Anna is a co-founder of Adventure in You and has been traveling the world for the last 9 years. She has spent time living in Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia, and Spain and is our local expert in these areas. Her expertise on travel, gear, and building businesses have been featured on Foundr, Business Insider, Yahoo Travel, and more.
Are you looking for some of the best outdoor quotes for inspiration?
In this article, I’m sharing with you 101 of my all-time favorite outdoor and hiking quotes. Being someone who works online, I constantly have to remind myself to take a break and step outside. Every time I do, I instantly feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
Whether you’re dreaming of hiking, a trip to the beach, or even just a quick walk in the woods nearby, hopefully, these quotes can encourage and motivate you to spend more time in the great outdoors.
As always, if you find any of these outdoor quotes inspiring, feel free to Pin them on Pinterest by hovering on the upper right-hand corner.
Outdoor Adventure Quotes
Spending time adventuring outdoors is one of the best things about being a full-time traveler. Every chance we get, we make sure that we plan to spend time exploring and being around nature. Even when we are in big cities, we make it a point to plan outdoor excursions.
In this section of the article, I will share with you some of my favorite outdoor adventure quotes that will hopefully inspire you to plan your next adventure.
1. “At some point in life the world’s beauty becomes enough. You don’t need to photograph, paint, or even remember it. It is enough.” – Toni Morrison
2. “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.” –Edward Abbey
3. “Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
The quote above is one of my favorite Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes! I love the instant feeling of freedom and inspiration as soon as I read it!
4. “The antidote to exhaustion isn’t rest. It’s nature.” – Shikoba
5. “Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” – John Muir
The quote above by Muir couldn’t be truer! Sometimes, the fast paced lifestyle and the hustle and bustle of working can get to the best of us. Whenever I find myself on the brink of a burnout, I immediately pack a bag and go for a long hike or a quick weekend trip. Time spent in nature, unplugged from social media is so special to me and is great for the soul!
6. “Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” – Ashley Smith
7. “Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
8. “In all things of nature there is something of the marvellous.” – Aristotle
Outdoor Quotes about Hiking
Personally, when I first started traveling, I did not consider myself as a hiker. I enjoyed spending time in nature but have never done long trails. It wasn’t until I met my partner Tom that I truly started to fall in love with hiking. Since then, we’ve gone on treks in the Amazon rainforest, Sumatra, and even Everest Basecamp in Nepal. Here are some of my favorite hiking quotes.
9. “Hiking’s not for everyone. Notice the wilderness is mostly empty.” – Sonja Yoerg
10. “All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
11. “Hiking and happiness go hand in hand or foot in boot.” – Diane Spicer
12. “After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value.” – G.M. Trevelyan
13. “Backpacking: An extended form of hiking in which people carry double the amount of gear they need for half the distance they planned to go in twice the time it should take.” – Anonymous
14. “Hiking is not escapism; it’s realism. The people who choose to spend time outdoors are not running away from anything; we are returning to where we belong.” – Jennifer Pharr Davis
15. “Days of slow walking are very long: they make you live longer, because you have allowed every hour, every minute, every second to breathe, to deepen, instead of filling them up by straining the joints.” – Frederic Gros
16. “Walking is a man’s best medicine.” – Hippocrates
17. “We don’t stop hiking because we grow old. We grow old because we stop hiking.” – Finis Mitchell
Outdoor Quotes About Nature
Being outdoors and spending time with nature is actually scientifically proven to be good for you. This is why we try to spend as much time as we can outdoors. Whenever I feel tired, depressed, or even just a little bit stressed out, I make it a point to go for a walk and just unplug.
These outdoor quotes below are perfect examples of how nature can bring happiness into your life!
18. “In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
19. “Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy.” – Isaac Newton
20. “Real freedom lies in wildness, not in civilization.” – Charles Lindbergh
21. “There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story.” – Linda Hogan
22. “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” – Anne Frank
23. “Colors are the smiles of nature.” – Leigh Hunt
24. “The poetry of the earth is never dead.” – John Keats
25. “A bad day camping is still better than a good day working.” – Unknown
26. “The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.” – Unknown
27. “If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder
Outdoor Quotes for Instagram
Especially during times like this when travel is limited because of Covid-19, Instagram can be an awesome resource for inspiration for the great outdoors. Here’s a collection of outdoor quotes that you can use on Instagram to caption your favorite nature snap.
28. “The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.” – Henry Longfellow
29. “As human beings, we have an innate need to explore, to see what’s around the corner.” – Jimmy Chin
30. “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” – John Muir
31. “Returning home is the most difficult part of long-distance hiking. You have grown outside the puzzle and your piece no longer fits.” – Cindy Ross
32. “The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
33. “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” – Henry David Thoreau
34. “I go to Nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put together.” –John Burroughs
35. “All good things are wild and free.” – Unknown
Outdoor Quotes for Inspiration
Last but not least, if you’re looking for some plain old inspiration, here are a few of my top picks for outdoor quotes that are meant to just inspire you. The quote by Chris McCandless (aka. Alexander Supertramp) is a favorite of mine based on the movie Into the Wild. It’s a quote that really speaks to me and sums up how I feel about traveling and exploring new places.
