Blog Profiles: Hiking & Backpacking Blogs
Welcome to Blog Profiles! Each week, we select a topic and handful of blogs that do a great job contributing to the conversation. As many of us enjoy the outdoors this summer, this week’s roundup focuses on a few of our favorite hiking and backpacking blogs. Do you have a blog that deserves recognition? Tweet our writers at @BeyondBylines.
As we continue to reemerge into the world, some of us may still be a bit wary of cutting out all the social distancing. If that sounds like you, hiking may be the perfect activity.
Attendance at national parks is surging and it’s easy to understand why. People are ready to get back to exploring. But you don’t have to visit a busy national park to experience a beautiful hike.
These hiking and backpacking blogs provide tips, gear reviews, maps, and more to help you hit the trails.
1. The Big Outside
This blog is a top resource for stories and tips for hikers, backpackers and anyone interested in outdoor adventures. It was created by Michael Lanza, a former editor for Backpacker magazine and an outdoor adventurer with three decades of experience.
In addition to the helpful gear reviews, the Big Outside blog features some stunning photography that will make you want to hit the trails ASAP. Another great feature is that many of the trip ideas can work for families. A paid membership is available to get access to bonus content. And if you need the extra help, Lanza will help you plan a custom trip.
Here are a few must-reads to get inspired for your next hike:
- Big Scenery, No Crowds: 7 Top Backpacking Trips for Solitude
- The Best Sun Shirts of 2021
- Photo Gallery: 30 Gorgeous Backcountry Lakes
Follow @MichaelALanza on Twitter.
With #backpacking season upon us, I'm flashing back a couple of summers to my last #backpacking trip on the #TetonCrestTrail. Just posted photos from it here: https://t.co/qzJF957Z0H #Tetons @GrandTetonNPS #NationalParks #hiking pic.twitter.com/eISpkuxtOm
— Michael Lanza (@MichaelALanza) June 24, 2021
2. CleverHiker
Couple Dave and Annie manage the CleverHiker blog. Their goal is to “make backpacking easier, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone,” while also encouraging low-impact travel and wilderness conservation.
The blog is full of best-of lists, trip guides, tutorials and gear reviews for hikers and backpackers. The trip guides provide a handy breakdown of key details like distance, the average number of days it takes to complete and the best time of year to visit.
Gear guides are available for a wide range of necessary items like water bottles, trekking poles and GPS watches, to name just a few. And make sure to check out Dave’s YouTube channel for tutorials on everything from building a fire to first aid and bear encounter tips.
I loved these posts:
- McKenzie River Trail Backpacking Guide (Adding this one to my list of dream hikes)
- 10 Tips for Hiking & Backpacking in the Rain
- Hiking Boots vs. Hiking Shoes vs. Trail Running Shoes
Follow @cleverhiker on Facebook.
3. Hikespeak
If you’re looking for hiking trails in your area, Hikespeak is a great resource. This simple, yet thorough, database has details on more than 700 trails across several U.S. states, Australia, and New Zealand. Every trail on the site was experienced by blog runner Seth Smigelski.
Get information like distance, elevation change, approximate hiking times and directions. The full write-ups provide a ton of detail, so you’ll be well-prepared when you start your trek.
I’m adding these trails to my bucket list:
- ‘Akaka Falls Loop Trail in ‘Akaka Falls State Park (Hawaii)
- Emerald Lake, Dream Lake, and Nymph Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- June Lake in Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument (Washington)
Follow @hikespeak on Facebook.
4. The Trek
If you’re planning a long-distance hike or backpacking trip, The Trek is the site for you. The blog has more than 100 hikers sharing their stories. “Whether you want to be entertained, informed, or just live vicariously through the adventures of those who have dropped everything to walk ridiculously long distances, you’ve come to the right place.”
The Trek is overflowing with helpful posts about the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. And if that wasn’t enough, you can also find hiking news, gear reviews, hiker profiles and several podcasts.
Recommended reading:
- 19 Must-Have Gear Items According to 2021 Thru-Hikers
- Tips for Hiking Scotland’s West Highland Way
- New Mexico Gets Grueling but Gorgeous
Follow @thetrek_ on Twitter.
When's the best time to hike [insert trail]? We've got you covered.https://t.co/6k8lzex1SA
— The Trek (@thetrekco) May 19, 2021
5. Hiking for Her
This blog was created by Diane Spicer, an avid hiker who has conquered trails across the U.S. despite the sometimes tough weather, terrain, animal encounters and safety concerns.
Why create a hiking blog specifically for women? Diane explains: “Women approach hiking differently than men, both psychologically and physically. Being outdoors means many different things to women, somewhat dependent on where they find themselves in the natural progression of the life cycle, but also on what their hiking attitudes are based upon.”
Some of the unique blog post categories include What to Wear, Older (Wiser!) Hikers, Injury Prevention and Find a Hiking Partner.
These thorough guides stood out:
- Women’s Apparel Guide for the Best Day Hike and Backpacking Clothes
- Best Solo Hiking Tips for Female Hikers
- Hiking Injury Prevention: How to Stay Out of Trouble
Follow @hikingforher on Facebook.
P.S. Ever wonder how we come up with ideas for our blog profiles? Our handy list of industries and subjects on PR Newswire for Journalists stays top of mind. If you’re a blogger or journalist looking for outdoors/camping news, let us know. We can customize a newsfeed for you.
Rocky Parker is the Digital Content Lead at Cision PR Newswire. She works with journalists, bloggers, and content creators to create their targeted newsfeeds from PR Newswire for Journalists. Rocky has also counseled on content writing best practices. Check out her previous posts for Beyond Bylines. In her free time, Rocky can usually be found cooking, binge-watching a new show, or playing with her puppy, Hudson.
