Outside recreation in 2025 continues to develop in reputation, and one exercise continues to face out above the remainder: mountain climbing and backpacking. These are not area of interest actions. They’ve turn out to be the core of how many individuals expertise nature.
In keeping with trade knowledge from the Outside Business Affiliation, mountain climbing ranks #1 for the preferred outdoor-specific exercise, with 63 million individuals.
As locations competing in a crowded tourism market search for methods to draw extra guests year-round, these foot-powered adventures are proving to be one of many smartest and most sustainable attracts. With this in thoughts, it ought to come as no shock that locations worldwide are selling their mountain climbing and backpacking alternatives to world audiences, making a flood of content material and messaging that may be tough to face out in.
The Huge Numbers Behind Climbing’s Recognition
Lately, participation in out of doors recreation has skyrocketed, with mountain climbing and backpacking main the cost. In 2024, greater than 63 million Individuals went mountain climbing, practically double the quantity from a decade earlier, and participation continues to develop.
Climbing, backpacking, and tenting appeal to a variety of ages and ability ranges, from households with younger youngsters to solo adventurers seeking long-distance challenges. What makes mountain climbing so interesting is the accessibility and affordability. Climbing has the flexibility to create a deep sense of connection to a spot.
For a lot of vacationers, the mountain climbing or backpacking alternatives are the primary motive to go to a vacation spot. Whether or not it’s a scenic day hike close to a nationwide park gateway city or a multi-day trek by way of backcountry wilderness, mountain climbing alternatives permit folks to have interaction with a area in a significant and immersive approach.
Trails as a Catalyst for Rural and Nature-Based mostly Tourism
Not like some out of doors sports activities that require specialised gear or costly permits, mountain climbing and backpacking are inherently inclusive. That’s excellent news for rural and nature-based tourism economies. Trails convey folks into small cities, forested areas, and mountain communities that may in any other case be bypassed. When hikers come by way of, they don’t simply discover the panorama. They keep in native lodges, store at outfitters, eat at eating places, and contribute on to the financial system.
In keeping with the American Climbing Society, trail-based recreation generates greater than 200 billion {dollars} yearly in shopper spending in the US. These numbers verify what ahead pondering locations already know: while you spend money on trails, you’re not simply constructing recreation, you’re constructing an financial engine.
Areas that prioritize mountain climbing infrastructure equivalent to well-marked trails, protected entry factors, and trailheads with amenities are stretching tourism past peak summer season months. This method spreads guests out over time and house, providing a extra sustainable mannequin that reduces the pressure on widespread hotspots.
Extra Than Recreation: Climbing as a Storytelling Software
For vacation spot entrepreneurs and tourism boards, mountain climbing affords greater than financial potential. It’s a storytelling platform. Trails usually comply with historic routes, go cultural landmarks, or result in pure wonders. Deciphering that journey by way of signage, guides, or digital platforms can elevate the expertise and deepen a customer’s connection to the place.
With social media shaping how folks select their subsequent getaway, mountain climbing can also be extremely shareable. From epic summit photographs to quiet forest moments, trails create the type of content material that evokes others to go to and discover.
Locations trying to make the most of mountain climbing as a storytelling device can begin with a number of confirmed methods:
- Accomplice with native path associations to make sure trails are maintained and well-promoted
- Collaborate with path information firms that may provide structured experiences for guests of various ability ranges
- Put money into trail-to-town connectivity that encourages guests to spend extra money and time domestically
- Spotlight trails by way of omnichannel content material that tells a broader cultural or group story
A Easy Path Can Make a Huge Affect
Communities don’t want world-famous thru-hikes to make a mark. A well-maintained community of native trails can have simply as a lot influence, particularly when paired with accessible data, signage, guided experiences, and hospitality choices that assist hikers. Incorporating trails into vacation spot planning advantages vacationers and locals alike. Trails enhance the standard of life for residents, encourage wholesome existence, and foster environmental stewardship.
