Silly question but for you, what is the difference between a walk and a hike? Is it paved roads vs dirt roads or is it more about going over some rough and hilly terrain?

On Sunday I went for a walk/hike in our state forest. The main road is packed dirt and stone. I did venture off the beaten path and went over some slightly hilly, rocky terrain. I did not go up any large hills. What would you call it?

I think I like being able to say "Yup, I went for a hike" but I don't want to exggerate if that's not the case.

This is my general rule of thumb:

Hiking is generally on a trail, over variable terrain, in a park or in the woods or mountains.

Walking is generally done on roads, sidewalks, or a track.

I would say yup, you went for a hike.

That's kind of how I define it too: a walk is on a paved trail, and a hike is a dirt one. Hiking, in my mind, requires paying more attention to wear you step and getting balance each step, but walking (on a trail) is pretty consistent.

I walk more often than I hike, due to time/location constraints, but I almost always prefer hiking.

Sounds like a hike to me!

In terms of just day to day lingo then yes I'd say what you did was considered a hike. In that instance I'd say anything off terrain is a hike.

However, if you are counting it towards exercise, I'd lean towards calling it a walk. For me hiking, for exercise, needs to include hills or mountains when you're going to be sweating a bit more.

Idk, I think it's considered a hike especially if you went off the trail! If I have to walk around I definitely hike around, there's more nature and I love the different challenges!

Sidebar: a poem about walking

"Walking is the fountain of youth that is no legend"

Walking is the exercise that needs no gymnasium.

It is the prescription without medicine, the weight control without diet, the cosmetic found in no pharmacy.

It is the tranquilizer without the pill, the therapy without a psychoanalyst, the fountain of youth that is no legend.

A walk is a vacation that does not cost anything.

Ps I'd say you went on a hike!

Oh, go ahead, boast, you went for a hike !!

You went on a hike! Yey I'm so jealous because I live in the concrete jungle, how I wish I could hike on a regular basis!

I also feel a hike is a longer (miles + time) trip. I went on a hike yesterday, finally found a park with trails that I'm not balance beaming along to try to keep out of poison ivy. Woohoo. I brought 2 of my dogs and they got to go swimming, I even waded in the river a bit, it was great. I was really only planning to go a short ways until I found a place for the dogs to swim but ended up being out about 3 hours.

I walk all the time. I take long walks 3 times a week year round. I only "hike" when I am going up a hill. I rarely really hike. I hate snakes & spiders. I am surrounded by them in Missouri.

Cool! Thanks everyone...I was leaning towards calling it a hike but I guess I needed confirmation.

I actually did see one snake, just an itty bitty guy but I still stopped in my tracks and sucked in my breath. I also helped a turtle cross the road at the entrance. Gotta love living in the boonies.

Annik - I love that poem! So true.

YES, Annik, the walking poem is awesome, thank you for sharing.

I don't think a hike means you're out for a long time because why does that matter? The only thing that makes it a hike is that it's terrain versus pavement. It doesn't have to be hilly to be a hike. A walk is on pavement, a hike is in nature.