I have to say that this was one of my favorite posts to put together. The music I listened to on the trail was a huge part of my journey. I spent many times in my own head in thought (or no thought at all), but the most magical and memorable moments for me often came when I heard a song that just sent me soaring as I was hiking along what has to be, the most amazing trail in the world. Still today, I will hear some of these songs and it will take me right back to an amazing place and time. I have listed some of my most played and motivating songs, along with some new hiking favorites. Some are obvious and some are way out of left field and may seem solemn…but hearing them at moments on the trail alone and surround by nature, they have so much more significance. Being “Wired” I need some of the slower ones, so I had to include them.
I’ve put an asterik(*) next to ones that I personally would often loop on repeat as I hiked. I’ve linked them all to youtube for easy hearing/viewing. Some have some great videos too! If I left any good ones out that you’ve enjoyed while hiking, please let me know. Enjoy!
If you’re planning a hike and questioning bringing an MP3 player, definitely bring it! You will have plenty of time to be alone with your thoughts and the music will be a great break and motivation. Trust me and load these songs! A blog follower made a playlist of them on Spotify, so here’s the link. Thank you to Ronda for doing that:)
Good Life-One Republic*
Closer to the Edge-30 Seconds to Mars
Defying Gravity-Wicked Soundtrack*
Awake My Soul-Mumford and Sons*
Roll Away Your Stone-Mumford and Sons*
Little Lion Man-Mumford and Sons
The Cave-Mumford and Sons
Timshel-Mumford and Sons
These Are The Days-Sugarland*
Stand Up-Sugarland
Fly Away-Sugarland
Something More-Sugarland
We Run-Sugarland
Life In A Northern Town-Live version from Sugarland, Jake Owen, and Little Big Town
Colder Weather-Zac Brown Band
Fly-Nicki Minaj ft. Rhianna
Not Afraid-Eminem
Good Feeling-Flo Rida
Say What You Need to Say-John Mayer
Wide Open Spaces-Dixie Chicks
Cowboy Take Me Away-Dixie Chicks
The Long Way Around-Dixie Chicks
Home-Dierks Bently
Mars-Lori McKenna
Rain-Patty Griffin
Walking On Broken Glass-Annie Lennox
Ants Marching-Dave Matthews Band
Closer To Me-Dar Williams
Fields of Gold-Eva Cassidy
Good Things-Bodeans
Hillbilly Shoes-Montgomery Gentry
I Run For Life-Melissa Etheridge
Kill The Messenger-Shawn Colvin
Steady On-Shawn Colvin
Love Today-Mika
Numb/Encore-Jay-Z and Linkin Park
Ordinary Day-Vanessa Carlton*
A Thousand Miles-Vanessa Carlton
Twilight-Vanessa Carlton
Stronger-Kanye West
Praan-Garry Schyman
Raise Your Glass-Pink
Steer-Missy Higgins
Warm Whispers-Missy Higgins
Big Strong Girl-Deb Talen*
More Time-Needtobreathe
Winter Song-Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson*
One Song Glory-Rent Soundtrack
Dog Days Are Over-Florence and the Machine*
Shake It Out-Florence and the Machine
Hometown Glory-Adele
Rolling In The Deep-Adele
Little Victories-Matt Nathanson**
Have You Ever-Brandi Carlile**
Happy-Brandi Carlile
Fighter-Christina Aguilera
Baba O’Riley(Teenage Wasteland)-Blue Man Group live version
Waiting For My Real Life To Begin-Colin Hay
I Feel It All-Feist
Standing Outside The Fire-Garth Brooks(live version)
Galileo-Indigo Girls*
Since You’ve Been Around-Rosie Thomas
Seeing Stars-Meg Hutchinson
This Is Why We Fight-The Decemberists
Use Somebody-Kings of Leon
Walking In Memphis-Cher or Marc Cohn
Wave on Wave-Pat Green
I Run To You-Lady Antebellum
Run This Town-Jay-Z ft. Rhianna and Kanye West
Fireflies-Owl City
Airplanes-B.o.B feat Hayley Williams
Burning Bridges-Chris Pureka
Breakaway-Kelly Clarkson
True Colors-Cyndi Lauper
I Got It Honest-Aaron Tippin
