Local Hiking

Top 8 Detroit Hiking Groups

Buildings in downtown Detroit

Hiking trails near Detroit will take hikers to serene lake trails, inspiring views of the rolling hills, beneath the alluring forest shade, and to spectacular views of the local river gorges. . With such a wide array of hiking trails and hiking areas, hikers will naturally congregate and form organizations. The hiking community in Detroit is fantastic and worth checking out.

Below is a list of the top 8 hiking groups in Detroit. Each of these groups will provide you with a unique hiking experience and allow you to meet many other local hikers. Use this list as a starting point for checking out some of the many hiking groups located in Detroit.

  • Active in Detroit – 4,580+ members
  • Northern Michigan Hiking, Backpacking, and Kayaking – 4,260+ members
  • Explorer Chicks of Detroit – 3,310+ members
  • Metro Detroit Outdoors & Hiking (Sierra Club-S.E. Michigan) – 2,230+ members
  • Outdoor People – 1,320+ members
  • Outdoor Afro – Detroit – 690+ members
  • Hike with Avid Readers, Learners, and Thinkers – 550+ members
  • Rebellious Women Outdoor Adventurers of SE Michigan – 165+ members

Active in Detroit

Cost to Join: Free
Location: Detroit, MI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Activeindetroit/
Description: Active in Detroit is for those that want to meet other locals to ride, paddle, hike, talk gear and trade tips. Their events include hiking, cycling, kayaking, skating, and more. They have hosted over 1,180+ events in the past with multiple events each week.

Northern Michigan Hiking, Backpacking, and Kayaking

Cost to Join: Free
Location: Novi, MI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-TadkKJKt/
Description: Northern Michigan Hiking, Backpacking, and Kayaking is a group for hiking, backpacking, and kayaking trips in Northern Michigan. Their trips include the Porcupine Mountains, Pictured Rocks, Manistee River trail, Jordan valley trail, North Manitou island, North Country trail, and Isle Royale. They have hosted over 90+ events in the past and generally have one event each month.

Explorer Chicks of Detroit

Cost to Join: Free
Location: Detroit, MI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Explorer-Chicks-of-Detroit/
Description: Explorer Chicks of Detroit is for chicks that dig outdoor adventure, adventure life, and love to travel. Their trips include hiking, backpacking, and international travel. This group has hosted over 260+ events and typically has one event each week.

Metro Detroit Outdoors & Hiking (Sierra Club-S.E. Michigan)

Cost to Join: Free
Location: Royal Oak, MI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Metro-Detroit-Outdoors-Hiking/
Description: Metro Detroit Outdoors & Hiking (Sierra Club-S.E. Michigan ) is for those that like being outdoors and being active. They have organized hiking, backpacking, and educational workshops. They have hosted over 850+ events in the past and typically have one event each month.

Outdoor People

Cost to Join: Free
Location: Royal Oak, MI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Outdoor-People/
Description: Outdoor People is for those that are enthusiastic about hiking and the outdoors. They typically explore parks in Southern Michigan at a pace of 3 miles per hour. They have organized over 190+ events in the past and typically have weekly events.

Outdoor Afro – Detroit

Cost to Join: Free
Location: Detroit, MI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Outdoor-Afro-Detroit/
Description: Outdoor Afro – Detroit is a community to reconnect and centers the Black experience with natural spaces through events such as hiking, camping, biking, birding, fishing, and other outdoor activities. This group has hosted over 65+ events in the past and typically has one event every few months.

Hike with Avid Readers, Learners, and Thinkers

Cost to Join: Free
Location: Birmingham, MI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Hike-with-Avid-Learners-Readers-and-Thinkers/
Description: Hike with Avid Readers, Learners, and Thinkers is a group for nature lovers that are active and enjoy reading and learning. They like to hike in Oakland County. They have hosted over 7 events in the past and typically host one event each month.

Rebellious Women Outdoor Adventurers of SE Michigan

Cost to Join: Free
Location: Lincoln Park, MI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/rebelliouswomenoutdooradventurerssemi-com/
Description: Rebellious Women Outdoor Adventurers of SE Michigan is for women who love the outdoors. They do activities such as hiking, leisurely walks in the woods, kayaking, and canoeing in the woods. They have hosted over 15+ events in the past and typically have one event each week.

Why should you join a Detroit hiking group?

hikers celebrating by trees

Support

Aside from the benefit of being able to hike with others, joining a Detroit hiking group has many benefits for you. The first is that you will be able to meet a supportive and positive group of hikers who will encourage you during your hikes. You will be able to learn and grow with the other local hikers as you venture out on the trails.

Trail Discovery

The next great benefit of joining a hiking group is discovering new trails. By attending hiking events you will likely come across local hidden gems and find new hiking areas you might have not heard of. The trails are all researched for you, so all you need to do is show up!

Relaxation

One of the main benefits of joining a local hiking group is the ability for you to relax during the hike. You can join a hiking group that focuses on casual and relaxing hikes that are meant to be calming walks in nature. It is a nice change of pace from having to keep a certain pace or reach a certain point by a specific time.

3 things to consider when Detroit joining a hiking group

hikers sitting down on rocks

Hike Locations

Before you join a Detroit hiking group there are a number of things you should consider. The first thing you should think about is where the group typically has its hikes. There are some groups that focus mainly on urban hikes, and others that do in-state hikes, and some that even go out of state. Check out the group’s past events to see where they prefer to hike.

Attendance

The next important factor you want to consider is the average attendance per event. While some groups may have a large number of members, it’s likely that most of the members are inactive. Look at the group’s past events and see what the average number of attendees is per event. This will give you a better idea of how many hikers typically attend their events.

Frequency

Another key thing to consider before joining a hiking group is how often their events are. If you are trying to build a habit or routine of hiking then find a group that meets consistently. There are some groups that meet at the same time and week everywhere and there are other groups that have one event every few months. It will vary drastically from group to group.

Summary

downtown buildings in detroit

The wonderful trails in and near Detroit will present you with beautiful views along lake shores, into tranquil forest grove trails, right up to gorgeous river fronts, and to sweeping views of the beautiful hills. These inspiring outdoor trails are great fun, but they are even better when shared with all of the hikers you will meet in these hiking groups.

The list of hiking groups above only scratches the surface. As your hiking interests evolve over time and your goals change, you can check out different hiking groups that align with your new interests and goals. You will experience and learn a lot when attending local hiking events. Enjoy all of your hikes in the Detroit area!