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GetHiking! Health Benefits

Hiking regularly, or making a hike a part of your regular exercise regimen, can have a dramatic impact on your physical and mental health. It’s something nearly everyone can do, and it’s a lifelong activity, something you can do long after your body has said no to more aggressive outdoor pursuits.

Hiking reduces your chances of heart disease.
Hiking on a regular basis can lower your blood pressure by 4 to 10 points.
A frequent walk in the woods can help reduce your chances of getting diabetes. If you already have the disease, hiking, combined with a proper diet, can reduce or even eliminate the need for insulin therapy.
As a weight-bearing exercise, hiking can help stave off osteoporosis.
A regular exercise program centered around hiking, coupled with a sound diet, can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Depending upon your pace and other factors, you can burn up to 500 calories per hour hiking.
A walk in the woods can clear your head — and that’s not us talking, that’s your endorphins, according to recent studies. It’s also effective at reducing stress and relieving anxiety.
Hiking improves muscle fitness.
Hiking lower your risk of high cholesterol and triglycerides.
Hiking can lower your risk of colon and breast cancer.
After a good hike you’ll sleep better.

Sources: American Heart Association, Diabetes Institute, WebMD.com, University of Southern California, American Cancer Society, National Sleep Foundation.

GetHiking! Meetup programs

GetHiking! has Meetup-based hiking groups in North Carolina in Charlotte, the Triad, the Triangle and Western North Carolina, and in Charlottesville and Virginia Beach in Virginia., with a combined membership of more than 8,200. Emphasis for each group is on local hikes; about once a month we try to do a combined hike, either in the mountains, the Uwharrie National Forest or at one of the larger state parks in the Piedmont.

Find out what hikes we have coming up, what hikes we’ve done and sign up for the GetHiking! Meetup nearest you, by visiting:

North Carolina

GetHiking! Charlotte

GetHiking! Triad

GetHiking! Triangle

GetHiking! Western North Carolina

We also have an affiliate in Greenville, N.C., GetExploring! Greenville

Virginia

GetHiking! Charlottesville

GetHiking! Virginia Beach

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GetGoingNC Blog

Tips for taking the fear out of water crossings April 24, 2025
Today, we focus on the sometimes traumatizing prospect of hiking a trail with creek crossings — creek crossings that don’t have bridges, and sometimes don’t even have a decent rock-hop. … Continue reading Tips for taking the fear out of water crossings → The post Tips for taking the fear out of water crossings appeared […]
90 degrees? Our tips for hot weather hiking April 16, 2025
We’re looking at our first 90-degree weekend of the year and it’s only mid-Spring! If you’re like us, your hiking hormones have only recently become activated. And since there’s no … Continue reading 90 degrees? Our tips for hot weather hiking → The post 90 degrees? Our tips for hot weather hiking appeared first on […]
Get those legs in shape for summer hiking April 9, 2025
We run this post occasionally this time of year because of it’s seasonal relevance, for the time to start prepping for that summer hiking vacation is now, not the week … Continue reading Get those legs in shape for summer hiking → The post Get those legs in shape for summer hiking appeared first on […]
A return to Hot Springs April 3, 2025
For the past decade or so, the highlight of my hiking year has also been a bit of a lowlight. The first weekend in November our GetHiking! group traditionally has … Continue reading A return to Hot Springs → The post A return to Hot Springs appeared first on GetGoing NC!.
Don’t let a closed road ruin your day January 22, 2025
We rerun this post, tweaked and updated, around this time of year to help minimize the chances of finding a closed road leading to your favorite trailhead, especially your favorite … Continue reading Don’t let a closed road ruin your day → The post Don’t let a closed road ruin your day appeared first on […]

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