The Top 30 Hiking Blogs You Should Be Reading! This Is Especially True For Beginners
There are many blogs on the Internet about hiking. They cover everything from what to wear to how you can wrap a blistered toe. It’s easy to find essential information and advice about the best outdoor equipment but not all blogs cover what you are interested in. Many hiking blogs are centered around the local area of their author, which means that if you’re not in that area, they won’t help much.
This list of top 30 hiking blogs will add variety to your blog reading and give you the tips and trail notes that you need to enjoy a wonderful hike.
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I have ordered the blogs in order of Alexa rank (traffic stats) correct at the time of publishing.
There are many great blogs that should be on this list! Enjoy!
Table of Contents
Award for the Top 30 Hiking Bloggers
#1 Hike It Baby
Writers: Shanti H. Hodges and Others
Want to share the joy of hiking with your family? Hike It Baby, a group of outdoor enthusiasts, organizes hikes with families that have young children. The hikes are easy enough for little ones and you won’t feel as if you’re slowing down anyone when you stop to change a diaper.
Hike It Baby’s Beginner’s Advice: “Hike It Baby was founded with the belief that hiking is more fun with friends, and that children hike at a different speed. Grab a friend and go hiking! This can make it easier to try new things. By focusing on creating a community, we help children develop healthy habits and make lifelong friendships. Your local Hike it Baby group might be a great place to meet new outdoor-loving friends.
#2 Florida Hikes
Writer: Sandra Friend And John Keatley
This site is the go-to for Florida hikers. It provides detailed information about all types of trails. The categories are helpful: day hikes; backpacking hikes; family-friendly hiking routes and dog-friendly hiking routes. The site offers information about kayaking, cycling and other activities in Florida.
# 3.The Hiking Life
Cam Honan, Writer
The Hiking Life, billed as a guide for “150 of the greatest hikes in the world,” is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to be inspired to embark on a new adventure. The site offers general hiking tips as well as trail guides.
# 4.Hiking for Her
Writer: Diane Spicer
Most hiking publications are written for and by men. There are few publications that offer a female perspective or acknowledge the challenges women face when they’re outdoors. Diana also wrote a book called Best Tips for Women Dayhikers, Everything You Need to Know To Hit the Trail, you can purchase it here
Diane’s advice for beginners: “My humble advise to newbies, is pretty simple. Put all your attention into getting your sock and boot combination just right. You’ll never get anywhere if your feet are unhappy. Literally.”
#5 Hike 737
Writer: Jake Bramante
Jake Bramante started this blog when he decided to make a documentary on his experience of hiking the 734 miles in Glacier National Park within a single season. This blog is a great resource for lovers of national parks, as it contains guides on over 200 day hikes, including those in Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, Teton and Zion.
Easy Hiker HTML0 #6
Writer: Michael And Marlys Schuermann
You’re not up for long, arduous treks through the woods? Easy Hiker provides a comprehensive guide to pleasant nature walks around the globe. Michael Schuermann, a former BBC journalist, and his wife share easy hikes and walks in the city that they’ve enjoyed.
Michael & Marlys’ advice: “Be well prepared for a hike – wear the correct shoes, have plenty of water, a bus or train schedule, and a map so that you can find the trail. But don’t over-research. Insufficient research can ruin your trip just as much as not doing enough. You don’t have to know what lies behind each turn in the road on most easy trails. Even if things go (slightly), leave room for the unexpected. “A hike should always feel like a bit of an adventure.”
#7 Sun Kissed Hiker
Writer: Chelsa Alva
Chelsa’s adventures often take her on trails in sunny California or other Western states. But she also visits ghost towns, artists communities and haunted forest. Her posts will leave you wondering what cool things are just outside of your own community.
Chelsea’s advice for beginners: In most areas of life it is good to dream large. My advice to those who are eager to go hiking for the first time is to start out small and build up. Although you may be inspired to reach the highest peak, the most important thing is that you get there safely. As your fitness and endurance improves, you can progress to higher mountains. “Your health and happiness is of the utmost concern.”
#8 Girl On A Hike
Writer: Alicia And Her Dog Charlie
Alicia and Charlie, her golden retriever explore the high ridges and slot canyons of Utah in this blog. She also has some great gear reviews for dogs. This is great because most blogs don’t include our furry companions, even though many of us take them on the trail.
Alicia’s advice to beginners: “There is no such thing bad weather. Only bad clothing. Keep a good raincoat and rain pants in your backpack at all times. Prepare for all weather conditions so that you can continue your adventure.”
#9 I Hike San Diego
Writer: Brad Speiss
Brad Speiss, a San Diego resident, will take you through the beautiful mountains of Southern California. The site includes descriptions of all the trails in San Diego, including length, elevation, difficulty, hiking time, weather patterns and Google Earth maps. San Diegans are now able to explore the trails with this resource.
Brad’s advice for beginners: “Take risks, see things and do things outside of your comfort zones. I’ve never heard someone say, “I wish I hadn’t gone on that hike”, so make sure you know what you are doing before you embark on your adventure. The internet is full of information about hiking. You can find out where to hike, what you should bring, when to go and what you need to know. There’s no reason to become a statistic just because you didn’t do your homework.
#10 The Helpful Hiker
Writer: Lauren & Luke
The Helpful hiker is a blog that offers gear reviews and family hiking tips. It shows how even as a newly-parent, you can find adventure. She believes that it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money or fancy equipment to go on a trip to exotic destinations in order to have fun. It is enough to bring your loved ones along.
#11 The Colorado Hiker
Writers: Josh Jason and Liz
This is the best source for hiking trails in Colorado. The majority of hikes are in the Denver area, although there are a few near Colorado Springs as well as a few more distant areas. Each entry includes driving directions, details of the route, and a list notable sights along that trail.
#12 The Ultralight Hiker
Writer: Steve Jones
You want to lose some weight (from your backpack)? Here you can find reviews and DIY solutions on ultralight backpacking gear. The majority of the posts are from Australia and New Zealand. However, there are a few Europeans and North Americans.
#13 London Hiker
Writer: Catherine
This blog is here to help change that. This blog offers a wealth of information about trails that are easily accessible by public transport, so Londoners and visitors can spend more time outdoors.
#14 Lady On A Rock
Writer: Christy
She is an elementary school teacher during most of the year, and she hikes the PCT in the summer. “Rockin”, as her trail name is called, chronicles all her hikes through California and beyond. Her videos and detailed trail information are inspiring. Her most popular posts include DIY trail strategies, such as how to attach an umbrella to your backpack.
#15 Appalachian Trail Girl
Writer: Megan Maxwell
What started as a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, has now become a worldwide journey to find the most beautiful hikes. Megan Maxwell blogs about her trek in the mountains of Nepal. She also has articles on hiking throughout the U.S. and the Andes Mountains. Her posts often discuss trail life, including the challenges that it brings.
#16 Bike Hike Safari
Brad McCartney is the writer.
Brad McCartney, an Australian adventurer, is no slouch. He has cycled Alaska’s Dalton Highway as well as faced grizzlys in the Montana mountains. Brad McCartney’s adventures take him from Australia to North America and back again. His stories are often personal and give a deep insight into what it is like for a hiker.
#17 Here I Hike
Writers: Alex and Karina
Alex and Karina, a trail couple, focus on mountains in Romania and Eastern Europe that are not given the attention they deserve. You can use their stories to plan your own trip. In no time, you’ll be booking a ticket to Bucharest.
Here are the top three tips for new hikers from I Hike:
- Buy a pair of comfortable and durable boots. They may seem pricey at first, but will pay off in the end. They will not only accompany you for many hikes over a long period, but they will also become the backbone to your gear if you choose the right boot. There are plenty of articles online that will help you choose the perfect boot. However, we recommend keeping an eye on the breathability and impermeability of the membrane as well as the grip of your sole. These are the two most important factors. Try out different models before you decide on “ONE”, as every brand will feel different on your foot.
- Research the trail, its length, vertical climb, difficulty, resupply points for water, etc., before each hike. It is never too early to learn about your surroundings. You might save your own life at some point. With so many GPS apps, I no longer use maps or compasses. I highly recommend that you get one. There are many GPS tracks available on the internet that will guide you without fear of getting lost. Don’t forget to check the battery life of your phone
- Check the weather! Check the weather! Check the weather! This is so important! Even though the weather can change quickly in the mountains, it is important to plan your trip with the best possible weather forecast. Even experienced hikers can be put at risk by going on an adventure when bad weather is predicted.
#18 Hiking Society
Writer: John Feeney
This blog’s technical approach is refreshing. The trail descriptions are detailed, including distance, average hiking speed and elevation gain. Gear reviews are also clear and concise, with pros and cons. Other sites may focus on inspiring stories of hiking, but The Hiking Society provides the technical information needed to get on the trail.
#19 Must Hike Must Eat
Writer: Shannon
This blog is for anyone who loves the paleo lifestyle. Shannon, aka “Snuffy”, provides detailed accounts of her adventures in the wilds of the Western U.S. and also offers great paleo-friendly recipes. Who wouldn’t want a chef to cook at their campsite?
Snuffy‘s Great Advice: The hiking community has a saying, HYOH. Hike Your Own Walk. There are many good tips out there, like carrying your 10 essentials and telling someone where you’re going. But if I could remind you of one thing it would be that there is no right way to hiking and that there are as different ways to hike than there are hikers. You won’t find out what works for someone else until you try it yourself. Do what you feel comfortable doing and make your own path!
#20 Brown Gal Trekker
Author: Marinel
Hikers are not born, they’re created. Brown Gal Trekker is a great inspiration for anyone who hasn’t grown up hiking but found their calling in the mountains later in life. Marinel has followed her calling all over the world from the Himalayas up to Easter Island. Nothing will inspire you more than her stories to put on your boots.
#21 Long Distance Hiker
Writer: Beardoh and Sweetpea
Since the release of the film Wild, many people have wanted the challenge of the AT and PCT. This blog contains trail journals of America’s most famous long trails. It gives readers an idea of how it would feel to hike them.
#22 Appalachian Thru Hiker
Kevin McCourt
Kevin McCourt explains everything you need know about hiking the Appalachian Trail. What gear will I need? Where can I buy it cheaply? Will this be the life-changing event I hope it will be? He examines the reasons why people hike the AT, and how they often have nothing to do hiking.
#23 Hiker to Hiker
Writer: Danny Bernstein
If you click around, there is a lot of information to be found on this blog. Danny Bernstein has been hiking since the 1970s. The blog contains information about dozens of U.S. national parks, a guide for the Camino de Santiago, as well as some hiking tips. Danny Bernstein has written several books, mainly about hiking in the mountains of North Carolina.
#24 Trish Alexander Sage
Writers: Patricia Ellis Herr Alexandra Herr and Sage Herr
This blog is written by a mother (Trish), and her two daughters. It tells the stories of their experiences on the trails in New Hampshire. Trish is the author of Up. This memoir covers many of the issues that the blog discusses. Alex and Sage, who host the Granite Gals Podcast, interview women who love the mountains in New England.
#25 Compulsive Hiker
Writer: Michael
Many people dream of hiking in the Sierra Nevada of California, or the Colorado Rockies. But what about the Ouachita mountains of Oklahoma? Michael can help hikers from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri find the trail they are looking for. Michael’s descriptions are concise and straight to the point. He includes trailhead locations, shuttle service, and resources. If you are in the Lower Midwest, this blog is an excellent resource.
#26 Life On The Dirt
Shelly Smith
Shelly Smith lives an adventurous life, whether she’s riding plywood down a Nicaraguan volcano or climbing mountains in Glacier National Park. Shelly Smith’s blog is filled with helpful tips ranging from ways to reduce your luggage to saving money for an overseas adventure.
#27 Halfway Hike
Writer: Mark
This one is for all you Brits. Mark hails from West Yorkshire, and has a lot to say about the area. He also talks about some other places. Mark’s photos of the English countryside will have you feeling like you are reading a book.
Mark’s advice for beginners: “If planning to hike or trek a new trail, do not rely on the fact that it is well marked and signed. Have a look at the map before you go. You can walk the route as you study the map. You can get a sense of the terrain and where you will encounter some rough terrain or exposure. This way, there won’t be any ‘uh-oh’ moments during the hike. “Have a great hike!”
This is a cool hiking blog HTML0 #28
Writers: Mike and Randi
Mike, Randi and their three sons are behind this hiking blog, as is their dog Sweetpea. The blog recounts their adventures in the wilderness and provides inspiring stories for readers who would like to spend more quality time with those they love.
#29 Barefoot Hiker
Heather Newman
Heather Newman, the author of this book, enjoys hiking without shoes. Although her hiking style might not be suitable for everyone, the poetic stories she tells of her wanderings through the wilderness will inspire anyone who wishes to enjoy the beauty of nature.
#30 Hike Free and Live
Writer: Karl
You know that the White Mountains are the best place to hike in New England. They have granite stairs leading up into the sky. New Hampshire has many beautiful mountains within a small area. This makes it a great place for day hiking. Live Free and Hike posts detailed descriptions of New Hampshire’s trails. They even include information on less-known places that are frequented by locals.
These blogs should keep you informed about the world and hiking. But more importantly, these blogs should inspire you to enjoy more time outdoors, taking in nature’s wonders. Happy hiking!