Meeting new people who share your interests is a great way to make friends, stay active, and explore the outdoors. If you enjoy hiking and want to connect with other hiking enthusiasts in your area, there are many options available. With a bit of effort and planning, you can find local hiking groups and clubs, attend organized hiking events, and hit the trails where other hikers frequent.
Search for local hiking groups and clubs
One of the easiest ways to find hiking partners is to search for hiking groups or clubs in your city or region. Here are some ideas for finding established groups of local hikers:
- Use Google and Facebook searches – Search terms like “Denver hiking club” or “Atlanta hiking meetup” can help uncover active groups nearby.
- Check outdoor retailers like REI – Many have regional stores that organize group hikes and maintain lists of local hiking clubs.
- Search Meetup.com – Look for hiking or outdoor adventure groups in your area that organize regular hikes.
- Ask at your local hiking shop – Workers there may know of casual groups that arrange hikes through word-of-mouth.
When you find a promising local hiking group, look for one that matches your experience level and interests. Groups focused on family hiking or moderate trails may suit new hikers, while experienced outdoorspersons may prefer a group that organizes more challenging alpine hikes. Join the group and start attending their events regularly to get to know members. Making hiking buddies often takes several hikes together!
Attend organized hiking events
If no local hiking groups pique your interest, another option is to attend organized hiking events in your region. These one-time or periodic hikes bring many outdoor enthusiasts together and provide built-in opportunities to bond over the trail. Here are some types of hiking events to look for:
- Guided park hikes – Many national and state parks offer educational guided hikes led by rangers on a regular basis. These are beginner-friendly and let you meet fellow hiking aficionados.
- Hiking festivals – Annual hiking festivals take place across the U.S., drawing dedicated hikers from surrounding areas for a weekend of guided hikes, workshops, films, and more.
- Volunteer trail work days – Help maintain local trails by attending volunteer days organized by hiking nonprofits. You’ll work alongside other hiking devotees and give back to the outdoors.
- Organized challenge hikes – Hiking events like New York’s Catskill 3500 Club hikes help hikers complete milestone routes over time while getting to know other participants.
Use social media, local hiking websites, and online event listings to find upcoming hiking happenings near you. Consistently joining these one-off hiking activities helps you develop hiking friendships.
Hit the most popular local trails
For many hikers, the most reliable way to meet people is simply to lace up your boots and hit the trails! Head to the most popular and highly-trafficked hiking paths in your vicinity. Strike up friendly conversations with fellow hikers you encounter during your rest breaks. Some tips for getting to know people on the trails:
- Hike on weekends when trail use peaks.
- Ask polite questions or make encouraging remarks when passing other hikers.
- Take scenic loops that return via the same trail to maximize encounters.
- Pause to chat with hikers who take breaks in the same area as you.
- Bring your dog as an instant icebreaker with other trail users.
To identify which local trails are most highly-trafficked, check outdoor websites like AllTrails, ask other hikers, and monitor trailhead parking areas on weekends. With regular hiking on busy routes, you’ll quickly start recognizing and bonding with frequent trail users.
Join hiking-related social media groups
In today’s digital age, you can also make hiking buddies online before ever hitting the trails together. Join social media groups related to hiking in your local area, like:
- Facebook hiking groups – Search for groups like “Seattle Hiking Community” or “NYC Hikers”.
- Regional Reddit subgroups – Find your city or state’s subreddit and search for hiking threads.
- Local/regional hiking forums – Connect with nearby hikers through forums focused on regional trails.
In these online spaces, you can coordinate group hikes, share trail recommendations, and get to know fellow hiking enthusiasts. Arrange in-person meetings with promising social media connections to determine if you mesh well as hiking partners.
Volunteer on trail crews
If you want to immerse yourself in the hiking community, look for opportunities to volunteer on trail maintenance and construction crews. Nonprofits like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Pacific Crest Trail Association, and Washington Trails Association organize regular volunteer work days focused on rehabilitating hiking trails.
Spending long days outdoors working hard on trails forges fast friendships with likeminded outdoor lovers. You’ll also learn about lesser-known local trails from experienced volunteers. Consider making a regular commitment by joining a volunteer trail crew that meets consistently throughout hiking season.
Join outdoor leadership training
Take your hiking companion search to new heights by signing up for outdoor leadership training focused on skill-building for leading group hikes. Good options include:
- AMGA hiking guide course – Earn professional certifications for leading wilderness trips from the American Mountain Guides Association.
- NOLS hiking leader program – Take a course at the National Outdoor Leadership School to gain group hiking leadership skills.
