The Best Women’s Hiking Groups in the US Near You

On the hunt for a hiking community near you, or looking to link up with a group for a hiking adventure while traveling?

Finding your perfect hiking group online is just a few clicks away, but we’ll make it easy by listing all the inside info right here!

The internet is a great way to connect with other women who are outdoorsy and adventurous. Hitting the trail with new hiking buddies is half the fun!

First thing first — join the Explorer Chick Facebook Group to get connected with our entire community. Members get all the best leads on outdoor events for women.

Then check out our network of Explorer Chick Meetups all over the country!

Meetup.com is one of the biggest group event platforms for meeting new people with similar interests. There are TONS of hiking groups to join offering organized hikes, hiking tips, gear reviews, and general support for hikers at every level.

Finding New Skills In Nature — Other Than Hiking

Are you interested in other activities for your outdoor adventure? Explorer Chick Meetups host way more than guided hikes for outings! Find groups for climbing, biking, and even fishing! Never be afraid to propose an idea for a different way to explore the outdoors.

Finding Other Women Hikers Through Facebook Groups

Women Who Hike started as a social media channel, and has grown into a worldwide community of badass babes who hike. The group aims to connect women through hiking and backpacking events, hosted by local and regional volunteer ambassadors.

You can sign up for the Women Who Hike email list and stay in the loop for upcoming events in your area or join the state-by-state Women Who Hike Facebook groups.

Don’t forget that we also have a Facebook group filled with women who hike 😉

West Coast states like California, Oregon, and Washington are FULL of epic hiking opportunities. With 13 national parks in just these three states, there are endless trails to hike in every type of terrain.

Epic hiking and outdoor activities like camping, kayaking, and mountain biking can all be found in the incredible parks of the West Coast. Mount Rainier and North Cascades in Washington are full of vast wilderness and alpine lakes just waiting for you to hike to.

California alone is home to NINE national parks. Those like Channel Islands, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Joshua Tree are just a short jaunt from Los Angeles and have just about every type of outdoor adventure you can imagine. And who could forget the famous Yosemite National Park with its iconic Half Dome trek?

From coastal sanctuaries and desert sand dunes to towering mountains and breathtaking ocean views, finding a hiking partner or a group to enjoy these places’ natural beauty makes the adventure much more fun.

Explorer Chick Meetup Hike Group on the West Coast:

CALIFORNIA

• • Los Angeles Explorer Chicks

• • San Francisco Explorer Chicks

OREGON

• • Portland Explorer Chicks

WASHINGTON

• • Seattle Explorer Chicks

More Ways To Find West Coast Hiking Buddies:

The Pacific Crest Trail Association manages 2,650 miles of the National Scenic Trail that runs through California, Oregon, and Washington. Whether your ideal outdoor adventures are day hikes, backpacking trips, or training for a long trail thru hike, joining the PCT social channels is a perfect way to meet other West Coast women hikers.

There are tons of outdoor adventures to be found on the East Coast. Some great hiking regions in the East include Maine’s Western Mountains, New Hampshire’s White Mountains, Vermont’s Green Mountains, and New York’s Adirondack Mountains.

The Appalachian Mountain Range spans the entire East Coast, from northern Alabama to the Canadian border. The National Scenic Trail of the same name runs almost as far, from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine.

New England and the other states of the Northeast get all four seasons to the fullest. Mild summers, charming winters, lush green springs, and world-famous falls. The Northeast boasts some of the best fall foliage in the entire country, and some of the oldest footpaths to enjoy it from.

Explorer Chick Meetup Hike Group on the East Coast:

MASSACHUSETTS

• • Boston Explorer Chicks

NEW YORK

• • NYC Explorer Chicks

PENNYSYLVANIA

• • Pittsburg Explorer Chicks

MARYLAND

• • Baltimore Explorer Chicks

• • Washington D.C. Explorer Chicks

More Ways To Find Fellow Hikers On The East Coast

You can find hiking friends and hit the trails with local organizations like the non-profit organization Appalachian Mountain Club. With chapters from Washington D.C. to Maine, the group promotes protecting and enjoying the outdoors through education resources, volunteer work, and stewardship.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail Conservancy works with other local organizations on the East Coast to protect and maintain the 2,190-mile footpath that runs from Georgia to Maine.

