Hiking Statistics Updated November 2026

Human Written & Fact Checked · Updated

100 Hiking Statistics for 2026

Check what the source means by hiking before comparing its numbers. A national participation survey, a trail visit counter and an insurance claim describe different parts of outdoor recreation.

This hub preserves those distinctions across countries, participant groups and hiking forms. It includes national survey evidence, historical demographic detail, original trail surveys and administrative records. Coverage is evidence-led instead of a claim that every country has a comparable estimate.

Headline figures

  • Switzerland, 2026 release: Hiking was practiced by 49% of Switzerland's resident population aged 15 and older. (BASPO, Aug 2026)
  • Metropolitan France adults,May 2025 survey: Hiking participation, excluding leisure-walking-only participants, reached 35%. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Norway residents 16+,2024: Hiking participation reached 74.8% of residents aged 16+. (SSB, Oct 2026)
  • France hikers,May 2025: Multi-day hiking was reported by 27% of hikers. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • France hikers,May 2025: Hiking-app use was reported by 47% of hikers. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • New Zealand, 2024: ACC recorded 8,866 accepted new tramping injury claims lodged in 2024. (ACC, Nov 2025)
  • Pacific Crest Trail, 2024: Nineteen wildfires closed 665 miles of the PCT. (PCTA, Feb 2025)
  • Appalachian Trail, 2025: The Appalachian Trail recorded 16.9 million recreation visits, not unique visitors. (ATC/NPS, Mar 2026)
  • Voluntary Appalachian Trail survey, 2025: Respondents reported average thru-hike spending of US$7,680. (The Trek, Dec 2025)
  • Historical Sport Schweiz 2020 survey: Independent, unorganized hiking accounted for 95% of hikers. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Historical Sport Schweiz 2020 survey: Hiking participation among ages 10–14 was 27.0%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • German Wandermonitor 2024 respondents: Experiencing nature motivated 97% of respondents. (Ostfalia, May 2025)

Browse hiking statistics

How widely is hiking practiced?

A global total would conceal incompatible definitions. National surveys are useful when their age limits, activity definitions and observation periods remain visible.

Which national measures can be compared?

  • Historical hiking/mountain-hiking participation reached 56.9%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)

The retrieved national estimates do not support a synchronized international ranking. Switzerland's historical measure below is comparable only after accounting for its survey population, activity definition and observation period. The Swiss category includes hiking and mountain hiking, with some locally described short hikes. It is not simply every leisure stroll. None of these findings is a synchronized international ranking, and a country without a retrieved estimate should remain a research gap. A participation estimate counts people who meet a survey's activity criterion; a trail counter records visits or passages. Substituting the latter would favor places with heavy repeat use and would erase differences in how the source defines participation. Comparing countries also requires checking whether the survey includes mountain hiking, short local outings or broader walking activities. Preserve those labels instead of treating every outdoor-walking question as a hiking measure.

How did historical Swiss participation vary across groups?

  • Hiking participation among German-speaking residents: 59.2%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Hiking participation among French-speaking residents: 50.0%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Hiking participation among Italian-speaking residents: 53.3%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Hiking participation among Swiss nationals: 60.0%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Hiking participation among foreign nationals: 41.6%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Hiking participation among people in households earning ≤CHF 5,000 monthly: 50.7%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Hiking participation among people in households earning CHF 5,001–9,000 monthly: 59.6%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Hiking participation among people in households earning >CHF 9,000 monthly: 62.6%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)

Historical Swiss hiking participation was higher among Swiss than foreign nationals and varied across language and household-income groups. The Sport Schweiz 2020 factsheet supplies within-survey comparisons. These are within-group participation rates, not shares of all hikers. Income describes household resources; participation concerns individuals. Associations do not establish causal effects.

Who participates in different hiking settings?

Population participation and a trail-survey respondent profile answer different questions. Keep those denominators explicit before discussing inclusion or demand.

