“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life”. This wise advice is a great guiding principle when considering career paths. For those of us who love making footprints on trails, the thought “can hiking be my job?” has certainly come up.
Before jumping to the options, it’s important to note the often omitted downside to turning a hobby into a profit. Hobbies, like hiking, have the important job of breaking us out of the day-to-day cycle. They release us from the chores and paperwork for a few moments of bliss. When a hobby suddenly becomes a way to pay the bills, some of that bliss can disappear when new business challenges are introduced.
But, if done carefully, there are ways to balance the work and play. So, if you’re set on turning a profit from your days on the trail, here are a few ideas.
Content Creation
Creating content from your treks is a great way to monetize hiking adventures. YouTube videos, podcasts, and blog writing are all monetization paths for your hiking content.
You can do video trail reviews of the most popular trails in your area, or montage clips of the most picturesque hikes around the world.
Perhaps you can try to put a new spin on podcasts where the podcasts are recorded while you and your guest walk through the woods. The sounds of nature in the background and blood-pumping exercise are sure to spark some insightful conversations.
Blog writing is perhaps the most common way to monetize hobbies, especially travel and trekking. Articles and blogs about your hiking adventures can be published on our own monetized channels, or submitted to publishers for paid placements.
Through each of these content creation options, you can profit with the use of advertisements, affiliate partnerships, or user subscriptions. Just keep in mind that there’s a lot of heavy lifting to build an audience before the dollars start rolling in.
Photography
One of the most rewarding parts of any hike is the natural beauty that surrounds the trail. With the help of a good camera and a few lessons, you can capture this beauty as an amateur photographer. Your woodland photos can be marketed on online stock photo sites, sold print-by-print at local art festivals, or displayed for sale in cafes and hotels on a consignment agreement.
Once you have some traction and refined skill, you may even consider leading your own paid photography course along the trails with a small class of eager learners.
Work for the National Park Service or local agencies
If you truly love spending your days in nature, you may want to consider a career with the National Park Service or other local agencies that manage nature parks. While these jobs can be quite competitive, the reward is often worth the challenge.
Depending on your role, you may be spending days hiking along trails to inspect the paths, track animal movements, or monitor other hikers. Plus, with the expansive network of National Parks, your daily “office” will never be stagnant.
Lead Hiking Tours
If you live near popular trails or noteworthy mountain ranges, you may be able to share your love for hiking with like-minded travelers. Hiking tour groups can vary in size and skill level - from large group treks of novice hikers to small tours along dangerous trails. If you live in wine country or a notable foodie scene, you may consider developing a multi-faceted tour that begins with a morning hike and ends with an afternoon tour of wineries or restaurants.
Before you start collecting fees for hiking tour groups, be sure to check local regulations. Many parks and maintained trails forbid unaffiliated guides from leading paid tours. It’s always best to check with the governing agencies for potential requirements.
Sponsorship
Outdoor gear brands rely on real-life users to test and promote their products. Just like any other sport, if you build notoriety and recognition for your hiking experience, these brands may be willing to pay you to wear their gear and display their logos.
To reach this level of prestige, you’ll need to have extensive experience with notable accomplishments on your resume. Once you summit a few of the Seven Summits or cross off the highest mountain in each of the fifty states, you could be in a position to start seeking these paid opportunities.
If you decide to monetize your hiking endeavors, the most important measure of success should still be enjoying your time on the trail. Money complicates things, but it shouldn’t take away from the joy you feel while out in the woods - that feeling is truly priceless.