Solo Hiking for Self-Discovery and Inner Peace

Jo Moore
3 days ago
7 min read

In a world that thrives on constant connection, the simple act of walking alone through nature may seem radical - almost rebellious - at least, that's how I always feel. Yet more and more people are turning to solo hiking not just for adventure or physical fitness, but for something deeper and more meaningful: self-discovery and inner peace.

Solo hiking isn't just about escaping the hustle of daily life. It's about turning inward, developing a relationship with yourself, and finding clarity in the rhythm of your footsteps. It's no surprise that countless writers, philosophers, and psychologists have extolled the benefits of solitude in nature. Heck, walking solo inspired me to write my first book! This article explores how solo hiking can be a transformative journey for the soul, backed by science, literature, and lived experience.

The Power of Solitude in Nature

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

John Muir

Solitude has long been associated with personal growth. Psychologist Carl Jung wrote extensively on the necessity of solitude for individuation - the process of becoming one's true self. When you hike alone, you're stepping into a space where introspection and self-awareness naturally arise.

Nature, free from the distractions of technology and societal expectations, provides an ideal setting for this introspection. The sights, sounds, and sensations of the natural world - chirping birds, rustling leaves, and expansive views - draw your attention outward and inward simultaneously.

A 2015 study by psychologists from the University of Rochester found that spending time in nature helps people feel more alive and connected to their authentic selves (Nisbet, Zelenski, & Murphy, 2011). Another study published in Frontiers in Psychology concluded that immersion in nature reduces rumination - a key component of depression - and increases feelings of well-being (Bratman et al., 2015).

When you're alone on the trail, you're not just walking through the forest - you're walking back to yourself. In my words, it's like coming home.

Self-Discovery on the Trail

"Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves."

Henry David Thoreau

Solo hiking offers a mirror. With no one else to impress or accommodate, you’re free to observe your thoughts and feelings as they arise. You may encounter fear, boredom, elation, and awe - all in the span of a single hike. These emotions are signposts pointing toward what you value, what you fear, and what you're ready to let go of.

Consider Cheryl Strayed’s journey on the Pacific Crest Trail, recounted in her memoir Wild. Her solo trek became a process of mourning, healing, and renewal. As she wrote:

“Alone had always felt like an actual place to me, as if it weren’t a state of being, but rather a room where I could retreat to be who I really was.”

While not everyone needs to hike 1,100 miles for self-discovery, even a short solo hike can serve as a microcosm of Strayed’s transformation. The solitude, effort, and immersion in the natural world create fertile ground for personal insight.

The Psychological Benefits of Solo Hiking

1. Mindfulness and Mental Clarity

Walking alone in nature naturally encourages mindfulness. With each step, the mind quiets, and awareness expands. Dr. Ruth Ann Atchley, a psychologist at the University of Kansas, found that being in nature enhances higher-order thinking and creative problem-solving by as much as 50% (Atchley, Strayer, & Atchley, 2012).

This is partially due to what's called “attention restoration theory”, proposed by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan. The theory suggests that natural environments replenish our cognitive resources, especially when we’re not multitasking or absorbing constant digital stimuli.

2. Reduction in Anxiety and Depression

According to the Mental Health Foundation, spending time in nature is associated with lower levels of anxiety and depression. A Japanese study on "forest bathing" (Shinrin-yoku) found that time spent walking alone in forested areas reduced cortisol (a stress hormone), improved mood, and boosted immune function (Park et al., 2010).

3. Increased Self-Efficacy

Navigating trails alone, reading maps, preparing gear, and making decisions without input from others builds confidence and resilience. As you learn to rely on your own judgment, your sense of self-trust grows. You start to realize: "I can handle this."

Spiritual Dimensions of Solo Hiking

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”

John Muir

For many, solo hiking is a spiritual practice. The natural world has long been seen as a sacred space - a cathedral of trees, sky, and earth. Indigenous traditions around the world have used solo journeys into nature (vision quests) as rites of passage and spiritual initiation.