What do French and Swiss demographic results measure?

  • The hiking-only category comprised 54% men and 46% women. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Ages 18–24 comprised 13% of the hiking-only category. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Ages 25–34 comprised 16% of the hiking-only category. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Ages 35–49 comprised 28% of the hiking-only category. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Ages 50–64 comprised 23% of the hiking-only category. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Ages 65+ comprised 20% of the hiking-only category. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Hiking participation among men: 54.5%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Hiking participation among women: 59.1%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Hiking participation among ages 15–29: 41.6%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Hiking participation among ages 30–44: 55.7%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Hiking participation among ages 45–59: 61.4%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Hiking participation among ages 60+: 63.6%. (BASPO, Feb 2022)

The French results measure the makeup of a hiking-only category; the Swiss results measure participation within population groups. They cannot be read as equivalent demographic percentages. French hiking-only profiles exclude those reporting both hiking and leisure strolling. Swiss estimates concern the historical Sport Schweiz survey, not the latest release.

Who answered the Appalachian Trail survey?

  • Respondents' mean age was 44 years. (The Trek, Dec 2025)
  • Respondents' median age was 37 years. (The Trek, Dec 2025)
  • The most common respondent age was 26 years. (The Trek, Dec 2025)
  • White respondents comprised 96% of the sample. (The Trek, Dec 2025)
  • US residents comprised 93% of respondents. (The Trek, Dec 2025)
  • Approximately 75% held bachelor's or graduate/professional degrees. (The Trek, Dec 2025)
  • STEM and professional-services occupations represented 40%. (The Trek, Dec 2025)
  • Students represented 6.8% of respondents. (The Trek, Dec 2025)
  • Educators represented 4.7% of respondents. (The Trek, Dec 2025)

Respondents to The Trek's original Appalachian Trail survey were predominantly white and US-based. These voluntary responses describe the sample instead of a representative census of all trail users. These findings describe respondents instead of a typical global hiker. Voluntary recruitment can produce selection and completion bias; demographic composition cannot be generalized to every trail user.

How often and how long do people hike?

Participation is only one dimension of demand. Frequency, duration and multi-day travel need separate measures.

How common are shorter and longer hikes in Norway?

  • Hikes longer than three hours were reported by 40.2%. (SSB, Oct 2026)
  • Hikes shorter than three hours were reported by 72.7%. (SSB, Oct 2026)
  • Hiking over 3 hours, less than monthly: 19.7% of residents. (SSB, Oct 2026)
  • Hiking over 3 hours, one to three times monthly: 15.5% of residents. (SSB, Oct 2026)
  • Hiking over 3 hours, once weekly: 3.4% of residents. (SSB, Oct 2026)
  • Hiking over 3 hours, several times weekly: 1.4% of residents. (SSB, Oct 2026)
  • Hiking under 3 hours, less than monthly: 16.5% of residents. (SSB, Oct 2026)
  • Hiking under 3 hours, one to three times monthly: 27.5% of residents. (SSB, Oct 2026)
  • Hiking under 3 hours, once weekly: 13.9% of residents. (SSB, Oct 2026)
  • Hiking under 3 hours, several times weekly: 14.5% of residents. (SSB, Oct 2026)

Shorter hikes were more commonly reported than longer hikes in Norway's 2024 adult survey. SSB reports duration-specific frequencies. Estimates cover residents aged 16 and older; tables were corrected in October 2026. Duration categories overlap. Frequency bands cannot establish trip counts.

What do multi-day and historical duration data show?

