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Trail Headspace: Finding My Best Self on the Colorado Trail
298 pages, Paperback
Published December 13, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 21, 2025
Part memoir, part self-help, part intro-to-thru-hiking guide—and infused with a generous dose of humor—Trail Headspace quickly captures your attention and leaves you not only rooting for Nugget and his adventures on the trail, but also itching to try your own hand at hiking. In this memoir, author Christopher Stiffler recounts his 486-mile thru-hike of the Colorado Trail with equal measures of candor and wit. What begins as a planned solo endeavor evolves into a journey defined by the unexpected bonds of “tramily” life, where companionship proves as vital as endurance.
Beyond the trail, Stiffler reflects on the confidence, clarity, and deep sense of peace that emerge when one steps away from the constant hum of a technology-driven world. You’ll learn. You’ll laugh. And by the end, you might just find yourself browsing the REI website for your own thru-hiking starter pack.
Don’t let the title—or the subject matter—fool you. This is not merely a book for hikers; it’s a book for anyone seeking insight, adventure, and a good story well told.
Beyond the trail, Stiffler reflects on the confidence, clarity, and deep sense of peace that emerge when one steps away from the constant hum of a technology-driven world. You’ll learn. You’ll laugh. And by the end, you might just find yourself browsing the REI website for your own thru-hiking starter pack.
Don’t let the title—or the subject matter—fool you. This is not merely a book for hikers; it’s a book for anyone seeking insight, adventure, and a good story well told.
June 10, 2025
Review of Trail Headspace: Finding My Best Self on the Colorado Trail by Christopher Stiffler
Christopher Stiffler’s Trail Headspace is more than just a hiking memoir, it’s an invitation to step outside your comfort zone, both literally and metaphorically. As someone who has never attempted a thru-hike but has always been fascinated by the idea, this book gave me an intimate, often humorous, and deeply relatable look at what it means to walk nearly 500 miles across the Rockies. Stiffler, an economist by trade, approaches his journey with a curious mind, blending personal reflection with fascinating tidbits about the Colorado Trail’s history, wilderness survival, and the quirky subculture of long-distance hikers.
What makes Trail Headspace stand out is its authenticity. Stiffler doesn’t romanticize the experience, he shares the blisters, the exhaustion, and the moments of doubt alongside the breathtaking vistas and profound personal growth. His writing makes you feel like you’re right there with him, whether he’s swapping stories with fellow hikers (each with their own unforgettable trail names) or sitting in the dirt eating rehydrated meals. The camaraderie of the trail is palpable, and the wisdom he gathers from strangers, people who carry their entire lives in a backpack, is surprisingly profound.
The book strikes a perfect balance between introspection and entertainment. Stiffler’s dry humor shines through, especially in his self-deprecating moments, like his struggles with navigation or his first encounters with wildlife. Yet, beneath the laughs, there’s a deeper message about resilience, simplicity, and the transformative power of nature. By the end, I found myself not only inspired to plan my own adventure but also reflecting on how to bring a little of that trailhead clarity into everyday life.
Whether you’re an avid hiker or someone who prefers armchair adventures, Trail Headspace is a rewarding read. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, the best way to find yourself is to get a little lost first. Highly recommended for anyone in need of a fresh perspective, or just a good story well told.
After reading this, I may not be ready to tackle the Colorado Trail just yet, but I’ll definitely be eating my next snack sitting on the floor for the full experience.
Christopher Stiffler’s Trail Headspace is more than just a hiking memoir, it’s an invitation to step outside your comfort zone, both literally and metaphorically. As someone who has never attempted a thru-hike but has always been fascinated by the idea, this book gave me an intimate, often humorous, and deeply relatable look at what it means to walk nearly 500 miles across the Rockies. Stiffler, an economist by trade, approaches his journey with a curious mind, blending personal reflection with fascinating tidbits about the Colorado Trail’s history, wilderness survival, and the quirky subculture of long-distance hikers.
What makes Trail Headspace stand out is its authenticity. Stiffler doesn’t romanticize the experience, he shares the blisters, the exhaustion, and the moments of doubt alongside the breathtaking vistas and profound personal growth. His writing makes you feel like you’re right there with him, whether he’s swapping stories with fellow hikers (each with their own unforgettable trail names) or sitting in the dirt eating rehydrated meals. The camaraderie of the trail is palpable, and the wisdom he gathers from strangers, people who carry their entire lives in a backpack, is surprisingly profound.
