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"Trekking up a mountain is a lot like climbing the stairclimber or doing lunges over and over, which strengthens your glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves," says Joel Martin, Ph. D., an assistant professor of exercise, fitness, and health promotion at George Mason University.
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Read More »And if you already do quick jaunts on your neighborhood trails, maybe it's time you experienced the next level of this natural high on a daylong trek. "Long-distance hikes open up a whole new world of terrain and boost your sense of accomplishment," explains Chun. Grab a granola bar (and your essentials) and set out to tap these powerful benefits of hiking. Major bonus: It doesn't take a lot to get started. Unlike other outdoor sports that are gear-heavy and often require travel and lessons, such as rock climbing and waterskiing, the barrier to entry of hiking is minimal. "You really need only two key items: proper footwear and a day bag," says Chun. Find a trail near you using the AllTrails App or at Hiking Project , which features GPS and elevation data and user-generated tips for almost 14,000 beginner to advanced trails. (Just remember to download your route from the app to have it on hand for when you lose cell reception, as often happens in the wilderness.) No matter how tricky (or easy) your trail, every hike has its perks. First, even a moderate one-hour hike is a great way to get a dose of cardio in, all while strengthening your core and lower body. And as the elevation goes up, so do the benefits of hiking. "The more challenging the hike, the more calories — and stress — you'll melt away," notes Chun. If you've ever told someone to "take a hike," you may want to follow your own advice and hit the trails. The outdoor exercise is incredible for your mental and physical health — and you don't need to go hard-core rugged to net the many benefits of hiking, either. "Think of hiking as simply taking a longer walk in nature; you can hike at any pace, at any elevation, and for any number of miles, hours, or even days," says Alyson Chun, assistant director of adventure sports at Stanford University and instructor for REI . 01 of 09 Works Your Legs From All Angles coberschneider/Getty Most hikes involve climbing up a big hill or even a mountain, then coming back down, a combo that's a great workout for your legs and one of the biggest benefits of hiking. "Trekking up a mountain is a lot like climbing the stairclimber or doing lunges over and over, which strengthens your glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves," says Joel Martin, Ph.D., an assistant professor of exercise, fitness, and health promotion at George Mason University. But traveling downhill is what really leaves your legs sore and strong. "To go downhill, your glutes and quads need to do a lot of slow, controlled work to stabilize your knees and hips so you don't fall," explains Martin. "These types of contractions [called eccentric contractions; the same kind your muscles experience when you slowly lower a weight at the gym] damage muscle fibers the most because you're resisting the force of gravity against weight, which in this case is the weight of your body," he explains. This means that while you probably won't huff and puff on the descent, your muscles aren't getting a second to slack. Your Guide to Leg Muscle Anatomy — Plus, How to Make the Most of Your Leg Exercises 02 of 09 Every Step Strengthens Your Core Rosanna U/Getty Navigating tough terrain also requires your abs, obliques, and lower back to work to keep your body stabilized and upright — even more so if you're carrying a backpack. "A heavier bag — around eight to 10 pounds — makes you more unstable, so your core muscles need to work harder," notes Martin. Think of it like this: You're basically carrying a weight on your back, effectively combining cardio and strength training into one. (You get similar benefits from adding a weighted vest to your workouts, BTW.)
