Hiking near Colorado Springs takes you on trails that lead you to panoramic views of Bear Creek, along raging rivers, under giant cascading waterfalls, below giant red rocks of the gods, through serene green forests, and so much more. With so much variety in outdoor landscapes and so many trails to hike leads to a large group of outdoor enthusiasts. Colorado Springs is prime for hiking and hiking groups.
There are many hiking groups available to join in Colorado Springs. From groups that are more casual and slow pace to those attempting to have weekend expeditions to the tallest most challenging peaks in Colorado. There’s a group for everyone. Here is a list of the 8 most popular hiking groups in Colorado Springs:
- Wild Connections Meetup – 3,837 Members
- Casual Hikes – 3,144 members
- Colorado Springs Adventures! – 1,897 members
- Colorado Springs Hiking Meetup Group – 1,752 members
- Teller County Coffee, Hiking, and more Club – 1,743 members
- Colorado Springs Walking Club – 1,555 membersColorado Springs Walking Club
- Geeks Who Hike – 1,426 members
- Pikes Peak Hiking Buddies- 1,391 members
Wild Connections Meetup
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Wild-Connections-Meetup/
Description: Wild Connections Meetup focuses on conservation of wild public lands, hiking, and restoration projects. This group has had over 97 events in the past with one or two events each month.
Casual Hikes
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Casual-Hikes/
Description: Casual Hikes is a group that focuses on shorter and easier hikes. They also have some events for longer and more challenging hikes for those that want a change of pace. This group has had over 95 events in the past with one to three events each month.
Colorado Springs Adventures!
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Colorado-Springs-Adventures/
Description: Colorado Springs Adventures! is a group that hosts events for hiking, backpacking, tubing, outdoor workshops, winter camping, and much more. This group has had more then 320 events in the past with at least one event each month.
Colorado Springs Hiking Meetup Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Colorado-Springs-Hiking-Meetup-Group/
Description: Colorado Springs Hiking Meetup Group focuses on hiking to improve health and fitness levels. They have hikes year round with at least one event each week. They have had over 88 events in the past.
Teller County Coffee, Hiking, and more Club
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Woodland PArk, CO
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Teller-County-Coffee-Hiking-and-more-Club/
Description: Teller County Coffee, Hiking, and more Club is a group that focuses on drinking coffee/tea, hiking, walking, and good health. They are open for hikers of all skill levels. Tis group is very active with more than 1,600 events in the past. They have multiple events each month.
Colorado Springs Walking Club
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Colorado-Springs-Walking-Club/
Description: Colorado Springs Walking Club is a group that focuses on walking and hiking to encourage and motivate healthy living. They have had more than 215 events in the past with one event each month.
Geeks Who Hike
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Geeks-Who-Hike/
Description: Geeks Who Hike meets up for geeks who enjoy hiking and want to explore the trails throughout Colorado Springs. They have hosted 244 events in the past and have a hike or backpack every weekend.
Pikes Peak Hiking Buddies
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Link: https://www.meetup.com/PikesPeakHikingBuddies/
Description: Pikes Peak Hiking Buddies is a group for hikers who love fresh air, awesome views, great conversation. They have hiking events, bowling events, and much more. This group is incredibly active with more than 1,044 events in the past. They typically have 3-4 events each month.
Why should you join a Colorado Springs hiking group?
Discover New Trails
Hiking near Colorado Springs has a huge list of hikes to choose from and so many different hiking areas. By joining a Colorado Springs hiking group you can discover lesser known hiking trails from the groups. You’ll be able to hike on hidden gem trails or trails you might not normally come across.
Build a Hiking Habit
If you are looking to build a hiking habit, these hiking groups are a great way to start and maintain that habit. These hiking groups generally will meet once or twice a month. Some groups even meet up once a week. If one group isn’t meeting up you can attend events from another. In these groups you’ll be able to meet other hikers of the same skill level and you can support each other for your hiking goals and habits.
No Planning Needed
By attending these hiking groups you don’t need to do any of your own planning. The hosts of the hiking group will research, pick, and plan a hike, all you need to do is show up! You can get more details of the hike from the group so that you can be prepared for your upcoming hikes. Since Colorado Springs has so many hikes, sometimes it can be hard to choose a hike. These hiking groups will help you narrow down your list of options so that you can just get out there and hike!
3 things to consider when joining a Colorado Springs hiking group
How Often Do They Meet Up?
If you are looking to build a consistent hiking habit, then one of the important factors to consider is how often the group meets up. Some groups will only meet up once a month for out of town trips, while others may meet up a few times a week for local hikes. Each group offers something different, so keep this in mind for your hiking goals.
Where do they meet up?
The next thing you should consider is where do the events take place. You don’t want to join a group that consistently meets up on the opposite side of the 25 highway or on the far side of the 24. Convenience for you is may be a big factor in where the group meets up. Some groups might only do out of town epic hikes, while others may do local hikes that take just 20 minutes to drive to.
What experience is needed?
Depending on your current skill level and experience for hiking, another key thing to consider is what experience do you need for the group. Some groups focus on training for 14,000 foot peaks and others prefer beginner trails that are more casual. If the group is very well organized than their hikes should label if the trail is easy or very strenuous. If you are also looking to challenge yourself then you can choose to join hikes that are a little bit out of your comfort zone and skill level so you can learn from more experienced hikers.
Summary
Joining a hiking group in Colorado Springs will take you to a garden of gods, beautiful towering waterfalls, colossal peaks with sweeping panoramic views, through gorgeous serene forests, and so much more wonderful outdoor scenery. Once you join the groups you can share these amazing views and experiences together.
The hiking groups in Colorado Springs can also help you with finding new trails, building a consistent hiking habit, hike planning, and expanding your hiking experience. This list of groups is only the top 8 largest and there are many other groups to choose from. Enjoy your hikes near Colorado Springs!