2
Are you ready to be inspired? I’ve gathered 100 of the best hiking quotes to fuel your next adventure. Each one of these quotes has touched me in a unique way, and I hope they do the same for you.
I’ve spent countless hours hiking through various landscapes, from the quiet forests of the Pacific Northwest to the rugged peaks of the Alps. Each hike has shown me something new about the world and myself, and it’s taught me a lot about what it means to really connect with nature.
This personal connection to hiking is why I feel equipped to talk about it. Over the years, I’ve discovered that certain phrases and sayings capture the essence of what it means to explore the outdoors. Quotes can distill complex emotions and experiences into a few powerful words, resonating deeply with those who walk the same paths.
These quotes matter because they reflect the joys and lessons of hiking in just a few words. They’re little reminders of why we head out into the wild, motivating and guiding us along the way.
Top 100 hiking quotes to motivate you
Below are 100 of my favorite quotes about hiking that have inspired me on various trails. I’m confident you’ll find them just as uplifting and thought-provoking as I have.
Whether you’re looking for motivation or a fresh perspective on your next hike, these quotes are sure to resonate.
1. “Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
2. “In the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” – Jack Kerouac
This quote really hits home for me. It’s a blunt reminder that the best memories aren’t made behind a desk or doing chores. It encourages grabbing life by the horns and making the most of it, by doing something as thrilling as mountain climbing. Choose adventure over routine every time!
3. “Hiking and happiness go hand in hand or foot in boot.” – Diane Spicer
4. “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir
5. “The world is not in your books and maps, it’s out there.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
6. “The mountains are calling and I must go.” – John Muir
7. “You need special shoes for hiking—and a bit of a special soul as well.” – Terri Guillemets
8. “After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value.” – G.M. Trevelyan
This quote from G. M. Trevelyan highlights how rewarding a day spent walking can be. It’s like everything—food, rest, simple comforts—feels more valuable after you’ve put in the physical effort. It reminds me to value the basics and enjoy the simple pleasures.
9. “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
10. “Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.” – Barry Finlay
11. “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” – Beverly Sills
12. “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” – Henry David Thoreau
I love this quote because it shows how a simple walk in the woods can really shift your perspective. It makes you feel bigger, part of something greater. It’s like nature has this subtle way of lifting your spirits and stretching your view of the world.
13. “Walking: the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise.” – Carrie Latet
14. “An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” – Henry David Thoreau
15. “I found far more answers in the woods than I ever did in the city.” – Mary Davis
I really relate to this quote because it reflects how being in nature, away from city distractions, helps me think clearly and find answers. It’s a reminder that sometimes, stepping into the quiet of the woods is exactly what I need to figure things out.
16. “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” – John Muir
17. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller
18. “In the mountains, there you feel free.” – Annie Dillard
19. “There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” – Bill Bryson
20. “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.” – Isak Dinesen
21. “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” – Margaret Atwood
22. “Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” - John Ruskin
23. “To travel, to experience and learn: that is to live.” ― Tenzing Norgay
Tenzing Norgay’s words really capture why hiking matters. Every hike teaches you something new about the world and about yourself. It’s not just about seeing new places, but about growing and feeling alive through those experiences. It’s one of my favorite adventure quotes, hands down.
24. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ― Lao Tzu
25. “May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” ― Edward Abbey
26. “The world’s big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” ― John Muir
27. “You’re off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” ― Dr. Seuss
I love this quote from Dr. Seuss. It’s like he’s cheering you on, saying today’s your day to hit those trails or climb that peak you’ve been dreaming about. Super motivating!
28. “The wilderness holds answers to questions man has not yet learned to ask.” ― Nancy Newhall
29. “It is in the still silence of nature where one will find true bliss.” ― J.J.C. Smart
30. “A walk in nature walks the soul back home.” ― Mary Davis
31. “The summit is what drives us, but the climb itself is what matters.” ― Conrad Anker
32. “Take only memories, leave only footprints.” ― Chief Seattle
33. “Jobs fill your pocket, but adventures fill your soul.” ― Jaime Lyn
This adventure quote is a favorite of mine because it’s a clear reminder: work pays the bills, but it’s the adventures that make life worth living. They’re what I’ll remember and cherish, not the hours spent at work. It’s why I love being a travel blogger.
34. “Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley.” ― Theodore Roethke
35. “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” ― T.S. Eliot
36. “Walking is a man’s best medicine.” ― Hippocrates
37. “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” ― Albert Einstein
38. “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” ― Gary Snyder
Gary Snyder tells us that nature is our home, not a place we visit. Hiking connects us deeply to this home. Every trail becomes a familiar and welcoming path where we belong.
39. “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” ― Rachel Carson
40. “The earth has music for those who listen.” ― George Santayana
41. “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
42. “The wilderness and the idea of wilderness is one of the permanent homes of the human spirit.” ― Joseph Wood Krutch
43. “To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” ― Mary Davis
This inspirational nature quote is simple yet powerful. Mary Davis highlights that walking in nature lets us see many incredible things. Every hike shows us something new and amazing, like unexpected wildlife or a sudden view. It’s a reminder of how alive and rich the world around us really is.
