Instead of meeting your friends for brunch or at Starbucks this weekend, why not get together for a hike? It's cheaper and less fattening and will lift your spirits more than a caramel macchiato. Or just lace up your hiking shoes and head out by yourself for a peaceful, meditative outdoor excursion. According to the American Hiking Society, hiking is the easiest and least expensive outdoor recreation activity.

That's not to say it's always just a walk in the park (which, come to think of it, is actually easier and cheaper than hiking). You'll definitely get your heart pounding if the trail has some elevation gain. And even at a casual pace of two miles per hour, a 150-pound person will burn 240 calories in an hour. As with most sports, you can hike at different intensities to raise or lower your workout level.

Best of all, you can hike all year round, even in the winter. With the introduction of snow and ice traction devices such as Yaktrax, cleats that attach to the bottom of your shoes, hikers can enjoy the outdoors without fear of slipping or sliding.

Benefits of Hiking
Although it's been widely proven that regular exercise can increase a person's physical and mental health and result in a longer life, the National Center for Health Statistics reports that only 15 percent of the U.S. adult population engages in sufficient physical activity. Perhaps it's because the idea of sweating in a gym or running around the park seems daunting and unappealing to most people. But vigorous exercise doesn't have to be boring or painful. Hiking can help you lose weight, improve your physical well-being, reduce tension and enhance your mental health.

For women, regular hiking can help prevent osteoporosis. Working against the force of gravity helps increase bone density and slows calcium loss, thus strengthening bones and making them less susceptible to breaking. And believe it or not, trails are gentler on the joints than pavement.

The change in elevation and varying terrain helps build balance and coordination. If you really want to get your heart rate going, add a 10- to 15-pound pack to increase calories burned by 10 to 15 percent.

The mental health benefits of hiking are just as bountiful as the physical. Exposure to natural bright light, which you certainly can't get in a gym, increases levels of serotonin (a mood-lifting chemical) in the brain. Because exercise also boosts serotonin production, the benefit is twofold.

Karen Berger, an avid hiker and the author of 10 books on hiking and backpacking, says she loves seeing the change of seasons. "You get to enjoy the outdoors and the beauty of the seasons, waterfalls, animals and so much more. Plus you get a workout," she says.

And she never brings a cell phone. Hiking is a great way to get uninterrupted time with someone. "There are no cell phones, computers, radios, phones or kids to distract you," says Berger. "You're out in the woods, and it's just you and that person. That is a really nice reason to go for a hike."