Dear Black men, when was the last time you went hiking? A week ago? Last summer? Never? Of the many hobbies people pick up, hiking is not always well-received in African American communities. I would like to change that. Some will say, “Does being Black matter?” Yes, without a doubt.

I know nature knows no color line. I also know that many conservation leaders were eugenicists who saw people of color as inferior. I know the federal government violently displaced Native Americans from the lands we now call our national parks. I know remote forests of the Jim Crow South were more likely to host lynchings than Black campers. These aren’t isolated historical events–they are a living history that has created generations of Black men who lack access to and awareness of the outdoors.

So yeah; I get why hiking isn’t as popular among Black men, but I’m also determined to change that. Here are four reasons why more Black men should try hiking this summer.

1. To Connect With Nature

The nature gap is real. Institutional racism and other factors led us to this stark reality. Many Black men living in major cities lack access to green spaces in our communities, preventing us from developing a connection with nature. If your parents didn’t have that connection, chances are you don’t either.

I live in Las Vegas. After turning 21, I went to casinos, nightclubs, and lived the nightlife that Vegas is so famous for. Not once did it cross my mind to venture 15 miles west of the city to visit Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA). But once I finally did, I was hooked.

Later, in my late 20s, and in desperate need of a new lifestyle, I started walking around my neighborhood. At the time, I lived near the end of the development easement which gave me access to the desert hills that surround the Las Vegas Valley. As I stepped off the pavement and into the dirt, I immediately began making a connection to nature that would completely change my perspective on life and how I wanted to live it.

At the time, my daughter was four years old. Instead of bringing her on hikes, my instinct was to shield her from the “dangers” of wild spaces. As Black parents, we tend to be overly protective in an effort to control the unknown. A few years later, I let my guard down and took my daughter hiking. She loved it. We camped and hiked together over the next few years. She eventually picked up other interests like drawing anime-style sketches and playing softball. But we still hike together today. I’m proud to say that my connection with nature is now a multigenerational legacy.  

If you are a Black father like me who didn’t grow up spending a lot of time in nature, you may be wondering how to get your kids involved. After all, it is not always easy to find a trail, especially if you rely on public transportation. The Transit to Trails Act seeks to erase this barrier and help more urban communities connect with nature. For many Black men, our first interactions with nature occur at city parks and bike trails. That’s fine. Promoting destination hikes is great, but what about “closing the park equity divide” so that we don’t have to travel so far from home? Movements like #BlackBirdersWeek and #BlackHikersWeek are about getting outside locally while exposing the anti-Black racism we face. Getting outside can carry a lot of physical risks for us–especially when people continue to call the police on Black men for walking, jogging, birdwatching, fishing or just existing. However, we deserve to be outdoors. Hiking is a great way for us to experience nature and return to our native roots. 

2. Physical Health

We need more cardio, good brothers. If you’ve been out of high school or college for more than 10 years, you may have noticed that you’re not moving as fast as you used to. You might have more joint pain, higher cholesterol, and higher blood pressure than you would like. As stress, responsibilities, and a more sedentary lifestyle take over, our health tends to fall lower on our priority list. You’ve probably already heard that African Americans are twice as likely to die from stroke or heart disease. We’re also twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes.

While we can’t reduce all of our risk factors, we can focus on moving our bodies more. Hiking is a relatively easy way to rack up miles while getting fresh air and sun. Is hiking hard? No, it doesn’t have to be.  For Black men just starting out, it’s important to gauge your fitness level. Next, start with hikes that are less than a half mile and are on relatively flat and smooth surfaces. You’re not out there to prove anything. If you overdo it, you might get injured or feel less motivated to come back. Find your own pace and hike your own hike.

The key is to disconnect from the world for a while and connect with nature. Eventually, you will end up covering greater distances and finishing more difficult trails. Many of the Black men I hike with lose weight over time. I lost 50 pounds during the pandemic shutdown by hiking and adopting healthier eating habits. Make sure you talk to a health provider that doesn’t just push weight loss. Increasing your steps or mileage can help you achieve specific health goals like less joint pain, increased range of motion, or decreased shortness of breath. Hiking can help you feel healthier–and that’s more important than the number on the scale.

3. Mental Wellness

Black men are less likely to get help for mental illnesses than our white counterparts. And when we do try to get help we’re more likely to be misdiagnosed by mental health professionals that lack cultural competency.

We live in a society where many Black men are pushed into hypermasculine roles from childhood. We don’t get the same opportunities to relax or unwind. We are always on guard and that can show up in our bodies as physical and emotional tension. Keeping a hypermasculine mask on at all times inevitably takes its toll on our bodies. It can show up as chronic illness or flare-ups of long-term health issues.

That’s where nature can help. Hiking provides a boost to your mental health. Mental and physical health cannot be separated. Spending time in nature doesn’t just impact our emotions, it can even reduce chronic pain. It’s one of many resources and tools (e.g. -medication, talk therapy, a support network) that may improve your mental health.

While hiking can boost your mood and well-being, it cannot take the place of a culturally affirming licensed therapist. If you are experiencing mental health issues, seek help from a trained professional.

4. Representation and Community

When I first got into hiking, I enjoyed going out with public hiking groups. However, the Meetup crowd didn’t look like me and I would often get waitlisted when signing up for a hike. Even though these groups were open to the public, it felt like a good ole boy’s club and I was an outsider. I discovered Outdoor Afro (OA) through a friend and quickly signed up to volunteer as a hike leader. OA gave me an outdoor community of folks who also looked like me to act as a support group while I became familiar with trails in my region. I met some great people who turned into lifelong friends.

As time went on, I created my own group, Hike Nevada. I recruited friends and co-workers and we took trips to Arizona and Utah. I saved Sundays for the guys. I called it the ‘Sunday Scramble’ because we scrambled up the red rocks of southern Nevada from Valley of Fire to Lake Mead and back to Red Rock NCA. We would often take difficult routes.  We held debates and discussed current events. Working out, connecting with nature, and leaving the city behind for a few hours became a ritual for us. This was our bonding time.

Many affinity groups have been popping up around the country. Some specifically serve Black men like Black Men Hike.  I am always representing on the trail. Whether I’m with an official group or just hanging out with friends, I am being seen as a Black man hiking. And this representation matters. It shows people who look like me that nature is for them. Hiking can be one of the pillars of a stronger community for Black men as we navigate life, parenthood, social pressures, and aging. 

Bibliography

7 Common Health Concerns African Americans Should Monitor, CentraState Healthcare System, 2022.

The Negro motorist Green-book, Library of Congress.

Nature Knows No Color-Line: Research into the Negro Ancestry in the White Race, J.A. Rodgers, Amazon Books.

Visible and Invisible Trends in Black Men's Health, National Institute of Health, 2016.

Nature Gap: Why Outdoor Spaces Lack Diversity and Inclusion, NC State University, College of Natural Resources News, Dec. 2020.

H.R.2924 - Transit to Trails Act of 2021, United States Congress.

Brother, You're On My Mind: Mental Health Snapshot of African American Men, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

Black Men Hike, Black Men Hike.

Stress and Your Kidneys, National Kidney Foundation.

Stanford researchers find mental health prescription: Nature, Stanford University.