So many questions and assumptions about body, looks, appearance – I was baffled at people’s inability to dig deeper in their inquiries about mountaineering, and especially about the female mountaineer. There is more to us; we all come from somewhere.
Junko Tabei
There are so many books about amazing people conquering their fears, and the trail, it was a challenge to put together this list. Here, you’ll find field guides and stories of strength, feminism, coming-of-age, revelations, body positivity, and finding wisdom & peace in the most unexpected of places. These books for hikers are sure to fuel your inspiration to hit the trail and help you prepare for whatever adventure may lay ahead.
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Nonfiction Books For Hikers
Find inspiration in these true, relatable, hilarious, and life-changing stories.
Where the Deer And The Antelope Play, Nick Offerman
The whole title: Where The Deer And The Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations Of One Ignorant American Who Loves To Walk Outside is perfect for the outdoorsy, political humorist. Offerman provides his insights into America’s history, history of the land and its people, while traveling across the country and through national parks.
Neon Pilgrim, Lisa Dempster
At 15, Lisa finds herself as an exchange student to Japan on the seemingly boring island of Shikoku, but her imagination runs free thinking about the 1200 year old 88 Temple Pilgrimage – a 1200 km walk around the island. At 28, Lisa finds herself broke AF, overweight, and feeling lost – until the henro michi (88 Temple Pilgrimage) finds it way into her life again. Scraping the money together, she travels to Japan once again, this time, as a pilgrim.
Honouring high Places: The Mountain Life of Junko Tabei, Junko Tabei w/Helen Y Rolfe
This is a collection of stories and reflections from Junko Tabei. She was the first woman to lead an all female team to the top of Mt. Everest, and complete the seven summits.
Fat Girls Hiking, Summer Michaud-Skog
A book releasing on March 29, 2022 – Summer has created a book filled with stories, tips, advice and voicing her advocacy for all body types in the outdoor space.
Wild, Cheryl strayed
A NY Times Bestseller and made into a movie starring Reese Witherspoon, this is about Cheryl’s impulsive decision to hike the PCT from California to Washington by herself. With her marriage on the edge of a disastrous end and following the death of her mother, Cheryl starts a new chapter in her life in an adventurous way.
A Walk In The Woods, Bill Bryson
I don’t think I can properly have a list of travel-themed/inspired books and not include Bill Bryson. After spending 20 years in Britain, Bill decides to get back in the swing of things with his native country by hiking the Appalachian Trail with his friend Stephen Katz. An absolute hilarious classic, this book is a must read!
Walking The Nile, Levison Wood
“Walking The Nile maps out African history and contemporary life.” In November 2013, Wood started out in a forest in Rwanda and aimed to be the first person to walk the length of the Nile. He followed the river for over nine months, through six countries, hiked over 4,000 miles to end at the Mediterranean coast. Becoming a local celebrity, suffering the loss of a friend, and connecting with local guides as he foraged for food and avoided vicious wildlife – Wood has led quite the adventure.
Girl In The Woods: A Memoir, Aspen Matis
After being raped on her second night of college, and facing her parents disappointment and want for silence on the matter, Aspen spends five months on the PCT looking for her strength and herself. An absolutely wonderful coming-of-age memoir of a young woman.
Thirst: 2600 miles To Home, Heather Anderson
Heather has hiked more than 20,000 miles since 2003. Completed the Triple Crown of Backpacking – twice. (PCT, AT, CDT) And holds some of the Fastest Known Times (FKT), breaking records previously held by men. She also runs marathons and aims to summit mountains in the US and abroad. Heather also left a different life behind to chase the adventure she’s living now, and Thirst chronicles her loneliness, community, and accomplishments.
Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story Of The Woman Who Saved The Appalachian Trail, Ben Montgomery
In 1955, sixty-seven year old Emma Gatewood told her family she was going for a walk. With only a change of clothes and less than two hundred dollars on her person, the next time her family heard from her, she had already traveled 800 miles of the 2100 mile long Appalachian Trail. Not only did hike this once…or twice… but hiked the AT three times! At seventy-one, she hiked the 2,000 mile Oregon Trail and became a hiking celebrity. Emma’s story brought attention to the Appalachian Trail and the rough state it was in, causing tons of maintenance to come its way, effectively saving the AT. A stunner of a story and deserves to be read immediately.
The Unlikely Thru-Hiker, Derick Lugo
A staple in the comedy scene in New York, Derick suddenly found his job cut short and months of free time. Having never been hiking before, and only ever hearing of the Appalachian Trail, he wondered if he could do it. So he did.
Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart, Carrot Quinn
Carrot’s physical and emotional adventure on the PCT is incredibly relatable. Between dehydration, loneliness and blisters, she finds a community on the trail with a common goal.
Guide books For Hikers
Not sure what you need for the trail? These are the perfect books for hikers, new or veteran.
The Pocket First-Aid Field Guide
Perfect for anyone looking to learn, or perfect, their first-aid response and techniques. A great guide to keep on you while on the trail, too!
Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide To The Art Of Wilderness Survival
How to collect food. Choosing the right items to pack. How to create tools and supplies you need. Everything for surviving in the backcountry.
The Backpacker’s field Manual
Fabulously updated. Perfect for learning how to go ultralight with your packing and incorporating GPS and Leave No Trace.
Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide
Called a show-and-tell guide, this is one of those books for hikers that is a must have. Especially if you’re new to hiking and have absolutely no idea what things are or where to start – this book explains all gear and provides recommendations for your adventures.
Fiction Books For Hikers
Memoirs aren’t for everyone – and that’s okay! Here are some great adventures for the fiction lovers out there.
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy, dreams of a treasure. After consulting a fortune-teller, who interprets the dream as a prophecy, Santiago sets off on a wild adventure for the Egyptian pyramids.
Never Go Full Pai, Jeffrey Eng
Eng’s debut novel brings you into the world of backpacking and hostels through the lives of two hikers who form an unlikely friendship as they explore the world and learn to leave social media behind.
The Middle Of Somewhere, Sonja Yoerg
Liz Kroft, a young widow, packs her emotional baggage to take with her on the John Muir Trail. She’s faced with the challenge of facing her fears, and potentially her future, alone.
The Disallowed: The Tale Of A Contemporary Vampire Family, Owen Jones
Set in the mountains of Thailand, somehow, Heng Lee becomes a vampire. This isn’t your usual gothic tale of creeps in the night and blood-sucking monsters… it’s about a small village and how they hilariously prosper. Trust me… just read it.
Looking for more reading inspiration? Find more book lists HERE.
Never Miss An Adventure.