Case Research: Trails That Drive Tourism
Around the globe, there are lots of examples that present how trails may be highly effective financial engines. One path that stands out is the Jordan Path, a long-distance route that stretches greater than 650 kilometers throughout the nation, linking communities, landscapes, and heritage websites.
Since the Jordan Path formally launched in 2017, it has attracted 1000’s of worldwide guests and has turn out to be an financial driver for villages alongside the route, creating alternatives for native guiding firms, homestays, and small companies. In 2017, the Epic Trails crew filmed alongside the Jordan Path to showcase its choices. Heliconia produced a brief movie that highlighted the folks and landscapes alongside this one-of-a-kind 450-mile path, which stretches from the north of Jordan to the south.
Nearer to dwelling, Banff & Lake Louise Tourism has demonstrated how sturdy trail-to-town connectivity can prolong customer stays and enhance spending. Parks Canada notes that Banff’s built-in path methods encourage guests to discover each pure landscapes and the group itself, reinforcing tourism’s financial and cultural influence. The Epic Trails crew has additionally filmed in Banff in each summer season and winter, showcasing its unbelievable range throughout seasons for audiences with completely different journey preferences.
Epic Trails has additionally highlighted different examples by way of our shoots, from rural areas in Europe, to communities throughout the U.S. the place hikers contribute considerably to native economies, and past.
An Alternative for Progress
Heliconia is a pacesetter in out of doors journey storytelling with a number of award-winning tv sequence broadcast to thousands and thousands on main networks like Exterior TV, Discovery Channel, and PBS. Heliconia showcases mountain climbing and backpacking locations everywhere in the world, and every episode is paired with digital storytelling throughout the BackpackingTV YouTube channel, the Epic Trails Instagram web page, and the Epic Trails Fb web page. These platforms join with an engaged group of out of doors lovers throughout completely different demographics and areas who actively search inspiration for his or her subsequent journey.
For vacation spot companions, this implies greater than visibility. It means entry to broadcast and digital distribution, compelling storytelling, and a library of royalty-free images and video property captured throughout manufacturing. With Epic Trails and the Heliconia staff, locations can place their trails and communities on the middle of a world motion towards wellness, exploration, and significant journey.
On the coronary heart of Epic Trails is host Mike Fink, whose ardour for backpacking and mountain climbing brings authenticity and credibility to the sequence. By his journeys, Mike highlights not solely the landscapes but in addition the tradition, historical past, and folks linked to every path. His perspective resonates with viewers who crave each journey and significant tales, making Epic Trails a trusted voice in out of doors journey media.
Within the race to face out in a crowded tourism panorama, the common-or-garden mountain climbing path, amplified by strategic partnerships, compelling storytelling, and genuine content material, could also be one of the best path ahead.
The locations that may stand out within the subsequent decade are those who acknowledge trails not solely as paths by way of landscapes, however as pathways to financial progress, cultural connection, and world visibility.
Concerning the Creator
McKenzie Dolan is a seasoned advertising skilled with a deep-rooted ardour for the out of doors and journey journey trade. McKenzie brings a number of years of experience in digital advertising methods, undertaking administration, and artistic advertising. McKenzie’s work focuses on elevating model consciousness and visibility by way of compelling out of doors journey content material.
About Heliconia
Our mission is easy – to ‘Information Folks to a Lifetime of Journey’. Heliconia focuses on creating and producing journey TV exhibits like Epic Trails, which might be broadcast into over 100M+ US TV households on platforms like Discovery Channel, PBS, FanDuel Sports activities Networks, and OutsideTV. From out of doors adventures to household escapes and culinary journeys, our productions encourage audiences to discover the world. Inquisitive about who Heliconia is? Watch our promo reel or get in contact!
Contributing members are answerable for the accuracy of content material contributed to the Member Information part of AdventureTravelNews.