We get it – you are not the outdoorsy type.
Your not a fan of the mosquitos, the humidity, and being away from Instagram.
However, we are going to make the case for why you should at least try hiking.
Don’t panic! It’s a lot easier to do than many other outdoor activities, and you still get all of the great benefits from it.
Below we outline a handful of reasons why you should try hiking, even if nature isn’t your thing.
It’s Good For Your Body
Let’s face it – chances are if you work an office job you spend a lot of time sitting down and not a lot of time moving.
Believe it or not, sitting is one of the worst things you can do for your body.
It may not sound so bad, but it’s true! A sedentary lifestyle is bad for your weight, mood, back, heart, and more.
Getting up and moving your body is one of the best things you can do to combat this sedentary lifestyle.
It’s Good For Your Soul
We don’t want to sound too hipp- dippy, but we are animals. Taking a hike in nature will let you reconnect with where we all come from and your soul, which is hard to do in the modern world.
Spending time in nature for just a few hours a week can have tremendous effects on your overall being and levels of happiness.
It’s also a phenomenal way to deal with stress – it’s much better for you than happy hour after work, and it’s more fun too!
It Will Let You Unplug For A While
Look, we get it. We also spend a ton of time on our phones.
Instagram, Tinder, Snapchat, there’s a lot of good reasons to spend a lot of time on your phone.
But the truth is, sometimes you need to unplug for a few hours and put your phone away. Yes, all of your texts and DM’s will still be there when you get back.
Trust us, put your phone away for a few hours and instead of looking at Instagram-filtered shots of nature, experience some of it for yourself.
You can thank us later.
It’s Free (Or Very, Very Cheap)
Student loans, bottomless mimosas at brunch, rent, gym memberships. Modern life is expensive. Sometimes it seems like your paycheck just disappears overnight!
But you know what is a great, free hobby that can be done throughout the year?
That’s right, hiking! Yes, you may have to spend a couple of bucks to get to the hiking location, and some parks in the US have a small entrance fee, but even accounting for those costs, hiking is a very low-cost hobby.
That means you can save up more of your hard-earned dollars and treat yourself to another round of bottomless mimosas.
You Can Do It Almost Anywhere
There are hundreds, if not thousands of hiking trails in the United States.
These range from quick and easy to multi-day long adventures. Chances are you are less than an hour away from a hiking trail no matter where you are.
But wait, I live in a major city like New York, there’s no way I’m an hour away from trails.
Not true! Arden Point and Glenclyffe is an hour away on the MTA.
Check out a site like AllTrails to find the highest-rated trails that are close to you.
New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston – all of these places have hiking trails available for you to escape to. Being in a city is no excuse!
It’s A Great Way To Connect With Other People
Looking for a fun new date idea? Want to do something new with your best friends?
Hiking is perfect for socializing. Plus, you can easily adjust the intensity for whoever you’re with, that way it is fun for everyone involved.
Sometimes the best way to workout is with friends, so it can be wonderful to have people there to help push you and motivate you.
If you guys just want to go on a leisurely hike and enjoy the sights, that’s great too!
It Might Help Get You Into Other Outdoor Activities
It’s a shocking thought, but it’s true – you might actually enjoy the great outdoors.
Hiking is a fantastic gateway activity for all sorts of different outdoor activities.
Many people move from hiking to camping and start incorporating other outdoor hobbies into their life such as fishing or even hunting.
Who knows, you may find that you love spending time outdoors!
When it comes down to it, there are probably dozens, if not hundreds of reasons why you should try hiking.
Hopefully, this list has helped motivate you to get out there and start moving. We hope you have a great time on the trails.
Lover of hiking, nature, camping, bird calls, and more. I run ATO and do my best to provide interesting information for my readers to help make their outdoor adventures more fun.