Outdoor people understand that the call of Nature is undeniable. When you’re not actually hiking, you can still watch other people try.
Here are the ten best hiking films of all time:
Appalachian Impressions – Highly recommended for anyone considering tackling any part of the Appalachian trail, Mark Flagler’s comprehensive view of the A.T. offers hiker interviews, trail tips, and scenic sampler shots from the entirety of the 2,200-mile trek.
Into the Wild – Poignant and beautiful, this award-winning film is based on journalist Jon Krakauer’s riveting biography, which chronicled a young college graduate’s sudden exodus from his privileged, ivy-league life into a soulful, but ultimately fatal, journey through the American west.
Wild – Unraveled by the death of her mother and spiraling into a vortex of drug and sex addiction, author Cheryl Strayed seeks recovery by hiking 1,100 miles of the rugged Pacific Coast Trail.
A Walk in the Woods – Robert Redford stars in this film rendition of travel writer Bill Bryson’s delightful biography, in which he hilariously narrates his mid-life calling to traverse the Appalachian trail with no prior experience.
Only the Essential – In 2013, friends Casey and Colin decide to record their 2,668 – mile, five-month long walking pilgrimage from the Mexican border to Canada, while crossing some of America’s most beautiful wild spaces in between.
Mile…Mile and a Half – Five friends pick a wicked snow year to achieve a hiking goal; accomplish the 210-mile John Muir trail in California in just 25 days, collecting experiences as they go. They end up collecting quite a following as well.
The Way – Beautiful scenery and a certain spiritual reverence accompany this heart-wrenching film, in which a grieving father seeks solace along Spain’s Camino de Santiago.
The Long Start to the Journey – An excellent film for anyone who loves the A.T. Filmmaker Chris “Frost” Galloway decides to thru-hike the Appalachian trail, and finds a lifetime of humanity along its winding route.
Expedition Happiness – A young German couple renovates a bus into a camper, then tours North America for several months with their little dog.
Southbounders – A young woman named Olivia attempts a thru-hike of the daunting Appalachian trail to overcome other daunting challenges in her life. The title refers to her decision to tackle the more difficult southbound route.