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Read More »03 of 09 Counts As Killer Cross-Training Peathegee Inc/Getty Whether you're prepping for a race or you just want to round out your cycling routine, scheduling some hikes can improve your fitness level in ways that up your running and biking game. "Cyclists tend to have strong quads but underdeveloped hamstrings, and runners tend to have weak hamstrings and glutes," notes Martin. "Hiking helps strengthen these muscles to eliminate those types of imbalances," he adds. Plus, if you hike regularly at high altitudes (meaning 4,000 feet and up), you'll get used to exercising in a low-oxygen environment, points out Martin. Because of this, your body will adapt to using less oxygen, which could lead to improved performance the next time you do a race. What Is VO2 Max and How Do You Improve Yours? The proof is in the science: The journal Sports Medicine notes that the practice of altitude training has been used by athletes to improve speed and performance, while a study from the International Journal of Exercise Science concluded that there were significant improvements in endurance performance when runners completed a 10-day altitude training camp. One catch: "A single hike won't have much of an effect; consistency is key," says Martin. So start a habit and you might reap this benefit of hiking. 04 of 09 Gets You Moving Better Around the Clock Ippei Naoi/Getty A lot of standard exercise — running, walking, lunging, squatting — moves you forward and backward or up and down. Hiking, on the other hand, forces you to move every which way, as you climb over fallen trees and sidestep slippery rocks. "By doing things that require you to move in multiple directions, you strengthen the stabilizing muscles that fire to prevent common injuries," says Martin. Think about it: Most everyday injuries occur when people quickly shift from one plane of motion to another, such as when they reach over to pick up a heavy object and pull a back muscle. If you're not used to moving this way, other muscles will try to compensate for weak stabilizers, resulting in poor form and potentially a pull, pop, tear, or break. 10 Functional Fitness Exercises to Keep You Injury-Free for Life 05 of 09 Makes You Happier Matthew Micah Wright/Getty Know that "mmm...ah!" feeling you get when you see a beautiful waterfall or gaze out from atop a mountain? Research shows that such experiences benefit your state of mind: People who spent 50 minutes walking through nature reported less anxiety and more happiness compared with those who walked near traffic, according to a study in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning. "We know that just looking at photos of nature reduces stress," says Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. (See every default desktop background ever.) Even five minutes in nature can boost your mood and self-esteem, according to a review of studies by the University of Essex in England. And because exercise produces endorphins (known as the happiness hormone), actually moving through nature takes the feel-good benefits to a new level. "Hiking creates a wonderful combination of less stress and more happiness," notes Whitbourne. 18 Simple Stress Relievers to Add to Your Mental Health Toolkit 06 of 09 Beats Bonding at the Bar Westend61/Getty Working toward a unified goal — such as making your way through the woods with others — strengthens relationships and builds bonds. "Hiking usually involves solving little problems together ['Uh, did we make a wrong turn?'], which makes you feel more accomplished as a group," says Dustin Portzline, an American Mountain Guide Association–certified rock guide. "I always remember the people I hiked with more than anything else," he shares. No hiking buddy? No problem. Check for a hiking group in your area at Meetup or sign up for a class or trip with REI to go with a pro and get this benefit of hiking. What It's Like to Hike 2,000+ Miles with Your Best Friend
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Read More »07 of 09 Helps You Worry Less Oscar Wong/Getty A study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that adults who took a 90-minute walk in nature reported ruminating (aka brooding) less than those who had strolled through the city. In addition, they showed less blood flow to the region of the brain associated with rumination, while the city group was unchanged. Researchers hypothesized that nature provided a focus away from negative, self-referential thoughts. As observers look to pinpoint the specific attributes of nature that make it such a "positive distraction," the good news is that giving this green immersion a test drive (and getting those benefits of hiking) is as close as your local park path. 08 of 09 It Builds Endurance — Without Leaving You Breathless mapodile/Getty As you no doubt know by this point, going for a hike will provide tons of physical benefits and make you stronger — but these benefits of hiking won't seem that sweaty. "Exercising outdoors has been found to be easier in that you feel less fatigue or pain and can go faster and longer than if you were indoors," says Eva Selhub, M.D., a co-author of Your Brain On Nature. The Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Outdoor Workouts Meanwhile, the built-in balance challenges and added resistance of taking on inclines are making your body stronger for other pursuits. "Hiking is a great way to build up your endurance without putting such a hard load on your body," says Jax Mariash, a professional ultra runner who hikes as part of her cross-training. "The slow miles also help build your stamina, so when you do long, flat runs, your legs just adapt under you with added speed," she notes.
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