About me

Joseph Ruiz

My name is Joseph Ruiz and I am a filmmaker, a hiker, a husband and a dad who feels most alive outside. Trail Traveled is my way of slowing life down for a moment and sharing the stories that come from being on the trail and being present.

I grew up all over. Louisiana. New York. Minnesota. Oregon. Every place shaped me in its own way. I learned early that adventure is not always a big dramatic moment. Sometimes it is the quiet walk to a viewpoint at sunrise. Sometimes it is standing in front of a waterfall with muddy boots. Sometimes it is a simple moment with your family that makes you stop and breathe.

Before filmmaking I worked offshore on oil rigs. Long days and long nights gave me plenty of time to think. That job taught me patience, discipline and how to appreciate the small things that most people overlook. When I finally picked up a camera everything in my life felt like it lined up. I realized I could take the way I see the world and share it with people in a way that feels honest and real.

Trail Traveled is built on that idea. The idea that there is beauty in the everyday moments. That the outdoors can reset your mind. That storytelling is a way to connect people to something bigger than themselves. Here you will find trails, reflections and moments that mean something to me. My hope is that they inspire you to get outside and find the same clarity and peace that I find out there.