While Houston is known for its space exploration, it should also be known for the option of outdoor exploration for local hikers. Hiking in and near Houston will take hikers deep into pine forests, along the shores of beautiful lakes and relaxing creeks, and even to gorgeous coastal hiking areas to see the magnificent views of the gulf.
Here is a list of 8 Houston hiking groups you should check out. Each group has different goals and vibes, so be sure to check out a few different ones. Use this list as a way to get started meeting local Houston hikers, but be sure to check out the many other hiking groups available for you in Houston.
- Houston Area Trails & More – 22,970+ members
- Houston Sierra Club Outings – 7,170+ members
- NEO Houston – Nature & Eclectic Outdoors – 6,200+ members
- Explorer Chicks of Houston – members
- Houston Outdoors – 1,810+ members
- Caving, Hiking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Camping and More – 1,320+ members
- Houston Urban Trekkers – 920+ members
- Outdoor Afro – Houston – 680+ members
Houston Area Trails & More
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Houston, TX
Link: https://www.meetup.com/hatsandmore/
Description: Houston Area Trails & More is for those that want to explore the Houston area on foot. They generally do 10-12 mile hikes and expect a reasonable fitness level. They hike and camp mostly around Texas with some occasional trips to National Parks. They have had over 1,000 events in the past with multiple events each week. This is one of the larges and most active hiking groups in Houston.
Houston Sierra Club Outings
Cost to Join: Free
Location:Houston, TX
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Houston-Sierra-Club-Outings/
Description: Houston Sierra Club Outings hosts outings for hiking, camping, biking, backpacking, kayaking and much more. They have events ranging from day trips, weekend trips, and even some week long trip. This group has had more than 760+ events in the past with multiple events each week that consist of educational workshops on the environment and building hiking skills.
NEO Houston – Nature & Eclectic Outdoors
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Houston, TX
Link: https://www.meetup.com/neohouston/
Description: NEO Houston – Nature & Eclectic Outdoors is for those that love camping, backpacking, kayaking, paddle boarding, nature walks, hiking, biking, fishing, and anything else outdoors. This group has hosted a staggering 1,400+ events in the past with multiple events each week.
Explorer Chicks of Houston
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Houston, TX
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Explorer-Chicks-of-Houston/
Description: Explorer Chicks of Houston is for all chicks that love the outdoors, adventure, and travel. This group has hosted 220+ events in the past and typically have one event each week. They have a wide range of activities from backpacking workshops, local surfing lessons, to international trips to Machu Picchu.
Houston Outdoors
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Houston, TX
Link: https://www.meetup.com/HoustonOutdoorsGroup/
Description: Houston Outdoors focuses on outdoor activities that promote exercise, finding new friends, and growing existing friendships. This group has hosted 640+ events in the past with one or two events each month.
Caving, Hiking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Camping and More
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Houston, TX
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Caving-Hiking-Kayaking-Mountain-Biking-Camping-and-More/
Description: Caving, Hiking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Camping and More is for those that like the outdoors and have an adventurous spirit. This group is for those that want to escape into the outdoors, learn new skills, observe the beauty of nature, exercise, and meet new people. They have hosted over 210+ events in the past with one event each week.
Houston Urban Trekkers
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Houston, TX
Link: https://www.meetup.com/HoustonUrban-Trekkers/
Description: Houston Urban Trekkers is for local Houston hikers with a reasonable fitness level. They hike at a pace of about 3 miles per hour with hikes ranging from four to seven miles. They have hosted 370+ hiking events in the past with multiple hikes organized each week.
Outdoor Afro – Houston
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Houston, TX
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Outdoor-Afro-Houston/
Description: Outdoor Afro – Houston is a community that reconnects African-Americans with natural spaces through camping, hiking, biking, birding, fishing, and much more. This group has had over 30 events in the past with one event each week.
Why should you join a Houston hiking group?
Habits
Hiking groups in Houston offer so many great benefits, but one of the best reasons to join is to help build your hiking habits. If your goal is to improve your hiking stamina or create a weekly hiking habit, then local hiking groups can definitely help you. If you check the group’s past events then you can determine how often the group is meeting up. There are some groups that have multiple events a week and there are other groups that only hike once a month, so find a group that matches the frequency you want to build a habit for.
Research
If you are new to hiking or want to take a break from researching local hiking trails, then another wonderful benefit of joining a Houston hiking group is that they do all of the research for hiking for you. Instead of you searching and finding out trail location, distance, elevation, and all those details, the hiking group organizers will have all of that ready, so all you need to do is show up. Sometimes it is nice to just go along for the ride and be able to hike and not focus on the trail logistics.
Routine
Last, but not least, the third benefit of joining a Houston hiking group is to either change it up and break your old hiking routines or establish new ones. If you want a change of pace and to hike new trails with new people then joining a group will help you with that. There are such a wide variety of hiking groups that hike completely different hikes that you will always have a new adventure. Instead of going to the same trails you’ve been on, you will now be able to explore new trails with new people!
3 things to consider when joining a Houston hiking group
Hiking Area
Before you join a Houston hiking group there are a few things you should consider. The first thing you should consider is what hiking area the group typically hikes in. There are some groups that focus on very local hikes, while there are others that focus on in-state hiking areas, and even some groups that focus on out-of-state or even out-of-country hikes. Be sure to look at the group’s past events to see what areas they typically hike in. If you are looking to branch out and explore hikes out of the city, then there will be plenty of options for you.
Meeting Location
The next most important thing to consider is where the group typically meets up. If you are trying to build a new hiking habit then you want to find a group that meets in a convenient location. You wouldn’t want to join a hiking group that meets on the opposite end of Highway 10 where you are driving right into traffic! Find a group that meets at a convenient location will help you build consistency with attending more hiking events.
Goals
Another key thing to consider before you jump into a hiking group is what are your hiking goals. Do you want to discover new trails, meet other hikers, expand your hiking or camping skills, or do you just want to join a casual hiking group? Each group will be unique and will help you focus on different hiking goals. There are groups that only do casual hikes to help people relax and enjoy nature, whereas there are groups that go on an intense 12-mile day hike, 4,000 feet elevation gain hikes to push their stamina and hiking strength. The variety in these groups will ensure you will be able to mix it up and meet your hiking goals as they expand and change.
Summary
Joining a Houston hiking group can help you build new hiking habits and help you with your hiking goals. Hiking near Houston takes hikers into lush green forests, up to the edges of beautiful lakes, on top of epic summits offering panoramic views, but these amazing sights are much better when shared with other local hikers in your hiking group!
This list of 8 Houston hiking groups only scratches the surface of the many fantastic hiking clubs, organizations, and groups available for you to explore. This is only the beginning of your journey of meeting other Houston hikers!