36. “Anywhere is within walking distance.” – Anonymous
37. “The Earth has music for those who listen.” – William Shakespeare
38. “The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” – Alexander Supertramp McCandless
39. “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” – John Muir
40. “To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.” – Mahatma Gandhi
41. “I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” – Rosalia de Castro
42. “I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day’s work.” –Frank Lloyd Wright
43. “Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher.” –William Wordsworth
44. “The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost
45. The desert wears… a veil of mystery. Motionless and silent, it evokes in us an elusive hint of something unknown, unknowable, about to be revealed. Since the desert does not act, it seems to be waiting — but waiting for what? – Edward Abbey
46. Wander without reason or purpose – Unknown
47. “Live the life you’ve dreamed.” – Henry David Thoreau
48. Keep your face always toward sunshine and shadows will fall behind you. – Walt Whitman
49. The life you have led doesn’t need to be the only life you have. – Anna Quindlen
50. “The wilderness holds answers to questions man has not yet learned to ask.” – Nancy Newhall
Hiking Quotes
Hiking for me has been a huge lifesaver. While I’m not the most athletic person, I do love spending time outdoors around nature. My partner Tom is an avid hiker and together, we’ve conquered some pretty epic mountains.
So whether you want a quick stroll around your local trail or you want to reach an epic goal similar to when we did Everest Basecamp, hiking is something that anyone can do. You just strap on a good pair of shoes and let yourself get lost in nature.
Without further ado, here are a few of my all-time favorite hiking quotes.
Best Hiking Quotes
51. “Jumping from boulder to boulder and never falling, with a heavy pack, is easier than it sounds; you just can’t fall when you get into the rhythm of the dance.” – Jack Kerouac
52. “Between every two pines, there is a doorway to a new world.” – John Muir
53. “There is always an adventure waiting in the woods.”― Katelyn S. Bolds
54. “The best view comes after the hardest climb.” – Unknown
55. “May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” ― Edward Abbey
56. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
57. “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” – Beverly Sills
58. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost
59. “If you think you’ve peaked, find a new mountain.” ― Unknown
60. “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hiking Quotes by Edmund Hillary
Sir Edmund Hillary, a famous New Zealander who is known for being the first person to conquer the peak of Mt. Everest together with Nepalese sherpa Tenzing Norgay. He is an icon in the climbing world, and rightly so as he is an avid adventurer and mountaineer. Here are a few of his famous quotes on climbing.
61. “Human life is far more important than just getting to the top of a mountain.” – Edmund Hillary
62. “Despite all I have seen and experienced, I still get the same simple thrill out of glimpsing a tiny patch of snow in a high mountain gully and feel the same urge to climb towards it.” – Edmund Hillary
63. “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” ― Sir Edmund Hillary
64. “People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
65. “Nobody climbs mountains for scientific reasons. Science is used to raise money for the expeditions, but you really climb for the hell of it.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
66. “If you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and forever upward, then you won’t see why we go.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
John Muir Quotes
We can’t be talking about famous climbing quotes without citing quotes from the famous John Muir. Known as “John of the Mountains” and the “Father of the National Parks”, John Muir is a Scottish-American naturalist and author who wrote tons of books about nature, hiking, and the environment.
If it wasn’t for Muir’s writings and research, many of the National Parks in the US wouldn’t have been created. He was also involved in the creation of many of the National Parks including Grand Canyon, Kings Canyon, and Mt. Rainier National Park.
67. “Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature’s darlings.” – John Muir
68. “Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue.” – John Muir
69. “Wherever we go in the mountains, we find more than we seek”. – John Muir
70. “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” -John Muir
71. “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” -John Muir
Humorous Hiking Quotes
When it comes to hiking or any sort of travel adventure, the thing that I realized is that you shouldn’t take yourself so seriously. If you’re looking for hiking quotes that aren’t as serious that will make you laugh, here are a few good ones which I love.
72. “Sleeping bags are the soft tacos of the bear world.” – Bears
73. “I have two doctors, my left leg and my right.” – G.M. Trevelyan
74. “You’re off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” ― Dr. Seuss
75. “I like being near the top of a mountain. One can’t get lost here.” – Wislawa Szymborska
76. “There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.“ ― Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Hiking Quotes for Instagram Captions
Are you looking for fun hiking quotes to share on Instagram? Here’s a list of quotes that are deep, profound, and just downright inspiring. One of my favorite things about quotes is their ability to convey a full range of emotions in just a few lines!
