You are welcome here.
Nature is infinitely diverse and so are we. We ARE nature.
Unlikely Hikers is a diverse, anti-racist, body-liberating outdoor community featuring the underrepresented outdoorsperson. We’re an Instagram community, a nationwide hiking group and podcast. The outdoor industry and media has for too long displayed a very narrow definition of who is “outdoorsy” that isn’t representative of most of us. Unlikely Hikers is for adventurers who are plus-size & fat, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, queer, trans and non-binary, disabled, neurodivergent and beyond.
We don’t conflate these experiences, we explore and build community at their intersections.
We are people in relationship with the land, who find healing, reflection and connection in nature. We have frank discussions about access barriers, politics and conservation. We honor the land and its First Peoples.
Regardless of who you are and where you do or don’t fit in, we all have a story about finding ourselves outside. If you see yourself as an Unlikely Hiker, then you are. Welcome!
There is nothing unlikely about wanting to hike or be in nature.
The name itself is ironic, tongue-in-cheek, reclamatory. It isn’t meant to reinforce exclusion. In fact, the literal concept of the Unlikely Hiker is very western and wouldn’t exist without the normative, one-dimensional outdoorist representation we’ve become used to. Relationship with the land is foundational to many cultures and should be centered in justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) efforts, yet these experiences are also often looked over and left out.
Yes, the literal outdoors don’t discriminate. We know the trail, the trees, the lakes and so on, aren’t keeping us from going outside nor is anyone getting a handwritten invitation, but exclusion isn’t always verbal. There are many barriers to the outdoors: representation, unkind and aggressive outdoorspeople, financial access to gear, clothing, transportation, etc. Who is being targeted for outdoor recreation? Who has a seemingly natural sense of access?
Change your feed, change your life!
Connect with other Unlikely Hikers on Instagram: @unlikelyhikers. Use the hashtags #unlikelyhikers #mybodytookmehere & #fatandoutdoorsy and possibly be featured! Also, check our schedule to see where you might be able to catch a group hike!
We are in the beginning stages of introducing our Ambassador Program and group hiking chapters! Stay tuned for that and if you have the resources, please consider donating to help our work along:
However YOU like to enjoy the outdoors, there is a place for you here.
Unlikely Hikers 