- Sierra Club hike leader training – Become a qualified Sierra Club hike leader for their chapter outings.
These intensive programs equip you with technical hiking skills and teach you how to manage hiking groups responsibly. The people you’ll meet tend to be passionately invested in hiking, so they make ideal hiking buddies. You’ll finish ready to lead amazing hikes for new friends.
Go on a hiking-focused vacation
An exciting way to make likeminded hiking friends in new areas is to take a hiking-centered vacation. Look for group hiking tours, backpacking trips, and hiking lodges oriented toward fostering camaraderie through shared wilderness experiences. Some ideas include:
- REI Adventures hiking tours – REI offers group hiking trips all over the world led by professional guides.
- Backpacking excursions – Small group backpacking trips organized by guides allow you to bond with fellow hikers.
- Huts and hiking lodges – Stay at Appalachian Mountain Club huts or hiking lodges in national/state parks and get to know fellow guests.
- Hostel hiking trips – Hostel associations organize guided hiking trips that attract solo hikers eager to meet people.
The bonds forged over challenging climbs, incredible views, and evenings spent under the stars tend to stick. Stay in touch with new hiking friends from vacations through social media.
Date an avid hiker
For single hikers open to romance, dating a fellow hiking enthusiast can instantly provide you with a built-in hiking partner. Seek out potential partners who share your passion for the outdoors. Consider creating dating profiles that spotlight your hiking interests and photos showcasing your backcountry adventures.
When dating online or in-person, ask potential matches early on how they feel about hiking. Prioritize getting to know fellow hikers who seem compatible beyond just your mutual interests. A partner who enjoys and excels at hiking as much as you do makes coordinating outings super simple. Any relationship grounded in time spent doing what you both love already has strong foundations.
Practice good hiking etiquette
As you work to meet local hiking partners, keep in mind that the way you conduct yourself on the trail can affect your interactions. Follow proper hiking etiquette when encountering other trail users:
- Be friendly, offer greetings, but don’t force conversations if others seem reserved.
- Stand aside to let faster hikers pass; don’t block the trail.
- Warn other hikers about upcoming trail hazards like washed out sections.
- Follow Leave No Trace principles and pack out all trash.
- Keep noise low to avoid disturbing the peace of the wilderness.
Mindful trail etiquette makes the experience better for everyone and leaves a good impression on fellow hikers, increasing the likelihood they’ll want to hit the trails with you again.
Join hiking challenges
Signing up for a multi-day hiking challenge is a fun way to meet other hiking enthusiasts. Look for upcoming challenge hikes in your region that require participants to complete lengthy trails over a set period of time. Some examples include:
- Hut Traverse (White Mountains) – Hike 48 miles while staying at 8 Appalachian Mountain Club huts in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
- Sierra High Route (Sierra Nevada) – Trek 195 miles on the off-trail Sierra High Route through Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks over 18 days.
- California Coastal Trail (California) – Join the California Coastal Trail Association on segments of their goal to hike the entire California coast over 9 months.
The communal struggle of completing an epic challenge trail fosters lasting friendships with fellow hikers. You’ll see them each day on the route and swap stories over meals and nightly campfires.
Go on hiking road trips
If you have the flexibility, organize or join a hiking road trip in a region with great trails. Traveling together to hike amazing new-to-you paths is a blast. Use sites like Roadtrippers to map out multi-day driving itineraries that link hiking destinations.
Some amazing U.S. hiking road trips include:
- Pacific Northwest – Hike through Washington and Oregon’s national parks and forests.
- California’s John Muir Trail – Tackle sections of the epic John Muir Trail through the Sierra Nevadas.
- Appalachian Trail – Hike the highlights in the Appalachian Mountains.
- Rocky Mountains – Trek Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton.
Memorable hiking road trips create lasting bonds and inside jokes that strengthen hiking friendships. Make a fun future hiking bucket list with your road trip crew.
Conclusion
Hiking with good company takes a great pastime to an even higher level. Seeking out fellow hiking devotees opens up new opportunities to challenge your abilities with people who understand and share your passion. You’ll sharpen each other’s knowledge, navigation skills, and appreciation for natural landscapes. Plus, you’ll now have hiking partners to provide moral support during grueling climbs or bad weather!
Remember, developing local hiking friends takes persistence and participation in the hiking community. But the camaraderie and satisfaction you’ll gain from the effort makes it well worthwhile. So get out there on event hikes, volunteer days, popular trails, and road trips to meet fellow hikers who will quickly become fast friends.