Health Benefits Of Hiking In Nature

Ready to discover the benefits of hiking? Close your eyes and imagine this. You’re in the great outdoors on one of the many forest hiking trails. This natural setting has birds are chirping around you. Squirrels in there natural environment are running up and down trees. The wind blows past, whistling in your ear. The fresh cool breeze. The smell of the running stream trail wisps by. Sun rays beam through the clouds and hit your skin giving you a sense of warmth. If that small imagery moment made you feel more relaxed, then you should hit the trails to discover all the benefits of hiking.

To Show a hiking trail in the woods — Wooded Path

It’s actually not what TV shows portray it as. An exhausting, tiring activity that will leave you breathless. If done right, it’s actually really fun and beneficial! Hiking is great not only a great way to get some physical exercise, but also has positive impacts on you mentally. Many people have told their own story of how hiking has helped them. So, then how is hiking so beneficial?

Mental Health Benefits Of Hiking

It Clears Your Mind

Ambient noises have been proven to help clear one’s mind and have a calming effect. And where do most of those noises come from? Nature! The whole setting of hiking helps lower your adrenaline and can help you calm down.
You get to be with yourself and your mind. As well with the constant exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Helps Induce A State Of Presence & Peace

Most times in the day, we are not in the present. We are already on to the next part of our day before the hour is even up. Hiking helps ease your mind. You switch to having to spend your time in the presence that you are in at that moment. It’s great hobby for people who live such a fast-paced life.

Viewing the first sign of fall foliage — Fall Foliage

It Reduces Stress, Anxiety, & Feelings Of Depression

It has been proven that taking a hiking trip shows to lower the affects of anxiety and depression. Having it have you only focus on what is going on in the present. By focusing on the here and now you will not be able to send your mind racing into what might happen in the future. This in return helps reduce your stress levels and improve your brain function.

Helps Increase Feelings Of Happiness & Contentment

Rumination, or negative thinking, can be debilitating. It starts as a thought and spreads, affecting every area of your life and can lead to mental fatigue. Before long, you might find yourself feeling low, alone and/or lost.
According to multiple studies, this style of thinking can play a role in mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.

Water flowing down from a dam which can have calming health benefits of hiking — Water Flow From A Dam

Is Hiking Better Than Just Taking A Walk

In a simple answer, yes. Hiking helps reduce the effects part of your brain that brings about bad moods. When you take a stroll in the city, you’re still surrounded by the honking horns and bright lights. When hiking, it is just you and nature. Breathing in that fresh air is better than the contaminated air that cars leave. Regular hiking in green spaces helps to bring about positive emotions. It has also been shown to help restore cognitive function in the brain. Hiking can also help you with problem-solving skills.

A male mallard duck taking off from the water — Male Duck

Now you know some of the mental benefits to hiking. There are some great physical benefits as well.

What Are Some Physical Benefits Of Hiking

Reducing Stress Is One Of The Great Benefits Of Hiking

Hiking actually increases endorphins & norepinephrine in the brain. These chemicals help the brain deal with stress more efficiently. Over time, you will find yourself less stressed in your everyday life.
The sounds of nature have proven to reduce stress. As well as becoming soothing to the ears. Most people choose to hike for the fact that the sounds bring comfort. And just being outside bring a sense of calmness to their state of being.

Smooth pathway in the woods — Hiking Trail

One Of The Benefits Of Hiking Is Sleeping Better

Studies have shown that being exposed to natural light, which you will get vitamin d from, during a hike can also improve your circadian rhythm. This is the natural sleep cycle that you go through each night. Daylight helps reinforce this. Down the line this will show improvement to your sleep.
Hiking as well keeps you alert and works your brain. You will need to use your mind as you pay attention to the uneven surfaces that contain things like tree roots and rocks.Uneven terrain makes your mind work more than you think it does. This can lead to more fatigue. Usually before bed we have to much pent-up energy and have a hard time falling or staying asleep. Hiking helps manage that energy, so that when it’s time to sleep it is easier to relax. So, if you struggle with any sleep issues such as insomnia, hiking can help big time.

Wildflowers along the trail — Flowers On The Trail

Lowers Risk Of Heart Disease

Hiking already is a powerful cardio workout. It helps your cardiovascular health by getting your heart rate up while you are hiking. Exercising reduces the chances for heart problems. Which makes hiking one of the best ways for people who want to lower their risks of heart disease. Those who did not take to a physical activity or hiking, were 2x as likely to get a coronary disease.

Helps Lower Blood Pressure

To reduce your blood pressure, do either one long or a few shorter bouts of exercise throughout the day.
It’s great to have a continuous exercise session of 30 minutes or more most days of the week.
Studies have shown that 40 minutes a day lowers the blood pressure of people who deal with hypertension. Hiking as well offers cardiovascular benefits for people who are morbidly obese.
The muscle power needed to climb a road on an incline, a hill or a mountain can help you achieve a greater level of fitness. Physical activity such as hiking can lower blood pressure up to 10 points.

Four rocks that have been smoothed over the years — Smooth Rocks

Improve Strength & Balance

Not only does hiking improve you on the inside, but also the outside. Hiking helps boost bone density. Which great since it is a weight-bearing exercise.
It helps build strength in many muscle groups like your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, core muscles and the muscles in your hips & lower legs. It is also a great full-body workout.
Hiking is a great exercise for strengthening your core muscles and improves your balance.
Since you are walking around on rough uneven terrain and very uneven paths, your balance will start to improve in order to sustain the hike on the terrain.
As an added bonus it can also help with weight loss.

One of the benefits of hiking along the pathway among the tall evergreens is the smell of the forest — Shaded Trail

Hiking is always a fun activity to do. It has been proven that going hiking boosts your mood and 2x as much if you’re with others. There are so many benefits to hiking. It gives healthy changes to your body for the long run. It also doesn’t require a gym membership or spends tons of money on equipment making it one of the best forms of exercise. All you need is you and some good pair of hiking shoes, a backpack with some essential equipment and mother nature. You can learn more about us and our journey here.