10 Songs Every Thru-Hiker Needs On Their Playlist
Preparing for a thru-hike is a lot of work. For the last few months, Ive been planning resupplies, training, both mentally and physically, and buying and testing out gear. Its hard to know exactly what youll need so obsessing over predecessors’ gear lists has become quite the hobby. But what those who came before dont often tell you to prepare is your ears. These are ten of the songs on my Take a Hike playlist that have been tried and true on countless hikes and backpacking trips.
Going Up The Country – Canned Heat
Its time to get in the mountain mood! Lace your boots up, buckle your straps, turn this song on, and get to hiking!
Lovely Day – Bill Withers
Because isnt every day that youre on the trail a lovely day compared to being stuck under fluorescent lighting at work somewhere?
Talk A Walk – Passion Pit
This upbeat song repeats take a walk, take a walk, take a walk, take a walk 52. Yes, I counted. Youre welcome.
If You Want To Sing Out Sing Out – Cat Stevens
Dude, just do what you want. If you want to be free, be free. If you want to hike, just hike. If you want to eat a Nutella, spinach, and cheese filled burrito, do it.
I Would Walk 500 Miles – Kenny And The Scots
If the lyrics I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more arent enough to get you moving, screaming BA DA DUH DA DA, BA DA DUH DA DA, BA DA BA DA DA DUM DITTY DUH DITTY DUH DA DUM over and over again into the mountains should do it. Bonus points if you have a shouting match with your trail partner.
Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin
Stairway is not denied on the trail. Ever.
Old Pine – Ben Howard
This one will hit you right in the feels and leave you feeling nostalgic for even the worst of your miles.
Rivers And Roads – The Head And The Heart
Cue the waterworks. This song is weighted with the magnitude of what youre trying to accomplish and reminds you of what you left behind.
Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root
Guaranteed to be the feel-good song to pick you up when you’re down and is best played after the tearjerkers above. I dare you to resist the temptation to break down playing the air flute.
Ends Of The Earth – Lord Huron
If there is one song that describes what adventurers crave, this is it. Ill just leave this here: Oh, there’s a river that winds on forever. I’m gonna see where it leads. Oh, there’s a mountain that no man has mounted. I’m gonna stand on the peak.
Have a song that I left out? Leave it in the comments below.
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Comments 15
John Valby—-GANGBANG
My first thru-hike was the Colorado Trail so, for me, any list is incomplete without John Denver’s Rocky Mountain High and Rocky Mountain Suite
Roundabout by Yes: “Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there!”
Roll Me Away by Bob Seger: “Stood alone on a mountaintop, staring out at the great divide. I could go east, I could go west; it was all up to me to decide. Just then I saw a young hawk flyin’ and my soul began to rise. Pretty soon my heart was singing…”
(For that tough morning in the shelter)
Early Morning Rain by Gordon Lightfoot: “I’m a long way from home and I miss my loved ones so. In the early morning rain, with no place to go.
“It’s a long way to the top (if you wanna rock and roll)”
Great beat, and where else can you hear an electric guitar do call-and-response with bagpipes?
Brandy by Looking Glass.
But my life, my love, and my lady is the PCT.
Let me die in my footsteps by Bob Dylan
Roll Me Away Bob Seger
Stood alone on a mountain top
Starin’ out at the Great Divide
I could go east, I could go west
It was all up to me to decide
Just then I saw a young hawk flyin’
And my soul began to rise
And pretty soon
My heart was singing
Half a dozen more I’d recommend for your green tunnel mix:
Wagon Wheel- Old Crow Medicine Show
Home – Edward sharpe & magnetic zeroes
Mother Natures Son – The Beatles
Lose Yourself – Eminem
Golden Country – REO Speedwagon
More than one way home – Keb Mo
New Shoes … by Paolo Nutini. So great after changing out. Hey I put my new shoes on and suddenly everything is right!
Just finished the AT and half of these were on my go-to list as well. ? To set the record straight though, Kenny and the Scots did the song as a cover of The Proclaimers’ original song “I’m Gonna Be.” Check it out! Also to add to the list is Defying Gravity from Wicked – I could be heard singing it at the top of my lungs on the day I finished my thru-hike. Best of luck on the PCT!
I don’t want to be a “hater.”
Please don’t take this comment in that manner.
I understand that individuals and their ideas are what make our world a wonderful place.
However, when I read this article, I couldn’t help but think of a hiker saying, “ahhh… What wonderful, serene peace I have the chance to experience… You know what would make this better? Noise… Yeah…” And on go the tunes. Don’t get me wrong, I love music. I love nature. And in my life, may the two never meet. I go to the wild to experience the wild. Playing music, for me, would take away from that experience. Peace and quiet are what a lot of us go in search of when we go to the trail; to be alone with out thoughts and experience something that we cannot at home. If you haven’t been alone in the wild, I recommend it highly.
I hear ya man. My favorite thing is just the sound of nature. It drives me crazy when someone walks by with music blaring. I go out to get away from the noise of the world.
But….different strokes for different folks I guess.
Walk of Life – Dire Straits
I have a big list of songs for hiking but I will just give you a few.–these boots were made for walking, walking on sunshine ,climb every mountain ,take the road less travelled on by Lauren Alaina is one of my favoritesEnjoy and I have more if anyone’s interested.
My Silver Lining by First Aid Kit. All the feeeeels.