  • At-least-weekly hiking was reported by 27% of hikers. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Multi-day hiking among hikers aged 18–24 reached 52%. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Multi-day hiking among hikers aged 25–34 reached 37%. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Multi-day hiking among hikers aged 35–49 reached 27%. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Multi-day hiking among hikers aged 50–64 reached 20%. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Multi-day hiking among hikers aged 65+ reached 12%. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Median annual hiking frequency was 15 days. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Median hiking-day duration was 3 hours. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Median annual hiking time was 50 hours. (BASPO, Feb 2022)
  • Estimated aggregate annual hiking time was 199 million hours. (BASPO, Feb 2022)

Multiday hiking participation was more common among younger than older French hikers. The historical Swiss results measure hiking frequency and duration, instead of the same overnight-trip category. French percentages use hikers within each age group, not all multiday hikers, as denominators. Swiss medians must not be multiplied to reconstruct aggregate hours.

What do hikers report about spending and digital tools?

Planning data are most useful when tied to the trip and respondent group. A long-distance budget should not be presented as the cost of an ordinary day hike.

What did Appalachian Trail respondents report?

  • Reported thru-hike completions exceeding 2,000 miles represented 63.7%. (The Trek, Dec 2025)
  • Self-reported completers averaged 153 days on their thru-hikes. (The Trek, Dec 2025)
  • Self-reported average daily mileage was 14.3 miles. (The Trek, Dec 2025)
  • Average reported gear spending was US$2,113. (The Trek, Dec 2025)

Appalachian Trail survey respondents reported completed thru-hikes alongside duration, daily mileage and gear spending. The findings apply to this voluntary responding group, with duration restricted to completers. Reported mileage can be approximate, and spending categories should not be added unless the questionnaire establishes that they are disjoint. Completing a hike in the survey is self-reported. Publication timing and voluntary participation can underrepresent people who left the trail early. The survey therefore cannot supply the probability that an arbitrary starter will finish. Duration among completers excludes the experience of respondents who did not finish, making it inappropriate as a general expected trip length for every entrant.

How does hiking-app use vary by age in France?

  • Hiking-app use among hikers aged 18–24 reached 69%. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Hiking-app use among hikers aged 25–34 reached 56%. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Hiking-app use among hikers aged 35–49 reached 54%. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Hiking-app use among hikers aged 50–64 reached 40%. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)
  • Hiking-app use among hikers aged 65+ reached 31%. (USC/FFRandonnée, Jun 2025)

Hiking-app use was more common among younger than older hikers in the French survey. Adoption measures tool use instead of navigation competence or safety. The adoption breakdown belongs to the survey's hiking population. It cannot establish which app is best or whether a phone replaces other preparation. Percentages from different age groups should not be summed, because each has its own denominator. The age pattern can describe the audience reached by digital navigation tools. It does not identify why a participant chose an application or establish that nonusers lacked navigation equipment.

What can injury records tell us about hiking safety?

An administrative claim is not an exposure-adjusted risk rate. The regional figures below cannot rank the danger of trails.

What does the New Zealand claim total include?

  • ACC paid costs on 10,603 active tramping claims during 2024. (ACC, Nov 2025)
  • Active tramping claim costs totaled NZ$11,779,763, excluding GST and acute public hospital payments. (ACC, Nov 2025)

The New Zealand total includes accepted tramping claims, while the active-claim measure includes claims receiving support during the reporting year. Payment totals measure expenditure instead of accident severity. A claim can remain active across reporting years, and accident, lodgement and payment dates can differ. Costs exclude GST and acute public-hospital payments. ACC expressly reports that it cannot identify the exact track or walking-trail location in this dataset. The same reporting system can therefore show a new-claim total and a different active-claim total without contradiction. Neither is a count of all injuries on hiking trips: unreported injuries and cases outside the accepted classification are not measured. Monetary comparisons should retain the source's cost exclusions and reporting period.

Where were the reported tramping injuries located?

