Leisure time and its quality use is becoming increasingly important in society. We can spend it primarily on physical activity, which offer many options, as it provides an entertainment and has a complex effect on our physical and mental health. Walking as a basis for hiking is the most accessible form of physical activity. Hiking is known as a low-level adventure activity, making it popular, and therefore, it presents an important tourism product around the world. The aim of hiking is the improvement of spiritual wealth, physical capabilities, mental resilience, and the general health of a person. An essential activity of hiking is the exploration of natural beauties and monuments. The tourist chooses a certain attractive place based on the route by which he can arrive there. The aim of this study is to provide a better understanding of the motivations of mountain hikers and to discuss the issue in wider contexts. This study examines the individual components comprising the decision-making process when choosing a hiking trail, such as slope of a terrain, relief, hiking trail surface, difficulty level of hiking trail, natural monuments, environmental attractiveness, and hiker’s internal motivation. The study contributes to contemporary literature on soft adventure hiking. Definitively, the findings provide important data in the creation of attractive and sustainable tourism products tailored to and planning for sustainable development of the territory in terms of tourism.

The paper deals with the possibilities of further use of environmentally degraded and polluted areas on the example of (mining and industrial) activities residues in the Central Spiš region in eastern Slovakia. On the example of the Slovinky mining tailing pond, the Markušovce mining tailing pond, and two mining dumps in Rudňany, we deal with the analysis of their condition in terms of heavy metal content, as well as the real and potential alternative use of these sites. Data were collected using field trips and field research in sediment sampling in all localities and by preparing a questionnaire for opinion polls. The content of heavy metals from all four places, the results of field trips, and the questionnaire were analyzed. The article points out the current state of these objects in terms of their load with heavy metals and considers their possible alternative uses, especially in terms of geotourism or education. The implementation of geotourism in the studied sites brings along benefits, not only for visitors and students, but also has a positive impact on sites themselves and on the local community. The results of such analyses should also serve as a basis (starting point) in planning the renewal and further development of such areas.

This study examines hiking within the context of active lifestyle trends, with a particular focus on the implications of physical limitations for its implementation in forest environments. The primary objective is to analyze how hiking offerings can be adapted to account for varying physical constraints that influence the selection and accessibility of forest landscapes. Special emphasis is placed on the intersection of forest-based recreation and geotourism, as both natural settings provide not only opportunities for physical activity but also unique geological and ecological values that shape visitor experience. The research emphasizes the role of physical fitness as a key factor in segmenting hiking participants, introducing it as a measurable parameter for categorization. To achieve this, the study applies quantitative methods, including motor ability tests, physical fitness assessments, somatic measurements, and verification of tourist categorization. Statistical analyses employed include descriptive statistics of performance values, two-sample t-tests, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients. The framework for designing hiking experiences highlights the importance of integrating forest trails and geotourism sites into accessible tourism planning. This approach demonstrates the potential benefits of incorporating physical fitness considerations into hiking development, ultimately enhancing accessibility, inclusivity, and safety in forest and environments.