10 Hiking Activities To Make Hiking More Fun!
Hiking is a really fun sport, but sometimes you want to spice things up with activities. Being out in nature and breathing fresh air is really fun in and of itself, but it does have some highs and lows.
Here are a few activities to make hiking more fun!
1. Watch nature
While it is the most obvious activity you can do, watching nature is why most people go out hiking. If you don’t spend a lot of time in nature, you should mainly spend time enjoying and immersing yourself in nature.
I always enjoy being surrounded by green trees and clear skies when hiking, especially in spring when everything blooms. Take your time to appreciate it.
When you’re hiking and out away from distractions, it’s a great opportunity to stay present and enjoy the moment. Take in the views and slow down.
2. Play hiking games
Especially if you’re hiking with kids, some hiking games can really make things more fun and pass the time while you enjoy each other’s company. There are a lot of common hiking games you can play, here are a few examples:
- I spy – a classic outdoor game, where one person chooses an object in view, and says “I spy with my little eye something that is…” and describes something about the item. The group tries to guess what item the person chose, and the first one to guess wins the round.
- 20 questions – one person thinks of a person, real or fictitious, usually someone famous. The rest of the group has to figure out who the person is, by asking yes or no questions. The group has exactly 20 questions to figure out who the person is.
- Alphabet game – there are a lot of versions of this game. A common one is to choose a random topic, like cities, plants, or names, and take turns to name something in the category that starts with letters of the alphabet. When everybody names something, the group moves on to the next letter.
There are a lot of other games you can play. Finding a fun game can make the hike more social and connect the people in the group.
3. Forage plants and berries
If you know how to identify some edible plants, foraging can be a really fun activity. A lot of plants, berries, and mushrooms are edible, and if you try to spot them along the way forage and eat them.
I especially like finding plants you can boil and make tea with, so I can later make tea in a place with a nice view.
Try not to forage entire plants – take a small part of the plant, and let it live, so other travelers can forage as well, and so it can grow bigger next year.
Not all plants, berries, and mushrooms are meant to be eaten, and eating a random plant can even be dangerous. Only gather and consume plants that you’re completely sure you’ve recognized, preferably after an expert thought you how to identify them.
4. Take photographs
Capturing photos of nature and nice views can be a really fun activity when you hike. It’s really enjoyable to think of different scenes and ways to can take pictures, and capture memories.
Many people take photos with their phones and show impressive results. Phones nowadays are capable of taking high-quality pictures. If you want more control and capabilities, you can take a lightweight digital camera. I wouldn’t recommend bringing a heavy DSLR camera, but a small mirrorless camera is usually fine.
You can later organize the photos in an online album. I like organizing mine into albums in Google Photos. You can also choose specific ones you like to print and frame, so you’ll have a nice picture to display.
5. Go for a swim
If you spot a water source along the way, swimming can be a really nice activity for resting when you hike. It’s a nice chance to take the weight off, relax, and freshen up.
Most people just jump in their underwear and later dry out in the sun before putting their clothes back on to continue hiking.
Swimming is really fun and refreshing, and it’s a way to shower while on the trail. If you’re living in a hot climate area, you can choose hikes that have a water source in them.
6. Pick up trash
When you’re hiking you can sometimes notice trash people have dropped by accident or left behind. You can help the environment by picking up some trash, and putting it into a plastic bag you can carry with you. This will make the experience of people who travel after you nicer.
Many people use a grabber to pick the trash up, to avoid touching it with their bare hands. There’s always something safe to pick up without a grabber, still.
It’s really fulfilling to leave a place nicer than you found it. This is a way to pass the time and positively impacts the environment.
7. Identify animals
If you know a lot of animals, identifying them can be a really fun activity when on a hike. Seeing animals live in their natural habitat is really cool, and is a big part of enjoying nature.
If you don’t know a lot of animals, you can carry a local animal handbook, which usually includes almost any animal you’ll be able to see around. There are also some useful apps you can install on your phone to avoid the extra weight.
Whatever you do, it’s important to keep a distance from animals you see on the trail. You don’t want to disturb them, and some of them can be dangerous when provoked. Respect the animals you see on the trail – it’s their home.
A lot of people enjoy watching birds, and carry lightweight binoculars with them when on a hike. There are a lot of special birds in nature, that you won’t be able to see in the city. Over time you can learn to identify them and watch them from the trail.
Others like identifying bugs and arthropods, and you can definitely see a lot of unique ones when you’re in nature.
8. Meditate
A hike is a great place to slow down and relax, and a good meditation can support this. Of course, if you’re out on a crowded trail, this can be a bit difficult. But if you have some quiet time, meditation is a great exercise that will help you be more present and mindful of the experience.
You can do a session of seated meditation when on a break. It’s especially fun if you’re in a place with a nice view, for example, if you’re resting after climbing a hill. You can meditate with your eyes closed, to relax and listen to nature, or with your eyes open, to soak everything in.
I also heard some people discuss walking meditation. You can do this while walking, to feel more present and notice things you wouldn’t notice otherwise.
9. Listen to podcasts and audiobooks
If you’re hiking on your own, you can put some earphones in and listen to a good podcast or an audiobook while on the trail. Sometimes you’re tired on your quiet time and need some stimulation, and listening to an audiobook or a podcast can be really fun.
I wouldn’t recommend doing that if you don’t feel comfortable hiking on your own, or feel intimidated. What’s important is that you feel safe and secure. But if you don’t mind having your earphone on, it can be fun.
There’s usually bad reception on trails, so I’d recommend downloading your books and podcasts beforehand. There are a lot of different apps and platforms you can use for the activity, so choose your favorite: I use Google Podcasts for podcasts, and Smart Audiobook Player for audiobooks, and I really like them.
10. Stargaze
If you’re hiking for multiple days, you’ll find yourself outdoors at night. When you’re in a city, the night skies seem dark and empty, mainly because of light pollution from the city lights. When you’re away, you’ll see beautiful bright stars everywhere in the sky.
It’s a really cool experience, and many people are specifically traveling away from cities to stargaze. When you’re away, it’s a great opportunity to stargaze, especially if you haven’t seen the night sky away from city light.
You don’t really need any special equipment to stargaze – expect a nice blanket to lay down on. Avid astronomy lovers use telescopes, but you’ll probably enjoy the activity even without one.
Conclusions
While hiking is a really fun activity of its own, you can find some great activities to enjoy it even more. Especially if you hike for a long time, you’ll find some of these activities can improve the experience. I hope these were useful, and have fun hiking!
