Overall hiking can be as free as you want it to be. However, even in its most expensive form is a very affordable hobby to take up. There is plenty of hiking you can do without having to hand over a cent.
Hiking is a wonderful free activity that can encourage families to get out and enjoy nature and the beautiful outdoors.
We love that hiking is so accessible to so many and is a great activity for families and individuals. It is a hobby that can span ages and all different abilities. Grandparents and grandchildren alike can enjoy hiking together.
Free Hiking Trails
On average you can find free hiking trails nearby no matter where you live. There are a few different ways that you can find free hiking trails.
We use an app called All Trails which allows us to search for trails near us or a specific area. You can filter results by difficulty level, family friendliness, and whether dogs are permitted for example. I particularly love that you can filter in dog-friendly trails as our big old labrador is all about a good hike. He thinks he’s a puppy but really he is an old man.
Another feature of Alltrails is that other uses can upload photos or write reviews of the trails. I have found this particularly beneficial to get an accurate picture of a hike before we arrive. This is important if you were to be travelling a fair distance. If we are going after some particularly bad weather I will always check and see what recent hikers have said about the condition of the trail. There may still be a lot of mud or blocked paths for example.
What really pushes the price of hiking up is usually the cost of certain gear, travel to specific trails or entry passes to access hiking trails.
Another way to find free hiking trails is simply by word of mouth. Friends, family and work colleagues will always have their favourite recommendations and will likely be willing to come with you.
There are various online forums and groups on places like Facebook dedicated to hiking. Seeking out one of these forums will likely open your eyes to the number of gorgeous places to hike in your nearby city or state. Some of our favourite adventures have come from suggestions in these groups. If you post the type of hike you are after, for example, “a short 90 min hike, that is good for a family with young kids” you will be bombarded with a host of suggestions and ideas. Community is everything!
Cost of Hiking Gear
Essentially all you need to hike is a pair of shoes and a water bottle. Don’t let the cost of buying expensive gear hold you back from taking a leap into hiking.
Truth be told my kids have even hiked in flip flops and bare feet at times! If you have a pair of sports shoes, a backpack and a bottle of water you will be absolutely fine 99% of the time.
Once you know you are going to enjoy hiking and want to spend more time doing it then you may want to invest in some hiking gear.
For us that looks like hiking boots, hiking backpacks and a good insulated water bottle or water bladder.
Hiking Shoes
On average the cost of hiking shoes ranges between $50-300. The mid-range is around $120 for adult hiking shoes and $70 for kids hiking shoes.
We always recommend Merrel or Keen hiking shoes. These are what we have and what we love. I can’t really fault them. These are at around the midrange price.
The reason we love these shoes is that they are waterproof. We do a lot of hiking that involves water crossing and having wet sloppy feet for half the day is not enjoyable or comfortable. My daughter walked right through a river in her Keens and her socks were still dry on the other side. For specific
We have found that it is important that if you are going to purchase hiking shoes that you buy good quality. Otherwise, you are better off just using your everyday sports shoes. Poorly made hiking shoes can cause horrible blisters and be rather uncomfortable.
Hiking Backpacks
A hiking backpack is a great addition if you enjoy hiking. It can make the hike a lot more comfortable and easier.
One of the aspects of a hiking backpack that makes it different to a regular backpack is the added support and weight distribution.
Hiking backpacks will have both chest and waist straps in their design. These help to distribute the weight of the backpack evenly across the body so as not to put too much pressure on one point.
There is a lot more added cushioning in a hiking backpack which adds so much more comfortable to the user. We have found that even our youngest child who is three can carry a well-stocked backpack for an entire hike without complaining it is too heavy.
We love the osprey hiking backpacks. They come in kids, women and men’s and are extremely high quality.
Free Hiking In National Parks
National parks are not free to hike in. They require visitors to have a pass to enter. This pass is at a cost of $80 for an annual America the Beautiful national parks pass. Or roughly $15-35 for a day pass per car.
You can hike for free in national parks if you meet certain requirements. These include veterans, active-duty military, disability, volunteers and families of fourth-grade students. You can read a more in-depth post on how to acquire one of these passes here.
There are also certain days that are free entrance days at national parks. These days coincide with important occasions in the national park calendar. These are a great way to see some of the most expensive national parks without having to pay the entrance cost. However, you can expect these national parks to be very busy on these days so don’t expect it to be a peaceful hike if that is what you are after.
If you can swing it we will always recommend buying an annual pass and visiting during the week when it is less busy. We have found it to be a much better experience all around. The rangers are less busy and are happy and excited to talk to the kids and load them up with a lot of information about the park.
In addition to this, going on a quieter day you will be able to speak with a ranger about the hikes in the area and what their suggestions would be without feeling rushed or waiting in a long line. They always have so much wisdom and are so passionate that it is well worth having a chat with them before you set out.