The book strikes a perfect balance between introspection and entertainment. Stiffler’s dry humor shines through, especially in his self-deprecating moments, like his struggles with navigation or his first encounters with wildlife. Yet, beneath the laughs, there’s a deeper message about resilience, simplicity, and the transformative power of nature. By the end, I found myself not only inspired to plan my own adventure but also reflecting on how to bring a little of that trailhead clarity into everyday life.
Whether you’re an avid hiker or someone who prefers armchair adventures, Trail Headspace is a rewarding read. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, the best way to find yourself is to get a little lost first. Highly recommended for anyone in need of a fresh perspective, or just a good story well told.
After reading this, I may not be ready to tackle the Colorado Trail just yet, but I’ll definitely be eating my next snack sitting on the floor for the full experience.
August 13, 2025
I enjoyed this book. Not a detailed trail guide, more of a diary, a reflection of time spent in nature, as the author shares his thoughts and reactions before and after hiking the 486 miles of the Colorado Trail. In each chapter, the writing moves quickly as Christopher gives physical highlights of the day’s hike, nuggets of history and psychology, and anecdotes about the people he meets. Interspersed for you to try are the RAT word games the hikers played at the end of the day.
Christopher uses the word “lucky” to describe the awesomeness of nature, the humble appreciation of help from other hikers and the joy of interacting with unpretentiousness people.
I doubt I will ever do such intense hiking, but “walking along” on the trip made me consider how I spend my time vs how I wish I would spend my time, prompting me to stop thinking about a possibility and make a start.
Christopher uses the word “lucky” to describe the awesomeness of nature, the humble appreciation of help from other hikers and the joy of interacting with unpretentiousness people.
I doubt I will ever do such intense hiking, but “walking along” on the trip made me consider how I spend my time vs how I wish I would spend my time, prompting me to stop thinking about a possibility and make a start.
June 16, 2026
An excellent read. Loved the writing style which injected facts, tidbits for hiking, reflective perspective, humor, and so much more. I had recently returned from my own hike of the R2R and found this book so engaging. Made me want to lace up my boots once again and hit the Colorado Trail next. This book is for anyone who loves the outdoors or just finds they need to clear their minds of all the worldly clutter. You can’t help but walk away from this read feeling lighter and better. Way to go, Christopher Stiffler.
July 2, 2025
From start to finish, this book takes you on a hike mentally and literally as the author goes into how removing oneself from the hustle and bustle of normal reality and getting into a clean open space in the Colorado wilderness affects perception. It gives lots of questions to ask yourself and encourages you to look deeper. It also has funny moments filled with humor; love and finding of a family outside of one's comfort zone; and also gives lots of 'Nuggets' of information! Great book.
May 19, 2026
Another Colorado Trail book! His trail name is "Nugget" due to all the factoids about Colorado's mountains, and the 14er's, and things that he adds to the conversation. From back cover: "the transformative power of nature and endurance in trail headspace where adventure meets self-discovery and science uncovers the secrets of mental wellbeing and resilience." 69 Endnotes which I appreciated. Good Read! Even added to my "maybe buy" list due to all the info.
August 5, 2025
Trail Headspace is a beautifully written reminder that the trail is as much about inner terrain as it is about miles walked. With humor, insight, and a rare honesty, it captures the transformative power of nature, the quiet wisdom of the hiking community, and the unexpected lessons found in simplicity. It left me feeling lighter, inspired, and oddly homesick for a trail I’ve never hiked.
January 31, 2026
An honest, real and introspective account of hiking the Colorado Trail. The author balances humor, personal relationships, and self-discovery while also sharing meaningful insights into the mental and physical benefits of spending time in nature. Inspiring, thoughtful, and refreshingly real — this book stays with you long after the trail ends.
June 27, 2025
Fun read about life on the Colorado Trail. I have listened to the nonstandard 14er podcast for a few years and always enjoyed it as well. Reading along make you want to get out and nature and go for a hike!
February 17, 2025
Great mixture or humor, storytelling, vulnerability in characters, trail history and wellness tips. You can feel the author evolve as he sinks into the thru-hiker lifestyle.
August 1, 2025
A great read about taming the Colorado Trail and finding onesself. Educational and humorous.
February 20, 2026
I wish there were photos and less typos.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews