10 of the Best Audiobooks to Listen to During Your 2025 Thru-Hike

While some thru-hikers prefer to read in their tent at night before bed, many will stick their headphones in while hiking to help the miles go by faster. A good audiobook can be a pleasant distraction when your whole day consists of walking … so much walking. In this article, I’ll share some of my favorite listens for the trail — from classic adventure novels to nonfiction. 

Why Audiobooks?

I know what you might be thinking. “Aren’t audiobooks just the same as normal books?” Yes, but with some caveats. 

When you listen to a book, the quality of the narration can easily be the difference between listening to something that makes you feel like you’re watching a movie and listening to something that makes you want to rip your ears out of your head.

Many people share book lists and book recommendations, but there aren’t many specific lists of the best audiobooks for thru-hiking. Sometimes, especially while spending long hours on trail, you want a good audiobook recommendation.

Without further ado, here is a compilation of ten trail-worthy audiobooks to download for this summer’s thru-hike, weekend jaunt, or even your daily dog walk around town.

10 of the Best Audiobooks for Thru-Hiking

1. Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing (read by Simon Prebble)

An absolutely wild true story of survival in Antarctica. In 1914, explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew set out on what was supposed to be a groundbreaking expedition — but things go south when their ship gets stuck in ice. What follows is an incredible story of endurance, leadership, and determination.

The narration by Simon Prebble — whose hardened, commanding tone mirrors the crew’s grit — fits the story perfectly. If you like old school adventure tales and people pushing the limits of human survival, this one is a must-listen. 

2. On the Road by Jack Kerouac (read by Will Patton)

This one is more than a story. Kerouac’s stream-of-conciousness writing style, when brought to life by Will Patton, feels more like jazz poetry than a novel. It follows the main characters on a meandering journey across 1950s America, chasing freedom down the open road.

It’s the perfect audiobook for your thru-hike or other big adventure, echoing the feelings of being out there, untethered, and alive.

3. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne, Anna Lea- adaptation (read by Toby Jones, George Blagden, Don Gilet, Vineeta Rishi)

A fun story! This one’s a great trail companion because it’s entertaining without being heavy, which can be ideal when you want something that will carry you through the miles while taking your mind off the trail. The main character races against time to circle the globe by train, boat, elephant, and more while his valet stumbles through one mishap after another.

The different character voices makes it feel more like a movie than an audiobook.

4. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (read by Stephen Fry)

This one is a gem for the trail — light, funny, and otherworldly (literally). After Earth is destroyed, the main character is swept into a galaxy-hopping adventure full of aliens, sarcastic robots, and existential nonsense.

The narration is clever and dry, and the story will keep your head busy while your feet are moving. It’s full of unexpected detours (much like a thru-hike).

5. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (read by Charlie Thurston)

I will admit, this one is deep and full of plenty of sadness. A trigger warning should also probably be included. Although heavy, it is full of resilience, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom and is set in the heart of rural Appalachia.  If you’re hiking the Appalachian Trail, this should be a must-listen. Here we follow a boy growing up in a world shaped by addiction, poverty, and hometown pride.

The narration by Charlie Thurston, complete with a southern drawl, makes the story feel rooted in the mountains you’re hiking through. It’s a moving story that will open your eyes and stay with you long after you’ve completed your hike.

6. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari (read by Derek Perkins)

If you’re looking for more of a big-picture, mind-expanding listen, this nonfiction is for you. It dives deep into the history of our species and somehow makes thousands of years of history feel super interesting and very relevant.

There’s something special and captivating about walking through the natural world while learning how humans evolved alongside it. You’ll come away with a new perspective on both human history and your own place in it.

7. Brave the Wild River by Melissa L. Sevigny (read by Elizabeth Wiley)

A tale that takes you back in time. This one is the story of two amazing women botanists who, against the odds and popular opinion at the time, decided to run the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in 1938, a time when science and rafting were much more stereotypically a man’s world.

Elizabeth Wiley has a voice that fits the era and yet makes the story feel timeless. It’s one of the best audiobooks for thru-hiking, especially if you’re walking through desert ecosystems and enjoy hearing about plants along the way. It’s empowering, inspiring, and true outdoorsy women gold.

8. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (read by David Linski)

This one offers up a change of scenery for your mind’s eye — in a good way. Listening to 20,000 Leagues while thru-hiking feels like diving into a parallel wilderness.

The narrator has a classic, storybook voice that brings you under the sea into the world of Captain Nemo and the Nautilus. It’s a great trail listen when you want to take in an old school classic that’s filled with awe for the natural world — in this case, ocean rather than mountains.

9. Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins (read by the author and Adam Skolnick)

Part memoir, part mental-toughness 101, this story is popular thru-hike reading material. David Goggins doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He is brutally honest about his own struggles and clear in his message: you’re capable of way more than you think.

This audiobook feels like a long podcast, with added commentary between chapters. Whether you find yourself on a steep climb or pushing through bad weather, this books helps you feel like no challenge is too big and no excuses are valid. Top-shelf trail motivation.

Disclaimer: Some excuses actually are valid, so always use your best judgement while out in the wilderness.

10. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson (read by the author)

Here Neil deGrasse Tyson takes you on a quick, fascinating trip through black holes, dark matter, the Big Bang, and all other things space-related, always with his signature blend of clarity and wit. It’s short yet full of mind-blowing ideas and somehow makes the cosmos seem enormous yet intimate.

Listening to this while hiking gives you a whole new perspective of your place in the universe — and it’s even better when you’re cowboy camping looking up at the stars. A perfect reminder of how wild and wonderful it is to just exist.

Best Audiobooks for Thru-Hiking: Honorable Mentions

11. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (read by Cassandra Campbell)

A story that feels like it was meant to be listened to outside. The main character, nicknamed “marsh girl,” grows up alone in the wilds of coastal North Carolina. She finds strength, love, and identity through her deep connection with nature.

If you’re hiking and already feel tuned into the rhythms of the earth — the dirt, the bird songs, the wind through the trees — this one hits hard. The character’s love for the natural history items she finds around, like feathers and shells, reminds you to look at the details while you’re walking across landscapes.

A story of resilience, wildness, and belonging, Where the Crawdads Sing is perfect for those of us who have always felt the most home outside.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel (read by Vikas Adam)

This story is a survival tale and spiritual journey wrapped into one. It’s perfect listening for the trail, even if you’ve already seen the movie adaptation.

Pi finds himself lost at sea in a boat full of animals and is forced to rely on his imagination, instinct, and inner strength to survive.

Listening to this book on trail makes the story feel even more profound. Surrounded by nature, alone with your thoughts, you can’t help but reflect on what it means to be resilient and keep going even when the odds feel impossible. It truly makes the wilderness — inner and outer — feel sacred.

How To Listen

To listen to audiobooks, I suggest one of these apps: Libby (free with free public library card), Spotify (free to a limit with subscription, also purchasable), Audible (credits-based with subscription), Libro.fm (credits-based with subscription, supports your local bookstore as an alternative to Audible).

It should be noted that this list does not contain what some would call “the no brainers” of the audiobook world, like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, or David Attenborough’s Life on Earth. These are top-shelf and highly popular listens during a thru-hike. So if you have yet to listen to any of these, I highly recommend trying them out in addition to the list above.

Also, good stories are subjective and what is listed here may not be your cup of tea. If so, no worries! I encourage you to leave a comment on this article with your favorites. I would love to add some new ones to my ever growing list.

Featured image: Photo by Issy Bailey. Graphic design by Zack Goldmann.