170 Inspiring Hiking Quotes to Fuel Your Adventure

Want to unwind and leave behind your hectic and toxic everyday life? Why not satisfy your cravings by going on a hike? Feeling the fresh air, the sun on your face, and being surrounded by nature can be a very therapeutic experience.

It is true that we now live in an age where we share everything in online. While sharing too much on social media can be overwhelming, it is also an opportunity to share your adventures and the wonderful world of hiking. For you to really get into the mood and truly appreciate nature, some inspiring hiking quotes can really help.

To get you motivated to go on your next adventure, here are 170 of the best inspiring hiking quotes to fuel your next adventure:

Inspiring Hiking Quotes

Oftentimes, social media posts are enough to inspire others to try and experience the same amazing journey. Here are some of the best inspiring hiking quotes to help you share your story:

“After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value.” G.M. Trevelyan
“Carry as little as possible, but choose that little with care.” Earl Shaffer
“For those who climb, the answer is both obvious and impossible to explain — the everyday concerns of livelihood, of social standing, overdue bills, and futureless romance all fall away before the vast and overwhelming absolute of the mountain.” Paul Watkins
“Fresh air is the best for kids AND adults!”
“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
“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” John Burroughs
“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than trees.” Henry David Thoreau
“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” Vincent Van Gogh
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” John Muir
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Confucius
“It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” Sir Edmund Hillary
“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” John Muir
“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
“The best view comes after the hardest climb.”
“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” Beverly Sills
“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
“Walking is a (wo)man’s best medicine” Hippocrates
“A crude meal, no doubt, but the best of all sauces is hunger.” Edward Abbey
“A significant fraction of thru-hikers reach Katahdin, then turn around and start back to Georgia. They just can’t stop walking, which kind of makes you wonder.” Bill Bryson
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“A walk in nature walks the soul back home.” Mary Davis
“An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” – Henry David Thoreau
“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
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.“
“Between every two pines there is a doorway to a new world.” John Muir
“Deep down, at the molecular heart of life, the trees and we are essentially identical.” Carl Sagan
“Do more things that make you forget to check your phone.”
“Do you know how fast you are walking? To get a close estimate, count the number of steps you take in a minute and divide by 30… :)” Albina Fabiani
“Don’t confuse the hike with the destination. The hike is about the sounds, the smells, the sights. It’s a complete sensory experience… But yes, that waterfall is also pretty freaking awesome.”
“Each fresh peak ascended teaches something.” Sir Martin Conway
“Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it.” Andy Rooney
“Fall down seven times and stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb
“For hiking is one of those things that you can only do when you have the determination in you.”
“Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” Ed Viesturs
“Go out, go out I beg of you And taste the beauty of the wild. Behold the miracle of the earth with all the wonder of a child.” Edna Jaques
“Go outside, life in storage fades…” Nanette L. Avery
“Hiking is a bit like life: The journey only requires you to put one foot in front of the other…again and again and again. And if you allow yourself the opportunity to be present throughout the entirety of the trek, you will witness beauty every step of the way, not just at the summit.”
“Hiking is the answer. Who cares what the question is.”
“Hiking is the answer. Who cares what the question is.”
“I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on earth. Then I ask myself the same question.” Harun Yahya
“I found far more answers in the woods than I ever did in the city.” Mary Davis
“I go on hikes expecting to see the great outdoors but spend most of the time lost in my own head.”
“I love going out of my way, beyond what I know, and finding my way back a few extra miles, by another trail, with a compass that argues with the map…nights alone in motels in remote western towns where I know no one and no one I know knows where I am, nights with strange paintings and floral spreads and cable television that furnish a reprieve from my own biography, when in Benjamin’s terms, I have lost myself though I know where I am. Moments when I say to myself as feet or car clear a crest or round a bend, I have never seen this place before. Times when some architectural detail on vista that has escaped me these many years says to me that I never did know where I was, even when I was home.” Rebecca Solnit
“I love that moment in a hike when you snap to and suddenly realise for the last 10 minutes you’ve not been observing nature but have instead become a part of it.”
