Hiking in and around Cleveland brings hikers to marvelous waterfalls, spectacular blue lakes, alluring forest trails, towering bridges, impressive castle structures, and inspiring views of the surrounding areas. This huge array of beautiful hiking trails means there is naturally a lot of local hiking interest. Some of these local hikers have gone on to form Cleveland hiking clubs and organizations.
Below is a list of the top 8 Cleveland hiking groups you should definitely check out. Each of these Cleveland hiking clubs provides a unique perspective and experience. The goals and activities will vary but share one thing in common,the love of the great outdoors.
- Northeast Ohio Hiking Club – 8,820+ members
- WhyNot Adventures – 5,610+ members
- Explorer Chicks of Cleveland – 3,390+ members
- Greater Akron Area Hikers – 3,010+ members
- The Hopeless Wanderers – Backpacking Group – 2,630+ members
- CLE PEACH – Photography Environmental Action Cleanup Hiking – 1,690+ members
- Westlake Hiking Club – 590+ members
- MOSAIC Jewish Outdoor Club of NE Ohio – 200+ members
Northeast Ohio Hiking Club
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Cleveland, OH
Link: https://www.meetup.com/NEOHiking/
Description: Northeast Ohio Hiking Club is to unite hikers on short hikes, long hikes, easy hikes, moderate hikes, strenuous hikes, kid friendly hikes, and dog friendly hikes. Their mission is to provide a variety of hikes for hikers of all abilities. This group has hosted a staggering 6,500+ events in the past and typically has multiple events throughout the week.
WhyNot Adventures
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Cleveland, OH
Link: https://www.meetup.com/whynotadventure-org/
Description: WhyNot Adventures is a social group that has been sponsoring hiking and outdoor activities for decades. They frequently organize hiking activities on Sunday mornings beginning in October through April. They also do events throughout the year. They also do other outdoor activities such as biking, kayaking, and camping. This group has hosted over 730+ events in the past and typically has one or two events each month.
Explorer Chicks of Cleveland
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Cleveland, OH
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Explorer-Chicks-of-Cleveland/
Description: Explorer Chicks of Cleveland is a group for all chicks that dig outdoor, adventurous life, and love to travel. They plan a lot of out of town trips ranging from national parks to international trips. This group has hosted over 300+ events in the past and typically organizes one event each week.
Greater Akron Area Hikers
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Link: https://www.meetup.com/summit_county_ohio_hikers/
Description: Greater Akron Area Hikers is a group that hikes between three and six miles per trip. Most of their hikes are on trails in the woods. Some of their hikes are with dogs. They also have fitness training hikes that are designed to get more than 10,000 steps in your day. This group has hosted over 1,750+ events in the past and typically has one event each week.
The Hopeless Wanderers – Backpacking Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Cleveland, OH
Link: https://www.meetup.com/TheHopelessWanderers/
Description: The Hopeless Wanderers – Backpacking Group strives to create “respites” in the woods. Their mission is to enjoy the natural world by leaving the technologies, stresses, and ease of “city life” by trekking into the serenity of the wilderness. This group has hosted over 600+ events in the past and typically has many events planned throughout the week.
CLE PEACH – Photography Environmental Action Cleanup Hiking
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Cleveland, OH
Link: https://www.meetup.com/CLE-Environmental-Cleanup-Photography-Adventure-Hiking/
Description: CLE PEACH – Photography Environmental Action Cleanup Hiking is a group to stand up, take action, clean up, and have fun. This group is for those that are into the environment, photography, having fun, and making a difference. They do events for hiking and cleaning up. This group has hosted over 50+ events in the past and typically has one event each month.
Westlake Hiking Club
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Cleveland, OH
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Westlake-Hiking-Club/
Description: Westlake Hiking Club is for those that enjoy nature and want to improve their healthy lifestyle. This group organizes hikes and trail runs. They have hosted over 650+ events in the past and typically have two events each month.
MOSAIC Jewish Outdoor Club of NE Ohio
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Cleveland, OH
Link: https://www.meetup.com/NEOhioMOSAIC/
Description: MOSAIC Jewish Outdoor Club of NE Ohio is a group dedicated to outdoor, recreational, social and environmental events for jewish adults. They welcome Jews of all ages, both married and single. They do events such as hiking, biking, canoeing, skiing, skating, camping, and more. This group has hosted over 250+ events in the past and typically has two events each month.
Why should you join a Cleveland hiking group?
Learning
Joining a Cleveland hiking group will provide you with many benefits. The first benefit you will get is the ability to learn from the group organizers and other members. Some groups will have workshops to teach you about hiking gear, nutrition, camping, and more. This is a great way to learn more about hiking and outdoor activities so you are more prepared as a hiker. You can also share tips with the members to get even more diverse knowledge.
No Planning Needed
Another fantastic benefit of joining a group is there is no planning required. The group organizers will research the hikes from the trailhead, distance, elevation, and difficulty. Now all you need to do is pick the most interesting hikes and just show up. This is a great way to take a break if you are used to researching all of your hikes.
Relaxation
The third benefit of joining a hiking group is you can relax when out on the trail. Since you don’t need to do the research you can just show up and relax while the group organizers will worry about all of the logistics. You can also join groups that hike at a slower more relaxing pace, which will allow you to enjoy the trail and journey.
3 things to consider when joining a Cleveland hiking group
Hiking Area
Thinking about joining a hiking group can be very exciting, however, there are some things you should keep in mind before going to your first event. The first thing you should think about is what hiking area does the group plan its events around. Some groups will focus on ore local hikes while others will do many out-of-town trips. This is a good way to mix it up and hike local trails and out-of-town trails.
Group Pace
The next thing you should think about is what pace the group prefers to hike at. Some groups will cater to beginners or just want to hike more slowly whereas other groups will focus on faster-paced hiking dedicated to more advanced hikers. Find a group that matches your hiking pace so that you don’t feel like you are hiking too fast or too slow. This will allow you to enjoy your hikes more unless of course you are trying to challenge yourself and hike at a faster pace than you normally hike at.
Average Attendance
The third thing you should think about is the average attendance of the group. Although some groups may have large membership numbers or even small membership numbers, the important thing to look at is the actual attendance of their events. Some of these groups have been around for decades and their members have come and gone. Look into the group’s past events to see the average attendance per event to determine how many people actually show up.
Summary
Cleveland hiking trails will take you to spectacular views of the sweeping forests, splendid views of the gorgeous lakeshores, humbling river crossings, tranquil creeks, and so much more. These views are lovely, but they are elevated when shared with others you will meet from the Cleveland hiking groups.
The list above only just scratches the surface when it comes to Cleveland hiking clubs and organizations. There are definitely more than 8 groups that you should check out. As your interests evolve over time, use that as an opportunity to explore new groups that align with your new interests. Enjoy all of your hikes with the local Cleveland hiking groups.
