You don’t need much to go for a hike, which is perfect for van life. Toss on a pair of shoes, ideally something a bit sturdy, and head out for a walk in the woods, desert, mountains, where ever your van is parked. I’ve lived on the road for 8 years now, in a van, focused on getting outside as much as possible to snap pretty photographs and reflect upon the question, “Why am I here?”
In eight years, I don’t have an answer for this philosophical question, but I have landed upon the realization that trail time is much needed. In many ways, hiking is the kind of therapy that clears the head and allows you to be present. The best part, for me, about living van life is that my backyard is perfect for going hiking.
If you are out on a hike and can do a cold plunge, you should. Joffrey Lake, British Columbia Photo by Dalton Johnson
The Key Take Aways From 8 years of hiking and van life
I don’t want to bore you with what you already know, that van life and hiking are the perfect duo, but I do want to share a few take aways that I have noticed from my time living on the road and exploring the outdoors via hiking.
1) Nature Is Therapy
Full disclosure: I am not a therpist, just a writer and photographer who finds himself at home in nature.
When I started hiking and living in a van eight years ago, I was totally lost. So lost, I didn’t even know that I was lost. Friends, family, and even strangers would make statements kinda like, “One day you’ll find yourself and want to settle down. Enjoy the ride for now.” From family and close friends, I get that, but when I started to hear those words from strangers, I started to ask myself what was really going on here.
Turns out, they were right. Growing up in middle class America following the recipe everyone gives you doesn’t lead to fulfillment. It leads to checking off the boxes that you think are correct to check off because your whole life nothing else mattered. But, once you stop, go for a hike, smell the vanilla put off by a specific evergreen tree, and realize a bear doesn’t care about their 401k, why should I?
What I really needed to learn was what I enjoyed doing. Instead of focusing on the perceived success the path I was trudging down, I needed to open my heart and realize what was fun for me. Not what was cool or impressed others, but what I enjoyed. It was on the trail that I learned it is okay to do the things you love, even if that meant making just enough money to live. Ideally, I would make a little more than enough so I could save for a rainy day.
With this new mindset, found on the trail, I’ve been able to thrive while living in a van. Paying off loads of student debt, saving money, investing money, and eating well. Without the combo of hiking and van life, I have a feeling I would be a high school math teacher or an analyst grinding away to make more money so that I could spend it on things I really didn’t care about.
Related Read: THE REAL PRICE TAG OF VAN LIFE
Always bring a camera, especially if you are doing a sunrise hike. Photo by Dalton Johnson
2) You Don’t Need Much To Hike, Which Is Good For Van Life
Hiking and van life are both lead to a minimalistic life. Which is great when all you want to do is maximize your time outside. To get the most out of your hiking experiences here are few things I like to bring along with me:
A camera to snap images and keep memories of all the pretty places I have been.
A journal so I can sit down and write a poem, jot down some thoughts, or doodle.
A snack, or two, because who doesn’t like eating some good food with a great view.
Water… you have to stay hydrated.
Layers are key. This could be a rain jacket, a wind breaker, or just something to keep you warm just in case the weather changes.
A pack to carry it all in!
3) Hiking With Friends Is More Fun, but make sure to hike solo as well
There is no doubt hiking with friends is more fun. You make memories that can last a lifetime when sharing a trail. Those silly moments of tripping over a stump or getting scared by a squirrel rusting in the bushes while hiking at night or hiding under the canopy of trees while it is raining all make for stellar memories only shareable with those you were with. However, I’d also encourage you to spend a good portion of your time hiking alone.
When I hiked alone I was able to go inside of myself and reflect. Those hikes, sometimes very short or extremely long, would leave me rejuvenated. I am an introvert at heart, so this could be one of those reasons, but I truly believe if it wasn’t for the time I spent on the trail, hiking solo, I wouldn’t be in the same mental state I am today. Hiking solo also keeps you more alert to your surroundings, which enhances my experience because I start to notice nature for nature.
The trees give off a scent. The animals scurry around trying to find food. The light shines through the clouds in a different manner each second. The desire for water upon my tongue. All of those thoughts come to me when I hike alone. But, when I am with a friend, or a complete stranger I just met in the parking lot who also had a van, I lose those because I am focused on the two of us in nature.
So, make sure to hike with friends and spend some hours hiking solo when you live van life.
Hiking to Blanca Lake outside of Seattle, WA. Photo by Dalton Johnson
4) Enjoy Nature, Don’t Just Take It For Granted
You might find yourself in the same position that I was in when I started hiking more and more because I lived in a van and had so much access to the outdoors: I started to think, “Oh that hike was good, but not as good as XYZ hike.” This comparison destroyed how I looked at several hikes. Even worse, I would review a hike based on how good the photo was that I took. In the nicest way possible, I advise you, don’t do that.
Hiking is a great way to see the world that is not overrun by humans. The trails are dirt, the uphills are hard, and the landscape is it’s own kind of beauty. That beauty might be something different than you are used to. I know seeing the red dirt of Arches National Park for the first time was a mental paradigm shift for me, the kid who grew up with redwood forests. I didn’t know dirt could be red. Let nature be nature.
When hiking and exploring the world in your van, take the time to learn how to appreciate all nature for what it is. Try to rid yourself of comparison and accept your hike for what it was, a hike. Be kind to yourself, other on the trail, and soak in the nature. The learning lessons you will have for a lifetime only come from observing nature for long durations. That is why van life and hiking go hand in hand.
Wandering the dune outside of Guerra Negro in Baja Mexico while on a winter van life trip. Photo by Dalton Johnson
5) A few of my favorite Places to hike
You really can’t go wrong when hiking. If the hike is “bad” think about why. I’d say the only bad hiking is unsafe hiking, but if you are safe getting outside is a spectacular way to improve your health and see places most don’t get to see. Combine exploring new hiking spots with van life and you now have unlimited adventures all around the globe. For those of you on the Western side of North America, here are some of my favorite places to hike:
Soaking in the sunset view of Cathedral Rocks in Sedona, AZ while on a van life road trip. Photo by Dalton Johnson
There is no doubt that van life and hiking go hand in hand. From the stellar places you can reach in your van to the awe-filled moments you get when standing at the precipice of a vista only achieved by hiking, these two minimalist lifestyles blend together seamlessly. If you have any hiking adventure you want to share, please reach out or drop a comment below. We love to hear all about van life adventures and stellar places to hike.
