Golden Hour and the Art of Slow Hiking

There’s something sacred about the golden hour. That brief window just after sunrise or just before sunset, when the world softens and everything is bathed in warm, forgiving light. But to catch it properly, I mean, really catch it, you can’t rush. You have to slow down.

That’s where the slow hiking comes in and why I love photography. It slows you down and works wonders for your mental and physical well-being.

Not Every Hike Needs a Summit

There was a time I thought every hike needed a goal. A trig point. A viewpoint. Something to tick off. But the more I’ve walked, the more I’ve realised that some of the best moments happen when you don’t aim for the top. When you pause to watch the light dip behind a tree line or catch a flock of birds lift off over a quiet ridge.

Photography taught me that. Or maybe hiking taught me that and photography just gave me the excuse to slow down. Either way, I’m grateful.

Light as a Companion, Not a Challenge

Golden hour light doesn’t shout. It glows. It kisses the tops of hills and warms the edges of clouds. It’s like one of those gentle forehead kisses you give your partner. It lingers in ways midday light never could. But it’s fleeting. And if you’re sprinting toward the next spot, you’ll miss it.

So, I move slowly. Sometimes I sit. I wait. I watch. I let the light come to me. There’s no sense in chasing it, it doesn’t care how fast you can climb.

Slow Hiking, Clear Thinking

Something happens when you slow your pace. Your thoughts unclench. Your breathing settles. You stop planning every step and start noticing the small stuff: the crunch of frost underfoot, the way a shadow stretches across a rock, the quiet.

Photography is about noticing. Slow hiking helps me notice.

Practical? Not Always. Worth It? Always. 

I’m not saying this is the most efficient way to bag a dozen great shots. It’s probably not. Sometimes I come back with nothing on the memory card except a few half-baked frames and some rocks in my boots.

But other times, I come back with something true. A photo I wouldn’t have seen if I was in a rush. A scene that only existed for a breath or two.

That’s the magic of it.

A Tip or Two for Golden Hour Hikes 

• Scout beforehand – Know roughly where the sun will be, but stay flexible.

• Don’t overshoot – Sometimes the best frame is the one you wait for, not the one you take ten versions of.

• Keep warm – The light’s golden, but the air isn’t. Bring layers.

• Trust your gut – If a moment makes you stop, it’s probably worth shooting.

It’s Not a Race

Golden hour rewards patience. So does life, if you let it. I still hike to summits now and then, when my legs allow it, but I’ve learned not to treat every walk like a mission. Sometimes the best journey is the one where you don’t rush, you don’t push, and you don’t look at your watch.

You just walk. You listen. You watch the light.

Thanks for reading.

Keep exploring. Keep creating. And if you see a guy in the hills with a camera and a puppet monkey called Sid, come say hello.
– Gav