11 Outdoor Activities That May Become Obsolete in 2025

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Outdoor activities have been a part of our lives for ages, and a way to leave the daily grind and have fun in nature. Hiking through dense forests, cooking around a campfire, and simply strolling the park all bring happiness, health benefits, and a sense of freedom. Yet, as technology changes so quickly, so does our connection with the outdoors. Virtual Reality, new transportation methods, some of the activities we love will soon be phased out or replaced by more modern alternatives.

As we adapt to new ways of experiencing nature—sometimes, even, indoors—we may find some of these outdoor pastimes stripped from our routines. Here are 11 outdoor activities that could be obsolete by 2025.

Camping

The pleasures of camping in the outdoors—once a rite of passage for families and friends—is beginning to wear off for some. Sleeping under the stars will always be appealing, but the advancement of smart homes and luxury retreats is making it easy for people to enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of their own home. The rough and rustic experience could soon be history for those who want convenience and comfort: high tech tents, air conditioned campers, and fully equipped cabins.

Outdoor Skating

Once, outdoor skating was a favorite winter activity for many. However, with the advent of indoor rinks and ever warmer winters, thanks to climate change, this old pastime is becoming less practical. The ice is melting and warmer temperatures mean ice skating outside is becoming a rare experience. The rise of artificial ice rinks being more and more accessible will probably see skating outdoors become a thing of the past as indoor arenas will become the place to be.

Hiking

Hiking has long been a way to get away from it all and get back to nature, but increasingly it is more of a past time for the physical fitness minded than for exploration. Users are now beginning to prefer virtual hiking, where users can experience nature using VR headsets or from simulated experiences. By 2025, experts believe that the trend for virtual outdoor experiences will lead to a massive decrease in the need for physical hikes.

Cycling

Electric bikes, e-bikes, have taken the world by storm in recent years, even though cycling has always been a great way to enjoy the outdoors. The popularity of e-bikes is making cycling less attractive to many riders. If you need to pedal hard to get around your route, why not just zip through with a battery powered boost instead? E-bikes grew by 145% in 2020 in America, according to a report by the World Economic Forum. By 2025, e bikes could own the landscape and cycling for real would be a purist thing.

Fishing

Fishing has long been a relaxing and thrilling pastime, but as the global climate changes, water conditions change, fish populations shrink and recreational fishing opportunities shrink. As more people look for sustainable seafood alternatives or find themselves growing fish indoors, the practice might not be used as much. As water habitats continue to deteriorate, people may have to toss their lines in virtual fishing games rather than real water.

Picnicking

We may be saying goodbye to picnicking in parks, gardens or beaches, and hello to more organized outdoor dining experiences. As food delivery services grow and outdoor dining options get increasingly luxurious, think pop up restaurants and food trucks, younger generations may no longer find packing a picnic basket to be a needed affair. This also means people want to eat in more comfortable, temperature controlled environments, eliminating the need for typical picnic setup.

Archery

By 2025, archery might not be a common sight in the outdoors anymore. Though modern technology is still advancing to make traditional archery obsolete, this pursuit still has its following. Virtual archery games and the increasing importance of gaming consoles which allow users to ‘shoot’ targets from the convenience of their home, may see the bow and arrow replaced by a virtual weapon.

Rock Climbing

Climbing El Caminito del Rey (Spain) — Image Credit: Gabirulo/Wikimedia Commons

The popularity of rock climbing has skyrocketed, and especially in urban areas where indoor climbing gyms have popped up. But as these gyms get better and better, providing simulated outdoor experiences, these outdoor rock climbing opportunities may go out of fashion. As climbing technology becomes more advanced, people may soon instead choose to scale natural rock faces, but in safe, indoor environments instead.

Swimming in Natural Water Bodies

People have always jumped in lakes, rivers, or in the ocean to cool off. But pollution and water quality concerns are making these natural swimming spots less popular. With increasing sophistication of water quality monitoring and increasing desire for cleaner swimming alternatives, more people may choose to swim in controlled man made pools.

Outdoor Concerts

Outdoor concerts and music festivals were once the go to way to experience live music, and now, digital revolution has begun to push these events toward obsolescence. As live streaming technology continues to improve and at home concert experiences become more immersive, braving the elements to go to a concert may no longer be so appealing. By 2025 digital concerts could entirely shift the landscape of live music.

Golf

Although golf is not typically thought of as a high intensity outdoor activity, it is becoming replaced by other more intense, faster outdoor activities. With younger generations increasingly less interested in the sport, and its high environmental cost becoming more scrutinized, traditional golf courses could start to shrink. A lot of people are quickly changing to faster paced and cheaper sports or virtual reality simulations of golf.

Horseback Riding

Obvious Facts That A Lot Of People Don't Know — Photo Credit: Pikwizard

Once a beloved outdoor activity for many people, horseback riding is becoming less common. Horseback riding is being pushed to the sidelines not only because of the prohibitive cost of maintaining the horses and stables, but also because more accessible outdoor activities are creating a market from which it is being squeezed out.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.