The 10 Best Hiking Podcasts

Being out on the trail is one of the greatest pleasures in my life, and I'm sure it's the same for you. But when I can't be out hiking, my mind is still dreaming about being out in the wilderness, embracing the great outdoors. That's why hiking podcasts are so great. It's like a conversation with your very best hiking buddies. 

​Hiking podcasts are the next best thing to being out on the trail yourself. So this list of the best hiking podcasts is the perfect place to start. You may even find yourself planning your very next hike! The best thing about podcasts? Like being out in nature, these are free too.

#1. Training For Trekking

Listen via Spotify

The Training For Trekking podcast aims to help hikers, trekkers and mountaineers with ambitious goals; these kinds of "bucket list" level physical challenges need to be adequately planned and prepared. One of the best things about this hiking podcast is that the episodes are short - less than 15 minutes. 

This is a bonus because they're super accessible, with highly focused episodes on practical tips and advice. There's no lengthy waffling asides, just the delivery of precious information.  This podcast is suitable for hikers and bushwalkers looking for guidance on how to best prepare - for both big adventures and smaller challenges - to get the very best possible experience. 

#2. Backpacking and Blisters Podcast

Listen via PodBean

Backpacking And Blisters is a hiking podcast that is aimed at anyone that loves the trails. Whether you're a total beginner or an experienced outdoor adventurer, there are relatable stories, useful information and humour that will connect with every hiker, backpacker, camper, and people who love getting out in the great outdoors. 

Episodes are usually around 45 minutes to an hour in length, so plenty of time to settle into the conversation. There's a back catalogue of over 100 episodes dating back a few years now, so plenty to get stuck into if there's something, in particular, you're looking for.

#3. By Land Podcast

Listen via Website

The By Land podcast is all about having a more enjoyable time when you're outdoors. Whether the goal is backpacking, hiking, or to have a day of adventure with family and friends, the By Land podcast can help you improve the experience. 

The By Land connects you with world-leading experts that can teach you all manner of useful skills. Whatever the objective - whether it's thru-hiking, mountaineering or just general outdoor adventure, the experts will show you how to improve on skills you've already got, and develop skills that would take your hikes to the next level by simplifying the process and breaking it down into manageable steps.

#4. The Trail Show

​Listen via Website

At the heart of The Trail Show is a shared love of long-distance hiking. Still, there are plenty of tangents to talk about beers, conversations with trail buddies and wanderlust itself. The Trail Show publishes new content roughly every month, which they liken to "sitting around a campfire" with your friends. 

These guys are based in Boulder, Colorado, which means the outdoor lifestyle of hiking and adventure is deeply rooted in their culture and way of life. The hosts have a genuine love and enthusiasm for hiking, and it comes across in their podcast. 

#5. Hiking Thru

Listen via Website

This show is published weekly and already has over 100 episodes in their back catalogue. Every week an experienced hiker is invited onto the show to share their unique stories and personal wisdom about hiking trails. One of the best features on this show is that the website includes a section on "Thru Hiking Gear & Trail Wisdoms" which is a personal insight from the hikers themselves about what they used - and learned - on their hikes. 

It includes the real nitty-gritty information that only other hikers would want to know, including their boots, socks, what they kept in their hiking packs, sleeping systems, and even the food they ate and the gadgets they found useful. ​

#6. Hike Or Die Outdoor Adventure Podcast

Listen via Website

This hiking podcast is updated roughly once a month. If your interests are broader than hiking alone - this could be the best hiking podcast for you. Hike or Die is recorded in Australia where there's plenty of incredible wilderness and coastline to explore. But these guys are adventure enthusiasts, which means hiking and talking about getting out and paddling their canoes, fishing, survival crafts and bushcraft, camping, or even archery. ​

Hiking is a huge part of the Hike or Die crew's appeal, but they take a holistic approach to outdoor adventure. Since Australia is so beautiful, you may also want to look at some of their video content on their website and their YouTube channel. It can be a great way to immerse yourself in another hiking experience for a while.

#7. Hike

Listen via Audible

Hike by Lori Prima is a weekly hiking podcast where host Lori Prima has a conversation with a guest. Sometimes they talk about a specific trail route that they've enjoyed, or sometimes it's a development of hiking that's become another outdoor adventure love - such as trail running. 

This podcast is available through Audible for free, or on Spotify. With episodes that run around an hour-long, it's the perfect duration while you're doing something else and want to daydream about hiking. The guests' quality is excellent, with their passion and enthusiasm for hiking and the outdoors being clear in every interview.

#8. Trail Tales

Listen via Website

Trail Tales is a well-established hiking podcast that's been around for years and with over 100 episodes. Like many others, Trail Tales is a hiking podcast that takes an interview format. Guests are invited to speak on episodes which last around an hour. 

They're knowledgeable, deeply passionate and have skills that many hikers value, such as safety experience in hostile weather conditions or photography to capture the special moments on the hike. The frequency of episodes published now increased to around once a week; this is a great time to start following this hiking podcast.

#9. Girl Gotta Hike

Listen via Website

We love Girl Gotta Hike because it's a little different from what you'd expect from most hiking podcasts. The focus in Girl Gotta Hike is on building connections between women through nature, confidence and camaraderie. There are tons of trail tips and advice. 

Still, this hiking podcast is aimed at women who want to disconnect from the relentless hustle of city life, who are looking to get out into nature and build real, meaningful face to face relationships away from their busy lives. The Girl Gotta Hike website even facilitates guided hikes and organised backpacking trips for those looking to participate with other listeners - great for someone new to hiking and looking to get started with a guide.

#10. Australian Hiker

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Australian Hiker with Gill and Tim Savage looks at hiking throughout Australia and the entire southern hemisphere. New episodes are released every two weeks and cover a broad range of hiking related topics including photography, lifestyle, tips and hacks. 

They are well researched and professionally put together, and the quality of the 30-60 minute episodes is excellent. The podcast is very well established, with episodes dating back to 2016. This makes it Australia's longest-running hiking podcast. With listeners in 145 countries and over half a million downloads, this isn't limited to those with a vested interest in local hiking routes and trails. 

Conclusion

Being able to advise on the very best hiking podcasts is difficult as so much of what people like about podcasts coming down to personal preference. There's a mix of podcasts here, some with long episodes with in-depth detailed interviews, and others that are very focused and action-oriented. Some focus solely on hiking and others with a more holistic approach to being outdoors.

This means that the best hiking podcasts for you are very likely contained in this short top 10 list. All podcasts are currently active, and all include a considerable emphasis on hiking as a primary activity. Whether you're new to hiking or you've been outdoors all your life, there will be something to learn and implement from these hiking podcasts. The standards of experts and the level of in-depth advice given are outstanding. They would be worth paying for if podcasts weren't already free. 

The best hiking podcast is a little like the best hiking trail; the length and level of expertise required are likely to vary. But rest assured that like the best hiking trails, there will be something to suit everyone. Many of these hiking podcasts also include active social media communities connecting with other hikers and outdoor adventurers in your area of a similar level of experience.