We all need more fresh air and adventure – now more than ever!
Being out hiking in nature is perhaps the healthiest activity available, rejuvenating the soul, challenging our bodies, and quietening our minds.
To help motivate you to get out on the trail (or just inspire your Instagram feed!) I’ve put together a list of my favorite hiking quotes and combined them with original photos that I captured on hikes across the globe.
Whether you’re planning a trek through the woods, a strenuous mountain climb, or just an afternoon wander along the coast, these quotes about hiking will help give you some motivation to explore our beautiful natural world.
🥾 Original Quotes About Hiking
I thought I’d start by providing you with some ORIGINAL quotes on hiking.
You won’t find these anywhere else on the internet because they were made up right here at We Dream of Travel. This is a collection of original, unique hiking quotes that we’ve taken from journals, conversations, or thought up just for this blog!
We had a lot of fun creating some of these and hope they’ll help provide you with some inspiration, or at least a little chuckle!
- “We’re constantly shown the “real world” on our screens but we come face to face with the real world out on the trail.” – Adam Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “I’ve never understood hiring Sherpas to claim you’ve conquered Everest. I’d rather climb a mountain half the size and be able to say I’ve done it on my own.” – Sophie Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “The sun shines brightest from the peaks of mountains.” – Adam Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “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.”– Adam Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “The mountains are the last place where man can feel truly wild.” – Sophie Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “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.”– Sophie Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “I go on hikes expecting to see the great outdoors but spend most of the time lost in my own head.” – Sophie Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “Vanity dies on nature trails.” – Adam Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “I’ve never liked loop trails; they rob you of the joy of the return journey.” – Sophie Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “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.” – Adam Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “I’ve never understood treadmills when there’s so many trails to hike.” – Sophie Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “You can visit the same trail twice, but you’ll never take the same hike.” – Sophie Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “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.” – Sophie Marland, We Dream of Travel
- “I used to hike… but then I got a drone.” – Adam Marland, We Dream of Travel
🗻 Short Hiking Quotes
Because sometimes you just want to keep it short and sweet…
- “Not all who wander are lost.” – JRR Tolkien
- “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” – Beverly Sills
- “You need special shoes for hiking – and a bit of a special soul as well.” – Terri Guillemets
- “The more you know, the less you need.” – Yvon Chouinard
- “Hiking is the answer. Who cares what the question is.”
- “An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” – Henry David Thoreau
- “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.“
- “Leave the road, take the trails.” – Pythagoras
- “It feels good to be lost in the right direction.”
- “Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 130+ Sunset Quotes to Inspire You
🧗 Motivational Hiking Quotes
Sometimes we’ve got all our hiking gadgets and gear ready but just need a little extra motivation to get going! Hopefully, these motivational hiking quotes will help you get outside and out on the trail.
- “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
- “We don’t stop hiking because we grow old, we grow old because we stop hiking.”
- “When everything feels like an uphill struggle, think about the view from the top.”
- “Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.” – Frank Herbert
- “People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.” – Edmund Hillary
- “Fall down seven times and stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb
- “If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.” – Raymond Inmon
- “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
🦋 Inspirational Hiking Quotes
Maybe you’re looking for some inspiration or just need an inspirational hiking caption to accompany your Instagram photo – either way these should do the job!
- “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” – John Muir
- “Do more things that make you forget to check your phone.”
- “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
- “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.”
- “Remember to look up to the stars, not down to your feet.” – Stephen Hawking
- “The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- “They are able who think they are able.” – Virgil
- “It’s easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top.” – Henry Ward Beecher
LOOKING FOR MORE HIKING INSPIRATION? HERE’S ONE OF OUR FAVOURITE HIKES: Kalepa Ridge Trail
😆 Funny Quotes About Hiking
Life should be about fun, so we hope these funny hiking quotes will give you a smile.
- “Cover the earth before it covers you.” – Dagobert D. Runes
- “Think outside. No box required.”
- “Sleeping bags are the soft tacos of the bear world.”
- “Hiking side effects include sweating, euphoria and general awesomeness.”
- “Bring a compass. It’s awkward when you have to eat your friends.“
- “I might look like I am listening to you, but in my mind, I am hiking.“
- “Hiking and happiness go hand in hand or foot in boot.” – Diane Spicer
- “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
- “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
🚶Trekking Quotes
- “The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot.” – Werner Herzog
- “Carry as little as possible, but choose that little with care.” – Earl Shaffer
- “There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” – Sir Rannulph Fiennes
- “Walking is a man’s best medicine.” – Hippocrates
- “Hiking is not for everyone. Notice the wilderness is mostly empty.” – Sonja Yoerg
- “We live in a fast-paced society. Walking slows us down.” – Robert Sweetgall
- “I found far more answers in the woods than I ever did in the city.” – Mary Davis
- “Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.” – Henry David Thoreau
- “After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value.” – G.M. Trevelyan
- “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
- “The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.” – Robert Frost
- “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
🌲 Quotes About Hiking Trails
- “Only one who wanders finds a new path.”
- “A path is a prior interpretation of the best way to traverse a landscape.” – Rebecca Solnit
- “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
- “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
- “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” – Frank A. Clark
- “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “The trail leads not merely north and south, but up to the body, mind, and soul of man.” – Harold Allen
BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO GET OFF YOUR FEET OR NEED HELP GETTING TO THE NEXT TRAIL: 120+ Quotes About Road Trips
⛰ Quotes About Hiking Mountains
Mountains are probably our favourite landscapes to photograph.
There’s nothing quite like being out in the fresh air surrounded by natures giants. They also offer some of the most epic, awe-inspiring views!
- “Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” – Ed Viesturs
- “You’re off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” – Dr. Seuss
- “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it.“ – Andy Rooney
- “I like being near the top of a mountain. One can’t get lost here.” – Wislawa Szymborska
- “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
- “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
- “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
FIND EVEN MORE MOUNTAIN INSPIRATION: 120+ Top Mountain Quotes
🌅 Hiking Captions for Instagram
Some of our favourite photos come from hikes… in fact most of them have required some kind of hike! But coming up with an Instagram caption to match those shots isn’t always easy. So if you’re looking for a hiking caption for Instagram then we’ve got you covered!
- “Stop following others and create your own path in life.”
- “Some women want diamonds… others just want a hammock, a campfire and some peace & quiet.”
- “Between every two pines there is a doorway to a new world.” – John Muir
- “Take only memories, leave only footprints.” – Chief Si’ahl
- “I’d rather be hiking in the rain, than sitting inside at a desk on a sunny day.”
- “Happiness walks on busy feet.”
- “I hike to burn off the crazy.“
- “The best view comes after the hardest climb.”
- “Let’s wander where the wifi is weak.”
- “The best journeys in life are those that answer questions you never thought to ask.” – Rich Ridgeway
🧭 Adventure Quotes About Hiking
We’ve had our fair share of adventures while out hiking! From little cuts and scrapes, to getting lost on trails or coming across completely unexpected locations. The adventures are what makes hiking so much fun and they always make a good story to tell!
- “Jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul.”
- “Not all girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice… some girls are made of adventure and wine and all things fine.”
- “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost
- “Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” – Amelia Earhart
- “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” – T.S. Eliot
- “There is always an adventure waiting in the woods.” – Katelyn S. Bolds
- “Embrace the detours.” – Kevin Charbonneau
- “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
- “If happiness is the goal – and it should be, then adventures should be top priority.” – Richard Branson
- “You must go on adventures to find out where you truly belong.” – Sue Fitzmaurice
DISCOVER MORE INSPIRATION: DREAM DESTINATIONS TO ADD TO YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET LIST
🌱 Quotes About Walking in Nature
It’s when we’re out in nature that we feel most alive. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being immersed in all the sights, sounds and smells of nature.
- “A walk in nature walks the soul back home.“ – Mary Davis
- “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.“ – Gary Snyder
- “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
- “To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” – Mary Davis
- “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir
- “Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.“ – Albert Einstein
- “I have a therapist. Her name is nature.”
- “In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.“ – Aristotle
- “Walking: the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise.” – Carrie Latet
- “I love walking in the woods, along the trails, by the beaches. I love being part of nature. I love walking alone. It is therapy. One needs to be alone, to recharge one’s batteries.” – Grace Kelly
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 200+ Beach Quotes
👯♀️ Hiking With Friends Quotes
While a solo hiking trip can be therapeutic and provide some much needed alone time in nature, there’s something wonderful about sharing a hike with a loved one.
Here are a few quotes about hiking with friends to inspire you to take a friend along with you 😉
- “Happiness is hiking with friends.”
- “Never go on trips with anyone you do not love.”
- “Let’s travel together and get lost in beautiful places.”
- “In life, it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with.” – Charles Schulz
- “Camping is not a date; it’s an endurance test. If you can survive camping with someone, you should marry them on the way home.”
- “Always hike with someone in worse shape than you. The bears out there will know.“
- “You keep me safe, I’ll keep you wild.”
- “It’s not where you go, but who you go with.”
- “Let’s find some beautiful place to get lost together.”
- “We are all travelers in the wilderness of the world and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
- “It’s not how many miles you walk, it’s how many smiles you share.”
🏃♀️ More Quotes on Hiking!
- “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
- “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
- “For hiking is one of those things that you can only do when you have the determination in you.”
- “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
- “The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.” – John Muir
- “Remember to turn everything off once a week – including your brain – and walk somewhere quiet.”
- “Oh, how can I put into words the joys of a walk over country such as this; the scenes that delight the eyes, the blessed peace of mind, the sheer exuberance which fills your soul as you tread the firm turf? This is something to be lived, not read about.” – Alfred Wainwright
- “If the winter is too cold and the summer is too hot, you are not a hiker.”
- “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
- “You, who know that all the bruises and scrapes from scrambling and rambling are the best because they remind you of being alive.” – Madison Perrins
- “From up here, down there just seems so unimportant.” – We Dream of Travel
🧐 Final thoughts on Hiking Quotes & IG Captions
The two of us work very hard to create these free travel guides to help you plan your dream vacation. If you think we’ve done a good job and would like to say thanks, please consider clicking the donate button below 🙂
We hope this list of our favourite quotes about hiking has given you some inspiration and hopefully motivated you to get out for a stroll!
Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram if you use any of them for your captions – we love seeing your photos and sharing them!
Let us know if we’ve missed any of your favourite hiking quotes. We’d love to add your suggestions to the list.
Don’t forget to check out our other travel quotes blogs for more inspiration:
- 120+ Best Mountain Quotes
- All the best Ocean Quotes
- 275+ Nature Quotes and Captions for Instagram
- Road Trip Quotes to Inspire Wanderlust
- 200+ Quotes About the Beach
- Best Sea Quotes
- 160+ Quotes About Waterfalls
- Top Sunset Quotes and Captions
Before you go, you may find some of these related posts useful as well:
📌 Enjoyed this list of hiking quotes? Pin It! 🙂
those are lovely quotes!
Thank you 🙂
Lovely quotes about hiking! I’ve read some of these before but some are very new to me!
Thank you so much! We hope you found some inspiration from them 🙂
The mountains are calling and I must go…John Muir
This is one of your favourites too! 🙂
Great hikes – I think I enjoyed your original quotes best – it shows how much you love getting out on the trails. 🙂
I totally agree about places like Everest. I’d prefer to hike smaller mountains under my own steam (although, once we hikes in Morocco with a donkey carrying our bags, and I have to admit, I loved it!)The only one i disagree about is loop trails- I always love loop trails! 😉
Thank you so much Josy! We’re so glad you enjoyed the original quotes 🙂 I think I would enjoy the company of the donkey!!
Those are some great and inspiring quotes, we definitely need them sometimes
I’m glad you enjoyed them 🙂
Fantastic list of hiking quotes! I haven’t been hiking too much this year but it’s getting me in the mood again!
Same! I definitely can’t wait to get out hiking again soon 🙂
I feel so basic, but I absolutely love quotes! Some people think they are overdone and overrated, but their loss. Thanks so much for compiling these!
Haha I totally agree! I’m glad you love them 🙂
Great quotes! #125 is one of my favorites. Now I want to go on a hike!
Thank you. That’s a good one 😉 Hope you get out hiking soon!
Thanks for these quotes. They are fun and inspirational.
We’re glad you enjoyed them Rhonda 🙂
thanks for this! enjoyed reading these quotes about hiking.
Thanks Carl. I’m so glad you enjoyed them 🙂
That was an awesome collection of quotes on hiking. Hiking as a passion is one of the best feelings to be able to reach at heights literally. Thanks for the content and hoping for more to come!
Thank you so much Ritesh. I’m so glad to hear you found these hiking quotes useful 🙂
Your blog is super cute. This is my favorite “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
Thank you so much Jay! We’re glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Inspiring quotes, Love them. My favorite quote that I used mostly on my social posts. “You need special shoes for hiking – and a bit of a special soul as well.” – Terri Guillemets”
Thanks so much! We’re glad you enjoyed them 🙂
I especially resonate with the idea that “The mountains are the last place where man can feel truly wild.” Hiking isn’t just about conquering peaks; it’s about reconnecting with our primal instincts and finding a sense of freedom that modern life often obscures. Thanks for compiling such an insightful list of quotes – they’re not just words; they’re a call to embark on journeys of self-exploration and awe-inspiring landscapes. Happy trails, fellow adventurers!
I was a professional hiker 3 years back but then I got a back injury. I have consulted a lot of doctors and they said that this can’t be cured. But, after reading these inspirational quotes from you I wanna do hiking again and will do it in some days! Thank you for boosting my enthusiasm.
Hello, I have read your article and it inspires me to continue hiking in a proper manner. I have left hiking 2 years ago due to bad back. But I think after reading this quotes I am ready to continue my journey again. Thank you so much!