Increase in hiking good or bad?

Is the increase of people getting into hiking a good thing or a bad thing?

More hikers mean:

• More trail use
• More human impact
• More of a chance of litter
• More of a chance of rescues
• More people in less crowded places
• More potential closures because of capacity

But there are many good things about it too such as more funding because of tourism increase. More jobs. etc.

How do you all feel about this? Are you for more hikers or against the idea?

Yes in my opinion its a good thing

John Wick said:

Yes in my opinion its a good thing

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Personally, I think it's good, too.

It means more people are being more healthy and that might decrease the need for medical visits which hurts the healthcare system. And more people will care about public land which is definitely needed since some people are trying to sell off public land.

I’m totally for more people getting into hiking. Nature is not a private club. Yeah, more boots on trails brings impact, but the solution isn’t gatekeeping. It is education, solid infrastructure, and a culture that cares about the outdoors.

Every outdoor lover started as a beginner. If someone leaves litter or goes off trail, that is a teaching moment, not a reason to wish fewer people outside. More hikers means more voices protecting wild spaces, more funding for parks, and more support for conservation.

I would rather see new folks learning how to respect the land than trails sitting empty and budgets shrinking. We just need to help people do it right instead of hoping they stay home.

Ethan Lewis said:

I would rather see new folks learning how to respect the land than trails sitting empty and budgets shrinking. We just need to help people do it right instead of hoping they stay home.

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This is my favorite answer on this whole post!

Ethan Lewis said:

I would rather see new folks learning how to respect the land than trails sitting empty and budgets shrinking.

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That's a good point. If people aren't using the trails, campgrounds, and other public lands it makes it hard to justify spending money on upkeep to benefit a relative few. So many of the small USFS campgrounds have fallen victim to budget cuts over the years. Trails that were once kept cleared are now allowed to become overgrown and covered with deadfalls. Having active, dedicated users and advocates my not guarantee healthy budgets, but having few or no users will ensure budgets being cut.

If more people on trails helps to save public lands from private exploitation, I'm all for it. Trails and camping areas can recover, but clear-cutting, extractive industry, and commercial development means that natural areas and ecosystems are likely lost for good (bad).

In my view, these environments have long term intrinsic value regardless of hiking opportunities. The flora and fauna of this beautiful Earth are worth saving. Humans should treasure it, and be good stewards.

Driftwoody said:

If more people on trails helps to save public lands from private exploitation, I'm all for it. Trails and camping areas can recover, but clear-cutting, extractive industry, and commercial development means that natural areas and ecosystems are likely lost for good (bad).

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Totally agree.

My mission has always been tourism, and it will continue to be tourism.