77. “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” – Frank A. Clark
78. “If you’re on the right path it will always be uphill” – Henry B. Eyring
79. “Jobs fill your pockets, but adventures fill your soul.” ― Jaime Lyn Beatty
I absolutely love this particular quote below, mainly because it talks about determination that you can only really discover when you’re out hiking.
We’ve been on so many hikes when I am tired, cold, hungry, and on the brink of giving up yet I somehow find some superhuman strength to keep pushing as giving up isn’t really an option. Especially when you’re in the middle of nowhere!
81. “For hiking is one of those things that you can only do when you have the determination in you.” – Unknown
82. “Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” ― Ed Viesturs
83. “The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain he is inspired by it.“ ― William Arthur Ward
Hiking Quotes about Life
Ironically, there are so many hiking quotes that can be related to real life that can help teach you a lesson. For me personally, hiking has taught me so many lessons. It taught me never to give up (even when I wanted to). It taught me that less is always better when it comes to packing your bag.
It also taught me that I am stronger than I think! One of our most difficult hikes was our 12-day hike to Everest Basecamp. During this trip, I got a bad case of altitude sickness as well as food poisoning, making it one of the most eventful hikes EVER.
Needless to say, I learned a thing or two about perseverance and was able to complete the trek only by sheer force and determination. No matter how difficult it was, I was able to overcome it, making it a huge learning experience.
84. “If you are faced with a mountain, you have several options. You can climb it and cross to the other side. You can go around it. You can dig under it. You can fly over it. You can blow it up. You can ignore it and pretend it’s not there. You can turn around and go back the way you came. Or you can stay on the mountain and make it your home.” -Vera Nazarian
85. “There really is no correct way to hike the trail and anyone who insists that there is ought not to worry so much about other people’s experiences. Hikers need to hike the trail that’s right for them.” -Adrienne Hall
86. “We live in a fast-paced society. Walking slows us down.” – Robert Sweetgall
87. “On a hike, the days pass with the wind, the sun, the stars; movement is powered by a belly full of food and water, not a noxious tankful of fossil fuels. On a hike, you’re less a job title and more a human being. A periodic hike not only stretches the limbs but also reminds us: Wow, there’s a big old world out there.” – Ken Ilgunas
88. “Carry as little as possible, but choose that little with care.” ― Earl Shaffer
89. “Hiking is a bit like life: The journey only requires you to put one foot in front of the other…again and again and again. And if you allow yourself the opportunity to be present throughout the entirety of the trek, you will witness beauty every step of the way, not just at the summit” – Unknown
90. “Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.” ― Greg Child
91. Achieving the summit of a mountain was tangible, immutable, concrete. The incumbent hazards lent the activity a seriousness of purpose that was sorely missing from the rest of my life. I thrilled in the fresh perspective that came from tipping the ordinary plane of existence on end. ~ Jon Krakauer
92. “Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.” ― Albert Einstein
Inspiring Quotes About Hiking
Before I end this epic article on the best hiking quotes, here are the quotes that I find the most inspiring. I honestly love reading these quotes and whenever I do, I find myself feeling so upbeat and inspired.
93. “May your dreams be larger than mountains and may you have the courage to scale their summits” – Harley King
94. “It’s impossible to walk in the woods and be in a bad mood at the same time.”- Unknown
95. “Everybody wants to reach the peak, but there is no growth on the top of a mountain. It is in the valley that we slog through, the lush grass and rich soil, learning and becoming what enables us to summit life’s next peak.” -Andy Andrews
96. “You never climb the same mountain twice, not even in memory. Memory rebuilds the mountain, changes the weather, retells the jokes, remakes all the moves.” – Lito Tejada-Flores
97. “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occur while you are climbing it.” ― Andy Rooney
I love this particular climbing quote by Andy Rooney mainly because it can be applied to anything! In the world of entrepreneurship, so many people see successful businesses and are quick to make judgments. What they don’t see is the years of effort, sacrifice, and hard work that it took to get to where people are.
This is why I love the phrase happiness and growth occur while you are climbing it…not when you are at the top!
98. “You need mountains, long staircases don’t make good hikers.” ― Amit Kalantri
99. “You need special shoes for hiking—and a bit of a special soul as well.” ― Terri Guillemets
100. “Nature is one of the most underutilized treasures in life. It has the power to unburden hearts and reconnect to that inner place of peace.” – Dr. Janice Anderson
101. “Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.” – David McCullough Jr.
Hopefully, you enjoyed this article about the best outdoor travel quotes as much as I enjoyed compiling them. At the end of the day, I am a big believer that time spent outdoors is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
As always, if you enjoyed this post, please feel free to pin any of the images!
If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our list of other quotes.