The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina are part of the southern Appalachian Range and are also stewarded by the Appalachian Mountain Club. The range extends through Shenandoah National Park all the way to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Areas like Red River Gorge in Kentucky and Tallulah Gorge in Alabama are popular among adventure enthusiasts for both gorgeous hiking trails and epic climbing routes.

Walks in local parks? Backpacking adventures to famous mountain peaks? Explorer Chick Meetup groups have the perfect outdoor adventure for you.

Explorer Chick Meetup Groups In The South:

NORTH CAROLINA

• • Charlotte Explorer Chicks

SOUTH CAROLINA

• • Charleston Explorer Chicks

KENTUCKY

• • Louisville Explorer Chicks

TENNESSEE

• • Nashville Explorer Chicks

• • Chattanooga Explorer Chicks

• • Memphis Explorer Chicks

GEORGIA

• • Atlanta Explorer Chicks

FLORIDA

• • Cape Coral Explorer Chicks

ARKANSAS

• • Little Rock Explorer Chicks

TEXAS

• • Austin Explorer Chicks

• • Dallas Explorer Chicks

• • Houston Explorer Chicks

The Midwest comprises a dozen states, each with its own unique places to get outdoors. Lakeshores, badlands, and forested trails make up the terrain of states like Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan, and Minnesota. The Midwest’s national parks should be on every bucket list!

Voyageurs National Park is more than a hiking destination — in fact, it’s 40 percent lakes! Kayak, paddle, or enjoy this popular Midwest park on foot. Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio is perfect for multi-sport adventures, with biking trails, scenic hiking, and a ‘boatload’ of ways to get on the Cuyahoga River.

Are you heading further west for outdoor adventures? Find your perfect trail among countless options in South Dakota’s Badlands National Park and get your chance to hike among the stunning sandstone landscape.

Explorer Chick Meetup Hike Group in the Midwest:

OHIO

• • Columbus Explorer Chicks

• • Cleveland Explorer Chicks

• • Cincinnati Explorer Chicks

NEBRASKA

• • Omaha Explorer Chicks

WISCONSIN

• • Milwaukee Explorer Chicks

IOWA

• • Des Moines Explorer Chicks

ILLINOIS

• • Chicago Explorer Chicks

INDIANA

• • Indianapolis Explorer Chicks

MICHIGAN

• • Detroit Explorer Chicks

MISSOURI

• • Kansas City Explorer Chicks

• • St. Louis Explorer Chicks

There are Explorer Chick Meetup groups for ALL kinds of outdoor adventures. Western states like Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico fall within the Rocky Mountain Range and are literally overflowing with national parks and hiking trails.

Get your outdoor adventure on with hiking trails in national parks like Grand Teton and Yellowstone in Wyoming, or Rocky Mountain and Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado. Head to the desert to explore Utah’s five famous national parks with a group of girls giddy to hit the trail.

Find women who are just as hungry for the next adventure as you are! Connect and become a member of one of these unique communities:

Western Explorer Chick Meetup Groups:

COLORADO

• • Denver Explorer Chicks

IDAHO

• • Boise Explorer Chicks

UTAH

• • Salt Lake City Explorer Chicks

ARIZONA

• • Phoenix Explorer Chicks

• • Tucson Explorer Chicks

NEVADA

• • Las Vegas Explorer Chicks

NEW MEXICO

• • Albuquerque Explorer Chicks

There’s nothing like getting active outdoors with other women who love adventures. The Explorer Chick community aims to inspire and empower women like you to live your BEST outdoor life. Our trips, classes, and events create a special bond between the women who join them.

Our epic tours trek through national parks and backpack under the stars, like our Utah Hiking and National Parks Adventure or our Yosemite Half Dome Backpacking trip.

Join women who want to get outdoors in jaw-dropping destinations and experience the conversation and comradery of women-led adventures in the dopest destinations.

If you’re still on the fence, check out online trail reviews or adventure travelers’ tips to know what to look for in an adventure 😉

Come as strangers and leave as best friends when you connect with other Explorer Chicks on one of our epic adventures!