44. “There’s a whole world out there, right outside your window. You’d be a fool to miss it.” ― Charlotte Eriksson
45. “Wild places are the sanctuaries for the soul.” — Edward Abbey
46. “You must go on adventures to find out where you truly belong.” ― Sue Fitzmaurice
I like this quote because it speaks to the power of adventure in discovering personal truths. Trying new things and visiting new places has shown me more about who I am and where I feel most connected.
47. “Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit.” ― Frank Borman
48. “A wilderness explorer is a friend to all, be it plants or fish or tiny mole!” ― Russell (from the movie “Up”)
49. “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” ― Jawaharlal Nehru
50. “A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” ― Lao Tzu
51. “It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves – in finding themselves.” ― André Gide
52. “Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” ― Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau really nails it here. I’ve found that it’s in those unplanned detours—those moments when you stray from the expected—that you often learn the most about yourself. It’s like the unexpected turns reveal parts of us that routine never could.
53. “I have two doctors, my left leg and my right.” ― G.M. Trevelyan
54. “If the path is beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.” ― Anatole France
55. “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” ― W.B. Yeats
56. “To venture causes anxiety, but not to venture is to lose oneself.” ― Søren Kierkegaard
57. “The trail leads not merely north and south, but up to the body, mind, and soul of man.” ― Harold Allen
58. “There is nothing so American as our national parks… The fundamental idea behind the parks… is that the country belongs to the people.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt
59. “The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn’t even think to ask.” ― Jeff Johnson
Jeff Johnson’s quote resonates deeply with me. Every time I set out on a new trail, I find answers to questions I hadn’t even considered before. It’s the surprises along the way that often teach us the most.
60. “The farther you go, however, the harder it is to return. The world has many edges, and it’s easy to fall off.” ― Anderson Cooper
61. “Mountains teach that not everything in this world can be rationally explained.” ― Aleksander Lwow
62. “Adventure is not outside man; it is within.” ― George Eliot
63. “The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot.” ― Werner Herzog
64. “I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day’s work.” ― Frank Lloyd Wright
65. “Walking is a virtue, tourism is a deadly sin.” ― Bruce Chatwin
66. “Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own.” ― Charles Dickens
67. “The mountains are the last place where man can feel truly wild.” ― Weimin He
This quote hits close to home. When I’m up in the mountains, the vastness and the wildness around me strip away the complexities of daily life. It’s here that I feel most free, tapped into something timeless and raw within myself.
68. “The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien
69. “Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.” — Greg Child
70. “Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
71. “Climbing is as close as we can come to flying.” — Margaret Young
72. “Adventure is a path. Real adventure — self-determined, self-motivated, often risky — forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world.” — Mark Jenkins
73. “If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it is lethal.” — Paulo Coelho
74. “Climb mountains, not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world” – David McCullough Jr
This quote captures why I hike: to expand my own horizons, not to impress others. It’s about seeing more of the world and less about showing off where I’ve been. It’s a personal journey that shifts how you view everything.
75. “One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.” — William Feather
76. “Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don’t be sorry.” — Jack Kerouac
77. “We don’t stop hiking because we grow old; we grow old because we stop hiking.” — Finis Mitchell
78. “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” — Gustave Flaubert
79. “A walk in nature is the body’s best medicine.” — Fyodor Dostoevsky
It’s true – walks in nature heal us. This quote is a reminder that the simplest activities can be the most beneficial. Get out there and explore!
80. “Going to the mountains is going home.” — John Muir
81. “The best walks are those where you forget you are walking.” — Neil Gaiman
82. “There is pleasure in the pathless woods.” — Lord Byron
83. “Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.” — Erol Ozan
84. “When I’m walking, I’m restored.” — Helen Macdonald
85. “All good things are wild and free.” — Henry David Thoreau
86. “Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.” — Steven Wright
87. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, but a hike begins with a desire to go somewhere.” — Adapted from Lao Tzu
This quote gets it right. It’s our urge to see what’s out there that kicks off every hike or adventure. That first flicker of curiosity or need for change is what really gets us moving. It’s all about that initial want to explore.
88. “Sometimes you have to travel a long way to find what is near.” — Paulo Coelho
89. “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” — Neale Donald Walsch
90. “The journey is the reward.” — Chinese Proverb
91. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” — Robert Frost
92. “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it.” – Andy Rooney
Andy Rooney’s point here is spot on. It’s during the climb, with all its challenges and surprises, where the real growth and happiness unfold. Focusing on the journey itself, rather than just the destination, makes each moment more meaningful.
93. “Leave the road, take the trails.” — Pythagoras
94. “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” — St. Augustine
95. By discovering nature, you rediscover yourself.” — Maxime Lagacé
96. “We live in a fast-paced society. Walking slows us down.”– Robert Sweetgall
97. “Any day spent hiking is a good day.” — Fin Moss
98. “Sometimes, all you need is a great friend and a trail to hike.” — Anonymous
This quote captures something essential: sometimes the best moments come from just having a good friend and a trail to explore together. It’s about the company and the shared experience as much as the scenery.
99. “Paths are made by walking.” — Franz Kafka
100. “I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, ‘This is what it is to be happy.’” — Sylvia Plath
Inspiring Hiking Quotes: Final Thoughts
I’ve always found these quotes to be little pushes to get outside and enjoy the trails. They’re powerful, each one offering either a call to adventure or a quiet moment to reflect. I’ll definitely be keeping these words in mind on my next hike. Hope you do too. Happy hiking!
