Looking for good backpacking or hiking movies to inspire your next outdoor trip? These films are the perfect selection!
Note: realistically not all of these movies are “sunshine and daisies” – keep that in mind! Some of these are real life survival stories to inspire adventurers to live their lives to the fullest!
The Way 2010
(Rated 7.4/10 on IMDb)
An emotionally gripping film, the Way Back is about a father who travels to collect his sons ashes after he died on the Camino pilgrimage. The Camino de Santiago is a 500mile network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe and coming together at the tomb of St. James. The father decides to complete the trek himself and we are able to watch on as he makes friendships along the way.
Tracks 2013
(Rated 7.2/10 on IMDb)
One of my favourite solo trekking stories, the tale of Tracks is known worldwide as it was sponsored by National Geographic. In 1977, a 27 year old Robyn Davidson decided to embark on a 9 month solo journey from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean, crossing the Australian outback with four camels and her dog.
Wild 2014
(Rated 7.5/10 on IMDb)
In June 1995, Cheryl Strayed hiked 1,100 miles of the 2,663 mile long Pacific Crest Trail. The Wild movie true story takes us with her on her solo journey as she begins to discover herself.
127 Hours 2010
(Rated 7.5/10 on IMDb)
Based on true events, this biographical survival story follows Aron Ralston’s experience while being trapped alone in while hiking in Utah. An avid mountain climber, Aron finds himself stuck beneath a boulder for 127 hours before taking desperate measures to get rescued.
Free Solo 2018
(Rated 8.2/10 on IMDb)
An Oscar award winning documentary, Professional rock climber Alex Honnold (my favourite!) attempts to conquer the first free solo climb of famed El Capitan’s 900-metre vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park.
Into the Wild 2007
(Rated 8.2/10 on IMDb)
“Into the Wild” is based off of a non-fiction book written by Jon Krakauer. “Into the Wild” is an international best seller, which has been printed in 14 different languages. Without trying to put any spoilers out there, the book was based on Christopher McCandless’s (or Alexander Supertramp’s) journey to Alaska. The author Jon Krakauer retraced McCandless’s steps to discover that McCandless left in order to find some sort of enlightenment out in the wilderness as sometimes finding oneself conflicts with being an active member of society.
Meru 2015
(Rated 7.7/10 on IMDb)
Meru is a 2015 documentary film chronicling the first ascent of the “Shark’s Fin” route on Meru Peak in the Indian Himalayas. Three elite climbers fight through feelings of obsession and loss as they struggle to climb Mount Meru.
The Dawn Wall 2018
(Rated 8.1/10 on IMDb)
Legendary free climber Tommy Caldwell tries to get over heartbreak by scaling the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. There is much more to this documentary than you would expect!
North of the Sun 2012 (45minutes)
(Rated 8.4/10 on IMDb)
“North of the Sun” is a pair of filmmaker-adventurer’s nine-month project living out their adventure – hiking out to a remote arctic beach in Norway, the two live on the beach, building a cabin made from washed up debris, whilst cleaning up the beach and surfing in below freezing temperatures. Now this film isn’t exactly a solo journey, although I feel it displays the same affect as the pair are so isolated out in the Norwegian wilderness.
I first came across this film at the Banff Film Festival – “North of the Sun” took both the grand prize and people’s choice awards.
A Walk in the Woods 2015
(Rated 6.4/10 on IMDb)
The first proper comedy film of this list, a Walk in the Woods follows Bill Bryson, an elderly author, decides to go on an adventure by hiking the Appalachian Trail along with his old friend, Katz.
But wait, there’s more…
- Wildlike
- Seven Years in Tibet
- Hit the Road: India
- Mile… Mile & a Half
- Southbounders
- Touching the Void
- Everest
- The Way Back
- The Lost City of Z
- Jungle
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