Step into Nature: A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking & Discovering Serenity

Updated February 13th, 2024

To Hike or not to Hike? My answer – grab those hiking shoes, a bottle of water, a small snack maybe, and run as fast as you can out your door before you change your mind. I promise, you will have an experience that will make you go back to the trails again and again.

I started getting more into hiking this past summer when I joined a local hiking group. It’s been fun, it’s been challenging, peaceful, refreshing, and overall one of the best decisions I ever made.

There is something about getting ready to walk in nature’s path that brings a sense of excitement, which quickly turns into a sense of oneness with nature when you get to the trails.

That excitement can also make you feel overwhelmed as a beginner hiker. I felt the same way the first time I went out hiking.

You might feel overwhelmed about safety, about physical fitness, difficulty of trail, appropriate clothing, weather, appropriate shoes – and the list can go on and on.

I promise you – it only gets better from here.

Here are a few things I did, and still do to make sure I have a great hiking experience.

Join a Hiking Group

Joining hiking groups on Meetup is one of the best things I ever did. You get the best of both worlds when you join hiking groups – the great outdoors and new friends who share a common interest.

The best part? There are Meetup groups all over the world, so if you are on vacation, you can find a local meetup group to hike with.

Another hiking group I found and love is Hikerbabes. Hikerbabes is a community of amazing outdoorsy women who love to hike.

If you find yourself in Lisbon, Portugal, join this amazing group and find some hiking buddies: Lisbon | Girl Gone International.

Hike with an Open Mind

Remember you are on the trails to have a great experience – fresh air, great views, and oneness with nature. Find something to laugh about when you get tired on the trail or your group gets lost a bit. Remember you get to add an extra mile or two when you get lost, which is a win win.

Stop for a moment to capture a view around you; and most of all be proud of yourself for taking this great step to a healthier and happier you.

Go Prepared

If you are hiking with a group, the group leader will provide information about the trail in the meetup group. You can also research a trail before you meet up with your group.

AllTrails is a great app for trail maps, reviews, and pictures. Your group members are also a great resource if they’ve hiked that trail before. One of my group members gave me great tips before we hiked the Cold Spring Harbor trail. Even though I found that hike challenging, I came in mentally prepared.

Be sure to wear proper hiking shoes and appropriate clothing for the weather. I love this article on hiking for beginners. It provides great tips on choosing your hiking gear and so much more.

For most local hikes, you will simply need appropriate clothing and shoes, and a water bottle. A snack is also a great idea if you believe you might need it. Sometimes, I throw a protein bar in my pocket or hiking bag depending on time of the hike.

One of my favorite hiking clothing (in all seasons) is this leggings. They are very comfortable to wear on hikes, and I love the size of the pockets. I love them so much, I have them in 4 different colors. Durability is also excellent. I’ve worn the leggings over and over again on various hikes for almost 2 years and they are still holding strong.

Hiking is an amazing outdoor activity, and I hope you follow these tips to experience all the beauty the world has to offer.

Enjoy every sound of crunching leaves in Autumn, water rushing through a creek in the summer; the smell of fresh air in the winter, and the crisp sound of birds on a beautiful Spring morning.

If you ever find yourself in the state of New York, I share some of my favorite hiking trails in New York here.

You can also read more about my hiking adventure on the Seven Hidden Valleys trail in South Portugal here, and my fun hiking experience on Ram Head Trail on St. John Island in the US Virgin Islands.

I hope the next time you want to try something new, you choose to experience nature’s trails.

~ Eliza

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