Modern spiritual seekers often describe solo hiking as a form of pilgrimage, not to a shrine, but to themselves. With every mile walked alone, there’s an unspoken prayer: to feel whole, to feel connected, to feel free.

In a 2018 paper published in the Journal for the Study of Spirituality, researchers found that nature experiences often lead to “spiritual moments” marked by awe, gratitude, and a sense of interconnectedness (Heintzman, 2018). These moments are often more pronounced when experienced in solitude.

Facing and Embracing Fear

One of the greatest psychological challenges of solo hiking is fear. Fear of injury, getting lost, or encountering wildlife. Fear of the unknown. But fear is also a gateway to growth.

When you're out there alone and a fear arises - say, at a sudden rustle in the bushes - you don’t have the option of deferring to someone else. You meet the fear directly. You assess it. You manage it. And you walk on.

"Do one thing every day that scares you."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Each time you face fear on the trail, it loses some of its power. You start to realize how much of your fear is mental, how much of it is a projection, and how capable you actually are.

Practical Tips for a Meaningful Solo Hike

1. Start Small

You don’t need to hike 20 miles your first time. Begin with a day hike on a well-marked trail. Let yourself get used to the rhythm of solo walking before venturing further afield.

2. Prepare Thoroughly

Know your route, pack the essentials (map, water, food, first aid, layers), and tell someone your plans. Use apps like AllTrails or Gaia GPS but also bring a physical map and/or spare battery in case your phone dies.

3. Leave Expectations Behind

Your hike doesn’t need to be epic or profound. Let the experience unfold naturally. Sometimes the deepest insights come when you least expect them. Just allow yourself to simply be there, present in every moment.

4. Journal Along the Way

Bring a small notebook and jot down your thoughts during breaks. Writing can help clarify insights and deepen your connection to the experience.

5. Sit in Stillness

Take moments to simply sit. Listen. Observe. Don’t rush from one view to the next. The stillness is part of the healing.

Stories from the Trail

Many hikers describe solo trekking as life-changing. Take, for instance, the story of Sarah Williams, founder of the Tough Girl Podcast. After years in the corporate world, she hiked the Appalachian Trail solo.

“I went out there looking for answers”, she said, “but mostly I found strength I didn’t know I had.”

Similarly, British writer Robert Macfarlane, in The Old Ways, recounts solitary walks that connected him not only to the land but to history, myth, and memory.

“Paths are the habits of a landscape. They are acts of consensual making. It is hard to create a footpath on your own. But to walk a path alone is to know it in a particular way.”

Every solo hiker has a story, and most will tell you: they came back changed.

The Trail as Metaphor

Solo hiking offers powerful metaphors. The trail becomes a symbol of your life’s path. The climbs and descents, the wrong turns and serendipitous discoveries - all echo the journey of becoming yourself.

You learn that progress isn’t always linear. That sometimes, you must backtrack to move forward. That solitude isn't loneliness - it's space. That the answers you’ve been looking for often emerge in the quiet between steps.

Final Reflections

In a society that values productivity, efficiency, and constant communication, choosing to hike alone is a revolutionary act. It says: I am enough. My thoughts are worth hearing. My presence is worthy of my own company.

Solo hiking invites you to listen - not to podcasts or notifications, but to the subtle language of your own being. It offers you a chance to remember who you are, beyond your roles, responsibilities, and routines.

So take a step. Then another. Let the trail lead you not just into the woods, but into yourself.

References

Atchley, R. A., Strayer, D. L., & Atchley, P. (2012). Creativity in the Wild: Improving Creative Reasoning through Immersion in Natural Settings. PLOS ONE.

Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K. S., Daily, G. C., & Gross, J. J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(28), 8567-8572.

Heintzman, P. (2018). Nature-based recreation and spirituality: A complex relationship. Journal for the Study of Spirituality, 8(1), 26–36.

Nisbet, E. K., Zelenski, J. M., & Murphy, S. A. (2011). Happiness is in our nature: Exploring nature relatedness as a contributor to subjective well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 303–322.

Park, B. J., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kasetani, T., Kagawa, T., & Miyazaki, Y. (2010). The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): Evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15(1), 18–26.