Overview

HikingTrails became one of Instagram’s most popular outdoor activity hashtags, documenting everything from casual nature walks to challenging multi-day treks. The tag helped drive unprecedented growth in trail usage and outdoor recreation participation.

Iconic Long-Distance Trails

United States:

• Appalachian Trail (AT): 2,190 miles, Georgia to Maine
• Pacific Crest Trail (PCT): 2,650 miles, Mexico to Canada
• Continental Divide Trail (CDT): 3,100 miles, Montana to New Mexico
• John Muir Trail: 211 miles, Yosemite to Whitney
• Camino de Santiago: Spain, religious pilgrimage route

International:

• Tour du Mont Blanc: Alps, France/Italy/Switzerland
• Inca Trail: Peru, Machu Picchu
• Everest Base Camp: Nepal
• Milford Track: New Zealand
• West Highland Way: Scotland
• Kungsleden: Sweden

Day Hike Favorites

Popular Instagram day hikes:

• Angels Landing: Zion National Park (chains, exposure)
• Half Dome: Yosemite (permit required, cables)
• The Narrows: Zion (river walking)
• Delicate Arch: Arches National Park
• Trolltunga: Norway (iconic photo spot)
• Pulpit Rock: Norway
• Cinque Terre: Italy coastal paths

Hiking Photography

Common visual elements:

• Summit views and panoramas
• Alpine lakes and reflections
• Forest cathedral (trees and light)
• Solo hiker in vast landscape
• Boots on trail or mountain edge
• Trekking poles and gear shots
• Sunrise/sunset from peaks
• Wildflower meadows
• Wildlife encounters
• Storm and weather drama

Thru-Hiking Culture

Long-distance hiking documented:

• Trail names: Nicknames earned on trail
• Zero days: Rest days in town
• Trail magic: Unexpected kindness from strangers
• Hiker hunger: Insatiable appetite from calorie burn
• Gear obsession: Ultra-light vs. comfort debates
• Trail journals: Daily documentation
• Town days: Resupply, shower, laundry, food

Permit and Access Issues

Instagram contributed to:

• Permit lottery systems: Overcrowding at popular trails
• Day-use reservations: Arches, Yosemite, Glacier
• Quotas: Protecting trails from overuse
• Parking nightmares: Trailheads overwhelmed
• Damaged trails: Erosion from increased traffic
• Trail closures: Safety and ecological restoration

Gear Culture

Equipment featured heavily:

• Footwear debates: Boots vs. trail runners
• Ultralight movement: Minimizing pack weight
• Trekking poles: Benefits and techniques
• Navigation: GPS vs. maps and compass
• Layers and clothing: Merino wool, synthetics
• Backpacks: Osprey, Gregory, Hyperlite Mountain Gear
• Tents and shelters: Minimalist setups

Safety and Preparedness

Content addressed:

• Ten Essentials: Navigation, sun protection, first aid, etc.
• Leave No Trace: Seven principles
• Wildlife safety: Bears, mountain lions, snakes
• Weather awareness: Lightning, hypothermia
• Trail conditions: Snow, river crossings, exposure
• Emergency communication: InReach, PLB devices
• Solo hiking safety: Specific considerations

Instagram’s Impact on Trails

Positive effects:

• Increased outdoor participation
• Diverse representation (people of color, LGBTQ+, disabilities)
• Trail maintenance awareness and volunteer participation
• Conservation funding through visitation

Negative effects:

• Overcrowding and parking issues
• Erosion and trail damage
• Dangerous behavior for photos
• Unprepared hikers in over their heads
• Rescue costs and resource strain
• Wildlife disturbance
• Littering and human waste issues

Social Movements

#OptOutside: REI’s Black Friday campaign
#52HikeChallenge: Weekly hiking commitment
#AllTrails: Popular hiking app and community
#Take3ForTheSea: Picking up trash while hiking
Nature gap: Addressing outdoor access inequities

Diversity and Inclusion

Growing emphasis on:

• People of color in outdoor spaces (#BlackPeopleWhoHike, #LatinosOutdoors)
• Body diversity representation
• LGBTQ+ outdoor communities
• Accessibility and adaptive hiking
• Challenging “outdoor bro” culture
• Women hiking solo
• Families and kids on trails

COVID-19 Boom

Pandemic hiking surge:

• Outdoor recreation seen as safe
• National parks overwhelmed
• Local trails discovered
• Hiking gear sold out
• Increased Leave No Trace violations
• New hikers without outdoor ethics education
• Parking and access challenges intensified

Trail Running Overlap

Significant crossover:

• Ultra-running culture
• Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
• Running gear vs. hiking gear
• Trail racing events
• Speed hiking

Conservation and Stewardship

Content promoting:

• Trail maintenance volunteering
• Donation to trail organizations
• Advocacy for public lands
• Leave No Trace education
• Wildlife corridor protection
• Climate change impacts on trails

Sources

• American Hiking Society: https://americanhiking.org/
• Pacific Crest Trail Association: http://web.archive.org/web/20260208085116/https://www.pcta.org/
• AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/