Get Paid To Hike (10 Ways You'll Wish You Knew Sooner)

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Start making money today by hiking (even if you’re terrible at it).

What if I tell you that you can make money from the simple activities you do during leisure? Yes, you can get paid to hike.

And not just a few bucks a year but real consistent income, which can remain a side-hustle or become a full time thing. Depending on what you want. Several people have turned their love for hiking into a money-making venture. This is a great way to raise your earnings and also get rid of outstanding debt.

There are many fun ways you can monetize this activity, like blogging, making videos, selling photos, becoming an affiliate, and many more.

This article will be looking at simple ways you can get paid to hike.

What Is Professional Hiking? How Can You Get Paid To Hike?

When you plan to generate income from a hobby, the dynamics of everything change. This is not to say it stops being fun, but rather it becomes more interesting. You tend to devote more time and also make lots of money to cover your bills.

Professional hiking is an outdoor activity that is enjoyed by many people. It is a great way to get exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and see new things. People often hike for pleasure or to take pictures.

Professional hiking usually marks the end of staying long hours at annoying jobs, but it requires a lot of patience to profit from it.

Most paths used in monetizing this hobby are built around the love for hiking and a willingness to allow others to share in your journey.

Benefits of Hiking

Hiking is a form of exercise and a good way to energize your muscles. It is also a social activity, and a means to bond with your partner, family and friends.

So far, this remains its biggest catch. But, it as well has very positive effects on the body, namely;

Reducing the risk of developing a heart disease
Maintaining a healthy blood pressure
Enhancing the density of the bones
Maintaining a healthy blood sugar level
Preventing obesity
Helps in relieving stress and anxiety

How Much Is A Professional Hiker’s Salary

The amount a hiker earns as a salary is solely dependent on the consistency of work done and the monetization model selected.

According to ZipRecruiter, a survey on the salaries earned by hikers showed that the lowest earners made around $2,100 monthly and $25,500 yearly. The highest earners made around $6,160 monthly and $74,000 yearly.

How To Become A Professional Hiker

When you intend to become a professional hiker or get paid to hike, you have to look inwards and think carefully so you can arrive at the monetization model that is perfect for you.

Also, you have to come to terms with the fact that you will need to devote more attention to hiking, unlike when it was a hobby.

Once you have picked a monetization model, put in the work and wait for your efforts to materialize into consistent income.

10 Ways You Get Paid To Hike

Hiking can be monetized using a myriad of methods, but we will be looking at the top 10 most profitable ways to go about this.

1. Sell Photos From Your Hiking Escapades

This may not be an option for people who attach a great deal of sentimental value to photos,, but you can make cool money doing this if this is not a problem.

Hikers discover the most beautiful views in the world. Instead of taking those photos and just keeping them for yourself, share them with others and get paid.

For a start, you will need a great camera and badass photography skills. You can order a camera online and take a couple of photography courses to arm yourself for the journey ahead.

Photos taken during the adventure can be sold on stock websites like Shutterstock and iStock. Another way to go about this is pitching to magazines or bloggers, or brands in the industry that may be interested in using your photos. Asides from these two methods, you could start a photo gallery and sell print photos.

Get Started With Shutterstock

2. Publish a Book

Hikers always have amazing stories to tell. Do you mind compiling that in a book? You could organize all the ideas you have to share and discuss the love you have for hiking.

Other key things that can be included are tips for new hikers, benefits, why everyone should consider hiking and so on.

If you encounter trouble writing, you could hire a book coach to help you through, then an editor for the finishing touch.

Amazon is a good place to start your publishing journey. There are other good self-publishing platforms as well. With good marketing, you may not make a fortune immediately, but you will make a whole lot of money.

To get paid to hike, you have to be okay with sharing some close details about your adventures. This can be shared across social media platforms but Facebook and Instagram takes the lead as most of the communication with your audience will be done via photos.

It takes so much patience and perseverance to grow a social media following but its always worth it in the end.

Your followers would help you make money as brands would want you to give them shout-outs on your page, and such services are often well paid for.

4. Start a Blog About Hiking

There are lots of hiking lovers than you currently know. Many are looking to connect with others, read stories about hiking, get tips to make the adventure more fun and learn new stuff.

This makes this an avenue to get paid while you hike.

Starting a blog has never been easier. All you have to do is download WordPress, buy a nice domain for your blog and a hosting plan, design the website yourself or hire someone to do it.

After that, you can commit to posting search engine optimized stories and articles. Your blog will gain traffic within a short time frame, and the money will roll in.

5. Become a YouTuber/ Vlogger/ Video Creator

Everyone loves videos. The coolest way to share the thrills of your adventure is making videos about it. It’s very much like ‘killing two birds with one stone as you get to save the memory while making money off it.

After making your videos, you can upload them on Facebook, TikTok or YouTube. These three platforms help video bloggers make money from their videos by displaying adverts and sending creators a share of the revenue.

To get started, take a course on videography, study Facebook and YouTube’s ranking algorithms, get a camera and start making videos!

6. Do Affiliate Marketing

As an affiliate, you can recommend people’s products and get a percentage of the product’s price as commission.

Now to do this, you would need an audience that trusts you and a brand that is worth recommending. This is one of the easiest ways to get paid to hike.

Interested in affiliate marketing? Here is a step-by-step guide on how to start affiliate marketing for beginners.

Share your experiences and build authority in the hiking niche. Partner with reputable brands and recommend their products.

Depending on your sales skills, this model should earn you a minimum of $5000 monthly.

7. Work For A Hiking Company

This is another legitimate way to get paid to hike, and good years of experience down the line should secure you a job with good company.

Many recruiters now say social media profiles serve as resumes, so do well to share your experiences online.

As a staff for a hiking brand, you may be responsible for writing about hiking and sharing stories, or covering videos on high-interest areas, or even taking photos for the brand.

The difference between this and working independently is that this method guarantees income security and takes the trouble of monetization off your neck.

8. Start a Career as a Park Ranger

One of the most lucrative options available is becoming a park ranger. This way, your desires to go hiking are met while you get paid.

Before taking this road, be sure you are okay with guiding and teaching people, as this is one of the main roles of the job.

There are also educational requirements, unlike the rest, and park rangers get to decide where they want to work. This decision will determine the kind of roles played and the effort required.

9. Become a Hiking Guide

A hiking guide is someone that guides a group of hikers on their journey. The job is similar to other kinds of guides, and it’s relatively simple.

The trouble is usually getting a job as there is little demand for these professionals. However, a competitive work profile will surely give you an edge.

If you do not feel like threading that part, you can start your own guide agency and find clients.

10. Start a Career as a Wildland Firefighter

Wildland firefighters are like the regular firefighters except that they focus on fires in wildlands. This role requires some educational background and qualification. Your love for hiking is a plus here and not the main deal.

Responsibilities of wildland firefighters includes preventing wildfires, devising strategies to combat a fire in case it happens, proper management of tools available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most popular women’s hiker?

Heather Anderson is the most popular for covering a total of 28,000 miles while hiking.

Does hiking get easier?

Yes, hiking does get easier. After a few rounds of hiking, your body adjusts to the routine.

Do you have to be fit to hike?

No, you don’t have to be fit to hike. Anyone of any shape or size can go hiking.

Final Thoughts On How To Get Paid To Hike

Hiking is a wonderful form of exercise that can earn you money while you stay fit and enjoy your hobby. The numerous ways you can get paid to hike are detailed above. Earning money hiking has never been easier. Take your time to select the model that suits you the most and monetize your hobby.