So you’re trying to become sustainable in all aspects of your life. Travel, food, clothing – but what about your favourite hobbies? If you’re a keen hiker, you’ll surely appreciate the stunning views and fresh landscapes on your treks. To preserve the things we all sometimes take for granted, we’ve compiled a list of seven sustainable hiking tips to get you started. From carefully choosing your routes to the hiking gear you bring with you, find out more below.
How to take part in eco hiking
Take a look at our sustainable hiking tips so you can be eco-conscious while on the trail.
1. Choose your routes carefully. All part of the fun of trekking, planning your route is essential for eco hiking. Although certain routes may attract a lot of attention on social media, it’s worth reconsidering if you suspect that it’s suffering from overtourism. Think about alternatives where there’ll be less traffic, but make sure you stick to pre-existing paths. This will keep you from trespassing privately owned land and protect local habitats.
2. Avoid making a fire. A lot of trails will already have firm fire regulations in place, but when wild camping it can be tempting to make a fire to keep warm. However, there are a few things you’ll need to check beforehand. Firstly, make sure that making a fire is permitted on the land you’re exploring. Secondly, if you know you can light a fire, make a judgment whether you think it’s wise to do so – especially if the landscape is particularly dry.
3. Wear sustainable outdoor clothing. Although this doesn’t directly impact your hiking, the choices you make in order to keep it up as a hobby are important. So instead of using fast fashion, do your research to find out some sustainable outdoor clothing brands. Opt for clothing made from recycled materials where possible and ensure they are sourced responsibly. Purchase sustainable hiking boots, jackets, trousers and more. If you’d like to find out more about our commitment to sustainability, check out our Mindfully Made pages.
4. Choose eco-friendly snacks and drinks. In a similar vein, the food and drinks you take on your hike aren’t an obvious choice for sustainable hiking. Again, to reduce your impact on the environment, choose food and drinks that are locally sourced and be sure to take a refillable bottle to keep single use plastics to a minimum.
5. Wear natural sun cream. If you’re hiking around a body of water, such as a coastal walk or lakeside stroll – you might want to treat yourself to a dip to cool yourself down. And while this is fine, just be sure consider the sun cream you’re using, as the chemicals can be harmful to the marine environment and fish. Another way you can reduce the use of sun cream is to invest in sun-protective clothing, so you only have to worry about the skin that is completely exposed!
6. Don’t leave a trace. It sounds obvious, but it’s essential. Leftover rubbish can be incredibly harmful for the local ecosystem. Animals can get confused mistaking it for food, and a lot of the time plastic products take hundreds of years to decompose. And during this process, the chemicals released can further harm the environment. So to ensure this doesn’t happen on your adventures, take a couple of biodegradable bin bags with you – one for general waste and one for recycling.
7. Carefully consider where you set up camp. And finally, this sustainable hiking tip is key if you’re planning on trekking over a few days. We know it can be tempting to find the perfect spot with a breathtaking view. Just don’t damage the environment in the process. Avoid moving any vegetation and opt for a spot that is naturally clear for you to set up camp.
And we’re done! Eco walking is a breeze if you take into account all of our top tips, meaning you can continue enjoying the great outdoors for years to come. Looking to be more environmentally friendly in all aspects of life? Check out our sustainable clothing guide if you’re not sure where to start when it comes to eco-friendly wardrobe choices.