Through forests or over mountains, hiking speaks to your sense of adventure. You feel more connected to the natural world and have a rare moment of quiet in this busy world.
Books about hiking provide that peace during times you can’t hit the trail yourself. You don’t have to be a hiker to enjoy these stories. You just have to love a good journey.
Books About Hiking
Here is a list of books where hiking is the heart of the story.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
After losing her mother and watching her life fall apart, Cheryl Strayed decides to hike over 1,000 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail. No experience, no training, no plan. Along the way, she faces hunger, blisters, wildlife, and her past.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson decides to hike the Appalachian Trail with a friend, despite being middle-aged and out of shape. Their adventure quickly becomes a comedy of errors filled with equipment disasters, bizarre encounters, and questionable wilderness skills. In all of it, Bryson confronts certain truths about himself.
The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen
Peter Matthiessen joins biologist George Schaller on a trek through Nepal’s remote mountains to hopefully spot the rare snow leopard. The journey becomes spiritual, as Matthiessen comes to terms with his inner and outer worlds.
Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart by Carrot Quinn
Carrot Quinn is tired of the city, where life is always in front of screens and everyone is disconnected from each other. To escape, she takes on the Pacific Crest Trail, where she meets new people, faces loneliness, and rediscovers purpose.
Mountains of the Mind by Robert Macfarlane
Robert Macfarlane explores why humans feel compelled to climb dangerous mountains, combining history with his own climbing experiences. He traces how, over the centuries, our relationship with mountains changed from fear to fascination.
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
After losing their home and learning her husband is ill, Raynor Winn and her husband walk the South West Coast Path in England. They carry little and live on the edge. As they walk, they face storms, hunger, and doubt.
Tracks by Robyn Davidson
Robyn Davidson plans on walking the 1,700 miles from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean. With her are her dog, Diggitty, and four camels, Bub, Dookie, Goliath, and Zeleika. Along the way, she must battle the fierce heat, isolation, wild animals, and self-doubt.
Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery
Ben Montgomery tells the remarkable story of Emma Gatewood, who became the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone at age 67. She did it in canvas shoes with a homemade bag. She found freedom and healing through walking, inspiring countless other women to pursue the outdoors.
On Trails by Robert Moor
Robert Moor takes every hiker’s love of trails to the next level. Why do they exist? How do they form? What do they reveal about humanity? Seeking answers, he follows paths made by insects, animals, and humans, traveling across different landscapes and time periods.
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Jon Krakauer explores the story of Chris McCandless, a young man who gave up a comfortable life to live alone in the Alaskan wilderness, where he eventually died of starvation. Krakauer uses McCandless’s journal, interviews, and his own time in the wild to understand what led him to take such a risky path.
Why People Love Books About Hiking
Hiking books tap into something deep and timeless. They show ordinary people doing brave, bold things with nothing more than a backpack and their will to keep going. They are proof that you don’t need special skills to transform your life. Sometimes, you just have to take the next step.
These stories aren’t only about walking through nature. They’re about emotional journeys, too. Every trail has ups and downs. Every journey tests your limits. Every step forward teaches you something new about yourself.
When you follow someone up a mountain in a book, you’re also walking beside them through their transformation.
What’s your favorite book about hiking? Share your thoughts below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
