Reel & Ridgeline | Trekking the iconic trails from your favorite books & movies

Have you ever finished a book or watched a movie and felt an intense longing to step into its world? We get lost in epic quests and transformative journeys, feeling the crunch of snow under a character’s boots or the sun on their back as they crest a mountain pass. For many of us, that’s where the experience ends. But what if it didn’t have to? What if you could trade your cinema seat for a trailhead and your popcorn for a pack? This is the magic of cinematic and literary trekking: the chance to walk the very same paths as your heroes, transforming a fictional adventure into a tangible, breathtaking reality. This article is your map to those iconic ridgelines, from the fiery peaks of Mordor to the soul-searching solitude of the Pacific Crest Trail.

From Middle-earth to Mordor: New Zealand’s Lord of the Rings landscapes

Perhaps no story has inspired more hikers to pack their bags than J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Thanks to Peter Jackson’s film adaptations, the dramatic landscapes of New Zealand have become synonymous with Middle-earth. While you can visit the charming Hobbiton movie set, the true adventure lies in tackling the trails that served as the harrowing backdrop for Frodo and Sam’s quest. The most famous of these is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a challenging 19.4-kilometer day hike in the heart of a dual World Heritage Area.

This is no gentle walk in the Shire. The trail takes you through a stark, volcanic landscape of craters and steaming vents. The climb to the Red Crater is grueling, but the reward is a view that is pure Mordor. As you gaze down at the brilliant Emerald Lakes and the imposing silhouette of Mount Ngauruhoe, better known as Mount Doom, the line between fiction and reality blurs. You can almost feel the weight of the One Ring. This trek requires a good level of fitness and preparation for volatile alpine weather, but to stand in the shadow of Mount Doom is an experience that connects you to the Fellowship’s courage in a profoundly physical way.

Finding yourself on the Pacific Crest Trail

Moving from a world of fantasy to one of raw, real-life struggle, we find the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). This mammoth 2,650-mile trail, stretching from Mexico to Canada, was thrust into the spotlight by Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling memoir, Wild, and its film adaptation. Strayed’s story of hiking a significant portion of the trail to heal from personal tragedy has inspired countless people to seek their own form of solace and strength in the wilderness. While hiking the entire PCT is a monumental undertaking, you don’t need to commit to five months to capture the spirit of her journey.

Tackling a section of the PCT offers a powerful taste of the experience. Consider a multi-day trek through Oregon’s Three Sisters Wilderness or California’s John Muir Trail section. These areas offer stunning alpine scenery, serene lakes, and the deep quiet that Strayed wrote about so movingly. The journey is as much mental as it is physical. It’s about pushing past your perceived limits, finding a rhythm in the simple act of walking, and embracing solitude. Unlike Frodo, who had Sam, Strayed’s journey was largely a solo one, a theme that resonates with hikers looking to reconnect with themselves away from the noise of modern life.

The spiritual journey of the Camino de Santiago

Not all epic journeys are about escaping danger or personal demons; some are about finding connection. The Camino de Santiago, an ancient network of pilgrim routes across Europe that all lead to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, is one such path. Popularized in films like The Way, the Camino is less a wilderness trek and more a cultural and spiritual immersion. For centuries, pilgrims have walked these paths for reasons ranging from religious devotion to personal reflection and adventure.

The most popular route, the Camino Francés, stretches nearly 800 kilometers from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France. Walking it, you traverse rolling vineyards, historic cities, and quiet countryside. The magic of the Camino isn’t just in the landscape, but in the community. Each day you walk with people from all over the world, sharing stories and encouragement. Each evening, you rest in communal dormitories called albergues. It fosters a unique sense of camaraderie, stripping away pretense and reminding you of a shared humanity. It’s a journey that teaches you that sometimes the destination is not a place, but a new way of seeing things.

Preparing for your own epic journey

Inspired to start your own quest? Stepping into these stories requires more than just enthusiasm. A successful and safe adventure hinges on thoughtful preparation. Whether you’re facing the volcanic scree of Mount Doom or the long, dusty miles of the PCT, planning is your most essential piece of gear.

• Research your trail: Don’t just watch the movie. Read trail guides, check recent conditions, and understand the permit requirements. A film might not show the lack of water sources on a particular stretch or the need to book mountain huts months in advance.
• Train for the terrain: Your physical preparation should mirror the trail’s demands. For the steep ascents of the Tongariro Crossing, focus on hill climbs and stair workouts. For a long-distance section hike, build your endurance with progressively longer walks, wearing the pack you intend to use.
• Invest in key gear: Your feet are your most valuable asset. Invest in high-quality, well-broken-in hiking boots. A properly fitting backpack, reliable rain gear, and a layered clothing system are non-negotiable. Remember Strayed’s overloaded pack, “Monster,” and learn from her mistakes: pack smart, not heavy.
• Prepare mentally: Every one of these journeys has a crux—a moment of doubt, exhaustion, or discomfort. Acknowledge that you will face challenges. Cultivating resilience and a positive mindset before you even step on the trail is just as important as any physical training.

By taking these steps, you honor the spirit of the journey and ensure your real-life adventure is one you’ll remember for all the right reasons.

From the mythical quests of Middle-earth to the deeply personal pilgrimages of the real world, these trails offer more than just a walk. They provide a bridge between the stories that shape us and the world we inhabit. Hiking the Tongariro Crossing, a section of the Pacific Crest Trail, or the Camino de Santiago allows you to physically participate in the narrative, feeling the struggle, the triumph, and the transformation of your favorite characters. You learn that every epic journey, whether fictional or real, is built one step at a time. So, pick your story, do your research, and prepare to write a new chapter of your own, one where the ridgeline meets the reel and your own adventure begins.

Image by: Josh Hild
https://www.pexels.com/@josh-hild-1270765