Guided hikes and nature walks

Locals looking for social outings, beginners who want a guide, visitors and tourists, and small groups such as workplace teams or friend groups.

Price per person per outing, plus private group bookings at a flat rate and occasional corporate or team-building outings.

• Confident navigation and trail knowledge
• Wilderness first aid (a course is worth taking)
• Friendly group leadership
• Planning routes and managing time

• Many parks, forests and public lands require a commercial use or special use permit for paid guiding, check with the land manager (city, county, state or federal) before charging
• General liability insurance that covers guided outdoor activity, and a participant waiver reviewed by a lawyer
• Weather, injuries and getting lost: have emergency plans and cancellation rules
• Check your city or county for any business license requirement

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on gear, training such as a first aid course, insurance and how you market your hikes.

Monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $3,000, depending on group sizes, your prices and how many hikes you run each week. Treat these as estimates rather than guarantees.

Many parks, forests and public lands require a commercial use or special use permit for paid guiding, so check with the land manager before charging. Also check insurance that covers guided activity, waivers reviewed by a lawyer, and any city or county license.