiration

For even more inspirational mountain quotes about nature and life, check these out!

50 Best Hiking Quotes To Inspire You To Get Outdoors!

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Dave Briggs: Author and travel blogger at Dave’s Travel Pages– Article Author: Dave Briggs
Dave Briggs is an author and writer who started blogging at Dave's Travel Pages way back in 2005. He first started traveling in the 1990's, and loves reading biographies and quotes as inspiration for his own journeys. Follow Dave on social media for travel tips and insights: