* Prevent Heart Disease - A regular walking routine greatly reduces your chances of heart problems.

* Decrease Cholesterol - Hiking and walking increase the HDL, or good, cholesterol, which helps get rid of the bad

  cholesterol.

* Lower Blood Pressure - Going on a short hike for 30 minutes every other day is all it takes.

  Lower blood pressure means better overall health.
* Reduce Stress and Depression - Your body's natural drugs are released when hiking, and these

  chemicals have a natural positive effect on your stress levels.
* Stronger Longer - As you age, you do not need to experience a decline in physical activity.

  By staying active, your muscles stay strong.

* Prevent Osteoporosis - Hiking helps increase bone density and strength, helping

  prevent the calcium loss and chance of broken bones from this disease.
* Better Air - Hiking to church, the store, school, or a local restaurant reduces the

  pollution from your car which makes the air better for everyone.
* Prevent or Control Diabetes - Hiking can reduce the amount of insulin a Type I diabetic needs.

  A Type II diabetic can reverse the course of diabetes with exercise, diet and weight loss. 
* Improve Arthritic Joints - A regular exercise program benefits most people that have been diagnosed

  with and treated for arthritis.

* Relief from Back Pain - Hiking puts much less stress on your body than running or aerobics and

  helps build core body strength.
* All Body Exercise - Hiking is an aerobic exercise that improves overall physical fitness by

  using leg muscles, core body muscles, and lungs.

* Experience Nature - Hikers explore natural settings that can only be reached on foot,

  leaving the hectic urban life and pollution behind for awhile.
* Self Confidence - As more advanced hikes are completed, a hiker understands that he is capable

  of even larger feats.

* Year-round - You can hike any time of the year.

* Escape and Refreshment - The psychological effects of spending time in natural

  surroundings is positive and strong. Time spent on the trail will renew you for

  better performance in your job and life back in the real world.