“I used to hike… but then I got a drone.”
“I’ve never liked loop trails, they rob you of the joy of the return journey.”
“I’ve never understood hiring Sherpas to claim you’ve conquered Everest. I’d rather climb a –
“I’ve never understood treadmills when there’s so many trails to hike.”
“If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.” Raymond Inmon
“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it’s lethal.” Paulo Coelho
“If you think you’ve peaked, find a new mountain.”
“If you’ve fallen in love with trees, I know your heart” Nanette L. Avery
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Nelson Mandela
“It feels good to be lost in the right direction.”
“It had nothing to do with gear or footwear or the backpacking fads or philosophies of any particular era or even with getting from point A to point B. It had to do with how it felt to be in the wild. With what it was like to walk for miles with no reason other than to witness the accumulation of trees and meadows, mountains and deserts, streams and rocks, rivers and grasses, sunrises and sunsets. The experience was powerful and fundamental. It seemed to me that it had always felt like this to be a human in the wild, and as long as the wild existed it would always feel this way.” Cheryl Strayed, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” Sir Edmund Hillary
“It’s easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top.” – Henry Ward Beecher
“Jumping from boulder to boulder and never falling, with a heavy pack, is easier than it sounds; you just can’t fall when you get into the rhythm of the dance.” Jack Kerouac
“Leave the road, take the trails.” – Pythagoras
“Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein
“My idea of hiking is a pub crawl” Kevin Kolenda
“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” Gary Snyder
“None of your knowledge, your reading, your connections will be of any use here: two legs suffice, and big eyes to see with. Walk alone, across mountains or through forests. You are nobody to the hills or the thick boughs heavy with greenery. You are no longer a role, or a status, not even an individual, but a body, a body that feels sharp stones on the paths, the caress of long grass and the freshness of the wind. When you walk, the world has neither present nor future: nothing but the cycle of mornings and evenings. Always the same thing to do all day: walk. But the walker who marvels while walking (the blue of the rocks in a July evening light, the silvery green of olive leaves at noon, the violet morning hills) has no past, no plans, no experience. He has within him the eternal child. While walking I am but a simple gaze.” Frédéric Gros
“Not all those who wander are lost.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“Not all who wander are lost.” JRR Tolkien
“People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.” Edmund Hillary
“The mountains are the last place where man can feel truly wild.”
“Remember to look up to the stars, not down to your feet.” Stephen Hawking
“Some mountains only require a good pair of shoes. Others require an entire team to conquer. Knowing which is which, is the key to success.”
“Sometimes it’s so bad it’s good”
“Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.” Greg Child
“The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“The best views come after the hardest climb”
“The foot that is restless will tread on a turd.”
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Lao Tzu
“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.” M.J. Eberhart
“The sun shines brightest from the peaks of mountains.”
“They are able who think they are able.” – Virgil
“The more you know, the less you need.” – Yvon Chouinard
“To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” Mary Davis
“Vanity dies on nature trails.”
“We don’t stop hiking because we grow old, we grow old because we stop hiking.”
“We don’t stop hiking because we grow old — we grow old because we stop hiking” Finis Mitchell
“We must get beyond textbooks, go out into bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness of truth and explore and tell the world of our glorious journey” – John Hope
“We?” “You and me, yes.” “The two of us hiking to Condor Peak? Alone?” “I wasn’t planning on inviting the bear along, but if you think we need a chaperone..” Jenn Bennett
“Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.” Frank Herbert
“We’re constantly shown the “real world” on our screens but we come face to face with the real world out on the trail.”
“What a funny world we live in when we won’t turn our phones off but we get excited to see we’ve hiked far enough to lose service.”
“What on earth would I do if four bears came into my camp? Why, I would die of course. Literally shit myself lifeless.” Bill Bryson
“When everything feels like an uphill struggle, think about the view from the top.”
“You can visit the same trail twice but you’ll never take the same hike.”
“You Can’t Climb Up A Mountain With Downhill Thoughts.”
“You need mountains, long staircases don’t make good hikers.” Amit Kalantri
“You need special shoes for hiking—and a bit of a special soul as well.” Terri Guillemets
“You’re off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” Dr. Seuss

Funny Hiking Quotes

To brighten your day, here are some funny hiking quotes to get you in the mood.

“Bring a compass. It’s awkward when you have to eat your friends.“
“Cover the earth before it covers you.” – Dagobert D. Runes
“Hiking and happiness go hand in hand or foot in boot.” Diane Spicer
“Hiking is not for everyone. Notice the wilderness is mostly empty.” Sonja Yoerg
“Hiking side effects include sweating, euphoria and general awesomeness.”
“I found far more answers in the woods than I ever did in the city.” Mary Davis
“Sleeping bags are the soft tacos of the bear world.”
“I might look like I am listening to you, but in my mind, I am hiking.“
“I slow down when hiking. The rhythm of nature is more leisurely. The sun comes up, it moves across the sky, and you begin to synchronize to that rhythm.” –John Mackey
“Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.” Henry David Thoreau
“There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” Sir Rannulph Fiennes
“Never follow someone else’s path unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost, and you see a path. By all means, you should follow that.” Ellen Degeneres
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.” Robert Frost
“The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot.” Werner Herzog
“We live in a fast-paced society. Walking slows us down.” Robert Sweetgall
“Think outside. No box required.”
“Walking is a man’s best medicine.” Hippocrates
“What on earth would I do if four bears came into my camp? Why, I would die of course. Literally shit myself lifeless.” Bill Bryson
Are we there yet?
At times hike these, you just gotta get outside.
Come hill or high water.
Don’t peak.
I’d be lost without my friends (and our GPS).
Heels < Hiking boots.
Hiking is the answer. Who cares what the question is?
Views? I am the view.
I love camping. It’s in-tents.
I tried to move mountains, but they just wouldn’t budge!
I’m not lost. I’m exploring.
Leaf all your worries behind 🍃
Let’s wander where the WiFi is weak.
Mountain-ing my distance.
Netflix and chill? More like sunsets on a hill.
Slow down! Don’t you everest?
Some people peak in high school. Me? I peak all the time.
Just lost my terrain of thought.
The mountain of youth? It’s hiking.

Other Hiking Quotes

Can’t get enough of hiking quotes? Here are some more to help you on your way.

“A path is a prior interpretation of the best way to traverse a landscape.” Rebecca Solnit
“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” – John Kerouac
“I like being near the top of a mountain. One can’t get lost here.” – Wislawa Szymborska
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” Ed Viesturs
“I love walking in the mountains and hearing nothing but the wind playing in the trees.”
Wild and free — exactly how life should be.
“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” Rosalia de Castro
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the
“If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” Frank A. Clark
Live your life by a compass, not a clock.
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing views. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” Edward Abbey
“Only one who wanders finds a new path.”
“The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain he is inspired by it.” – William Arthur Ward
“The hardest mountain to climb is the one within.” – J. Lynn
“The trail leads not merely north and south, but up to the body, mind, and soul of man.” Harold Allen
Good things happen to those who hike.
Took a detour.

Hiking Quotes For Your Instagram Posts

Instagram is a famous social media platform, and what better way to show off your love for hiking than by posting some inspiring quotes? Here are a few ideas:

“Happiness walks on busy feet.”
“The best journeys in life are those that answer questions you never thought to ask.” – Rich Ridgeway
“Take only memories, leave only footprints.” – Chief Si’ahl
“Some women want diamonds… others just want a hammock, a campfire and some peace & quiet.”
“I hike to burn off the crazy.“
“Stop following others and create your own path in life.”
“Let’s wander where the wifi is weak.”

Hiking Quotes for the Adventure Lovers

Hiking is about more than just big views and stunning landscapes. It’s also a way to challenge yourself, push your boundaries, and discover something new about yourself. These quotes are perfect if you need help writing a caption for your most recent adventure.

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” Amelia Earhart
“Not all girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice… some girls are made of adventure and wine and all things fine.”
“Embrace the detours.” Kevin Charbonneau
“I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost
“If happiness is the goal – and it should be, then adventures should be top priority.” Richard Branson
“Jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul.”
“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” T.S. Eliot
“You must go on adventures to find out where you truly belong.” Sue Fitzmaurice
“Real adventure is defined best as a journey from which you may not come back alive, and certainly not as the same person.” Yvon Chouinard
“There is always an adventure waiting in the woods.” Katelyn S. Bolds
“Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.” David McCullough Jr