feminist solitary hiking project

Helsinki, Finland

You can click on the different pictures, to get and idea how solitary hiking and feminism resembles with each other.

Go to: Information Flyer & enrollment
Go to: Pictures of the trail
Go to: “letters to my solitary hiking sisters”
  • The base of this project is a “trailguide booklet” to an about 80km DIY-trail to nearby nature, focusing on solitary hiking as a feminist practice.
  • The DIY-trail is located near Helsinki, reachable with public transport in 45 minutes from the center.
  • DIY-trail, because it’s not a marked official hiking trail, but I created it by my own.
  • Although the focus lies on the empowering benefits of solitary hiking, the trailguide also explores possibilities to feel and build up connection and community through hiking alone.

Here you find picture impression from seven different months on the trail

Here you find some trailguide insights

Since October 2024 I hiked and developed the trail over seven times. In September 2025 other hikers tested the trail for the first time. The following slideshow gives an impression of the developing-process and some hints where the trail is located.

Coming workshops/Hikes

summer 2026

Pre-hike workshops Saturday 18.7. + “alone but together hike” 30.07.-04.08. + Reflection meeting Saturday 25.08. (Click here for the information flyer and enrollment link)

3-season packing list / Gear rent / Gear-guide

If you take part in a workshop/hike, you also have the possibility to rent the basic hiking gear. Here you find a 3-season packing list, what is combined with the gear rent list, so you can check quickly, what you can rent & what you have to bring on your own. As sharing information is a important part of encouraging to go hiking alone, the list also works as little “3-season gear guide”.

Here you can read about the “alone but together”-hiking experience from the first workshop/hike in September 2025:

In September 2025 two hikers tested together with me the trail, with a first test-version of the trailguide booklet, as well as the “alone but together” group-hiking concept.

Letter Nr. 1 (April 2026, Mia).: Testing the “alone but together” hiking concept for the first time in September 2025

To read as Blog Post II To read as PDF II To read as summary

Words from the first test hikers from September 2025:

Different possibilities the trailguide could offer in the future
  1. You could just download the trail guide or get a printed version and go hiking alone on the trail or with a friend trying the “alone but together”-hiking concept
  2. I’m going to offer workshops for small groups of women*/Flinta* to prepare together before the hike. From hiking skills, getting familiar with the trail and the “alone but together” group-hiking concept as well as offering a safe space to reflect obstacles of hiking alone like fear. After this you could go hiking alone or maybe find a hiking company through the workshop. Go for example as a tandem testing out the “alone but together” group-hiking concept. After the hikes, we will meet again in the small group and share our experience.
  3. About 1-2 times a year, I will offer the Pre-hike workshop & alone but together-hike & reflection meeting combination, what means I would be also taking part at the hike. You can join this summer!
  4. Regardless if you go just hiking alone with the trailguide or you take part in a workshop and “alone but together hike”, through “letters to my solitary hiking sisters*” you can join and get in connection with a small growing feminist solitary hiking trail-community ❤

“Alone but together” group-hiking concept & letters to my solitary hiking sisters*

The concept could be a first step into solitary hiking and/or enable a shared hiking experience although you hike mostly on your own.

It’s adjustable to the needs and wishes of the group members and for a group of three or a hiking tandem it could look like this:

  • Hiking the first half day together and then splitting. The first night could be spend next to each other and you could go together through the evening/morning routines. So you can just focus on getting confident with the gear and the routines, without having the sleeping alone experience at the same time.
  • After that you could decide to be the next four nights on your own or choose a night together in between, depending on your needs
  • Every evening you share your tent location and a short update with the other hikers through a chat-group, as well as an update in the morning on how your night was and when you are about to continue
  • You might still meet sometimes on the day by coincident. This should offer the possibility to have a small chat if you feel like, but then you can continue in your own rhythm. If it’s more important for you to not meet while hiking, you could decide on different route options and sleeping spots the trailguide-booklet offers.

If you take part in a workshop/hike of the project it means that I will also hike the trail at the same time & I would be available for support, if needed. From hiking an offtrail part together to setting my tent next to yours. From being at first days more present and then letting you make your own experience step by step throughout the hike.

As this might sound a bit abstract in “letters to my solitary hiking sister*” you can read concrete experiences about this concept.

What else to explore on the homepage?

  • Under the category “Literature” you find reading inspiration regarding solitary hiking as a feminist practice.
  • Nearby nature is not only great for 3-Season hiking, but offers also lots of possibilities in winter. For example in February 2025 I organized and held an “alternative winter hiking workshop” and 5 day hike to nearby nature. Under “alternative winter hiking” you can read more about that. At the moment I’m focusing more on offering the 3-season workshops/hikes, but in the future winter hiking will become again part of this project ❤
  • Under “Behind” you can read about, who is behind this project idea and why the project has the name “riot trails” 🙂 Shortly: My name is Mia and I’m a social worker & nature guide & passionate solitary hiker.

Subscribe to the newsletter to get updated on coming workshops & hikes as well as the publication of the full trailguide version and new letters from solitary hiking sisters* ❤ or follow riot trails on Instagram.

You can also contact me via mail (riot-trails.hiking@outlook.com), for questions or maybe cooperation offers? I am looking forward to hear from you!