Hiking Songs

For those who use their feet to get away from it all, we give you Hiking Songs, our tribute to walkers and the landscapes they love. A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step, and our Hiking Songs Basics kicks off with the Triffids' horizon-scanning "Wide Open Road" and Lou Reed's easy hipster stroll "Walk On the Wild Side," before wending its way through the classic-rock elevations of Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way," the twin-peaks soul of Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and the motivational reggae of Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers to Cross."

"Can't Find My Way Home," sings Blind Faith, but we've laid out a clear path to more great hiking songs in Next Steps.

Valley, mountain, meadow, hillock . . . everyone has their own favourite spots to hike, but give Kasey Chambers a treeless plain, and she's a happy camper, as you'll hear on her nostalgic tune "Nullarbor, the Biggest Backyard." Led Zeppelin leads a hard-rock charge on "Misty Mountain Hop," and this is definitely where the hiker's high sets in, priming you for the altered-states sounds of Ralph "King of the Ukulele" Shaw's left-field mind-bender "Whispering Grass." And hey, no need to worry about rain gear when alt-pop masters Crowded House offer atmospheric assurance that you can take the "Weather With You."

The summit is in sight — now move on to Deep Cuts to hit the heights.

The perfect soundtrack to a sunny-day hike? How about George Benson's smooth-jazz sojourn "Breezin'," or the wild sonic adventure "Sounds of the Safari" from urban trailblazers the Jungle Brothers? Ambient mastermind Brian Eno is looking to escape this realm completely for a trek to "Another Green World," while jazz queen Nina Simone makes the most of a new dawn and a new day on "Feeling Good," and neo-soul priestess Jill Scott sets a slow and sexy mood for "A Long Walk" with a special someone. Wherever you like to roam, these Essentials are just as important as water and a walking stick . . . so be sure to pack them before you set off.

If your idea of a day well spent involves legging it up a mountainside, traversing hill and dale, tackling the bush, and just generally rambling about the great outdoors, then this is the playlist for you. We've roamed far and wide to bring you the best in hiking songs, with tracks dedicated to the glories of nature and your perambulations through it. So while the Friends of Distinction are diggin' the great wide open with some retro-pop ("Grazing In the Grass"), Lee Kernaghan is singing the praises of "The High Country." Sly & the Family Stone offer encouragement for the ascent on a super-funky "I Want to Take You Higher," while Van Halen goes a cappella to wish you paths both straight and smooth with "Happy Trails."