  • Auckland accounted for 1,464 new tramping claims lodged in 2024. (ACC, Nov 2025)
  • Canterbury accounted for 1,261 new tramping claims lodged in 2024. (ACC, Nov 2025)
  • Otago accounted for 1,214 new tramping claims lodged in 2024. (ACC, Nov 2025)
  • Waikato accounted for 825 new tramping claims lodged in 2024. (ACC, Nov 2025)
  • Wellington accounted for 701 new tramping claims lodged in 2024. (ACC, Nov 2025)
  • Northland accounted for 259 new accepted tramping claims. (ACC, Nov 2025)
  • Bay of Plenty accounted for 476 new accepted tramping claims. (ACC, Nov 2025)
  • Tasman-Nelson accounted for 673 new accepted tramping claims. (ACC, Nov 2025)
  • West Coast accounted for 322 new accepted tramping claims. (ACC, Nov 2025)
  • Southland accounted for 450 new accepted tramping claims. (ACC, Nov 2025)
  • Manawatū-Whanganui accounted for 373 new accepted tramping claims. (ACC, Nov 2025)

ACC allocates accepted new tramping claims by accident region. These are 2024 lodgements, not injury rates. Counts do not establish injury probabilities without exposure denominators. Accident region differs from residence; Tasman and Nelson are combined.

What supports access to trails?

Trails depend on maintenance, information and transport as well as demand. Management data provide useful context when visits and service contacts remain distinct.

What did US trail managers measure?

  • PCT Crest Runners recorded 4,593 interactions with trail users. (PCTA, Feb 2025)
  • Crest Runner interactions included 476 day hikers. (PCTA, Feb 2025)
  • Crest Runner interactions included 621 section hikers. (PCTA, Feb 2025)
  • Crest Runner interactions included 3,496 long-distance hikers. (PCTA, Feb 2025)
  • PCTA reported maintaining 1,134 trail miles. (PCTA, Feb 2025)
  • PCTA recorded 57,515 total volunteer service hours. (PCTA, Feb 2025)
  • Two fires burned approximately 16 miles of the trail itself. (PCTA, Feb 2025)
  • Appalachian Trail sections on NPS land recorded 6.2 million recreation visits. (ATC/NPS, Mar 2026)
  • NPS-managed Appalachian Trail land ranked ninth among national park units for visitation. (ATC/NPS, Mar 2026)
  • The Appalachian Trail visitation study covered a trail spanning 14 states. (ATC/NPS, Mar 2026)

US trail managers measured encounters, maintenance effort and recreation visits instead of a single national hiking population. PCTA's operational records and ATC/NPS visitation estimates serve different purposes. Contacts are not unique hikers. NPS-land visits are a subset of wider Appalachian Trail visits. Closed trail mileage differs from physically burned mileage.

What do German hikers say about access and motivation?

  • Frequent hikers comprised 67.5% of Wandermonitor respondents. (Ostfalia, May 2025)
  • Being physically active motivated 91% of respondents. (Ostfalia, May 2025)
  • Nearly two-thirds preferred low-mountain landscapes. (Ostfalia, May 2025)
  • Nearly two-thirds were willing to use public transport for hiking. (Ostfalia, May 2025)
  • The Deutschlandticket positively influenced nearly 30% regarding public transport. (Ostfalia, May 2025)
  • More than 75% preferred trail signs for navigation, especially at junctions. (Ostfalia, May 2025)

Physical activity was a common motivation among Wandermonitor respondents, and public transport and trail signs featured in their stated preferences. These findings describe surveyed hikers instead of Germany's entire population. Stated willingness is not observed ridership. Preferences from a visitor survey can inform questions for local planning, but they should not be extrapolated mechanically to every resident. The source reports approximate fractions where reproduced here. A stated transport preference cannot establish that a service is available at the required trailhead or that respondents subsequently used it.

Glossary

Methodology and sources

Every figure on this page comes from the organisation that produced it: regulators, statistics offices, public bodies, research institutes, and companies reporting their own data or surveys. Each one links to the original report or dataset and carries its release date. Survey results keep their population and fieldwork period, and financial figures keep the measure the producer used. Figures from different producers are not added together or ranked against each other. The page is reviewed monthly and updated when a producer releases newer data.