If you’ve already checked off outdoors classics like “Planet Earth” and “Into the Wild” and are itching for more adventure films, then you’re going to want to check out this awesome, but by no means comprehensive, list of feature films and documentaries about the great outdoors. These flicks will take you on a journey from the Mojave Desert to the Himalayas to Yosemite, where hikers, climbers, and a travel writer or two go on wild adventures of a lifetime. The best part is that almost all of these films are either totally true stories or based on true stories.
1. “Wild” — Based on the memoir “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail” by Cheryl Strayed, the 2014 film “Wild” chronicles Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) as she embarks on an over 1,000-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, beginning in Southern California. Strayed reflects on flashbacks of her childhood and memories of her mother (Laura Dern), whose recent death sends Strayed into a deep depression. Wilderness fanatics will appreciate not only the natural scenery of the Mojave Desert and beyond, but also the true-to-life depiction of what it’s like to embark on a long-haul hike, and its transformative and healing powers.
2. “172 Hours” — Another biographical drama, “172 Hours” was based on canyoneer Aron Ralston’s popular memoir “Between a Rock and a Hard Place.” In the film version, James Franco plays Ralston, who finds himself stuck—quite literally—between a rock and a hard place at Blue John Canyon at Canyonlands National Park in Utah. If you’re at all familiar with the story, you know that Ralston must go to extremes to free himself from the canyon. Interestingly, it’s not the—spoiler alert! —gruesome amputation scene that makes “172 Hours” so compelling, but instead the “found footage” style of Ralston’s adventure, and his ability to keep his sense of humor.
3. “Valley Uprising” — If you’re looking for something a bit less Hollywood, you won’t want to miss the 2014 documentary “Valley Uprising.” This film chronicles the early days of rock climbing in Yosemite Valley, which was once considered an “outlaw activity” on the fringe of the mainstream. What’s so interesting about this doc is that it explains how climbing turned from a cult-like activity for those interested in the avant-garde to a well-respected sport, accepted by the masses. It’s also well-decorated, and a must-watch for diehard documentary fans, with grand prize wins from a laundry list of film festivals.
4, “A Walk in the Woods” — What do you get when you put Robert Redford and Nick Nolte on the Appalachian Trail for 2,000 miles? “A Walk in the Woods.” This 2015 film was based on the memoir of the same name by travel writer Bill Bryson. In the film version, Bryson (Redford) and old friend Katz (Nolte)—both in their 60s—fight the notion of mortality on the Appalachian Trail. Anyone who has hiked the App Trail knows that the most memorable part of the experience is the acquaintances and friends, all on similar journeys, that weave their way into the story. Bryson and Katz experience no shortage of trail friends during their journey.
5. “Meru” — Another must-watch climbing doc, “Meru” chronicles the very first ascent of the Shark’s Fin route on Meru Peak in the Indian Himalayas. This Sundance favorite from 2015 follows three high-profile climbers, two of whom have scaled Everest—Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk—as they return to the peak for attempt two after failing the summit several years prior. The filmmakers equip the climbers with adventure cameras, and it’s their first-person accounts that make the film so entrancing.
6. “Touching the Void” — You simply can’t talk about Meru Peak or Yosemite without mentioning “Touching the Void.” This 2003 climbing doc illustrates the perilous side of climbing, chronicling the story of two British friends, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, and their 1985 journey up the west face of the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. These adventurers set out to become the first two mountaineers to scale the face but had no idea what they were in for. During the film, Simpson and Yates face near-fatal circumstances—injuries, extreme weather, and a lack of food and water—to become the first two climbers to fully summit Siula Grande.
7. “The Last Descent” — The 2016 feature film “The Last Descent” is the film to watch for cavers and canyoneers. It’s one-part adventure, one-part drama, and a whole lot of peril. The film chronicles the real-life story of John Jones, who embarked on a journey exploring the unmapped section of the Nutty Putty Cave in Utah. Like many of the most gripping adventure tales, things go horribly wrong in “The Last Descent.” The film shows how the 26-year-old caver finds himself stuck within an 18-inch wide hole in the cave and the harrowing rescue attempt that follows.
8. “Rivering” — Last year’s “Rivering” documentary may not have been a blockbuster hit, but it’s certainly a cult favorite among the rafting This well-made rafting documentary is a relatively light-hearted take on extreme sporting. It was filmed on the rivers of New Zealand and chronicles the extreme obsession of the rafting community. The best part about this doc is that it offers over an hour of hard-hitting rafting footage—including flips, steep drops, and extreme currents—that would get any rafter excited. You can watch the entire thing on Vimeo.
9. “Everest” — Everybody knows that, for extreme climbers, Everest is the holy grail. The 2015 British-American adventure film “Everest” illustrates that. The film—like most of these captivating narratives—is based on a memoir, “Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest” by Beck Weathers. The ensemble cast—Josh Brolin, Emily Watson, Keira Knightley, Jake Gyllenhaal, and others—tells the story of Weathers’ distressing, guided journey, where a previous optical surgery leaves him nearly blind in the harsh Everest conditions.
If you’re prepping for a similar journey, make sure to watch all of these movies and grab your water filters before you embark!
Phil is originally from California, where the need for water filtration equipment is vast. After college, he dove into the growing problem of clean water both nationally and worldwide. After many years in the industry, he found WaterFiltersFAST.com and aligned his knowledge of the industry with theirs to help educate and inform consumers. He is also an avid outdoorsman and tech enthusiast. An oxymoron for sure, but he makes it work.
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