Indianapolis is home to awe-inspiring views of beautiful river gorges, along the shores of tranquil lakes, beneath the shaded lush forests, and up to stunning sweeping views of the forest from above. With such a wide variety of hiking areas and hiking trails, this naturally means there is a large amount of hiking interest in the city. These hikers have organized and created many great hiking organizations for you to check out.
Here is a list of the top 8 hiking groups available for you to check out in Indianapolis. Each of these groups provides a unique perspective and experience for you to explore. The group’s goals and vibe will all be different. Use this list as a starting point to try out various groups and meet many of the other hikers from Indianapolis.
- DNK Presents Adventure Meetup – 4,090+ members
- Central Indiana Wilderness Club – CIWC – 2,740+ members
- Indy Hiker – 770+ members
- Outdoor Afro – Indianapolis – 410+ members
- Indianapolis Hiking Club – 310+ members
- Indianapolis Hiking Meetup Group – 220+ members
- The Indianapolis Hiking Meetup Group – 180+ members
- Indy Easy Nature Walks (Inclusive for People w/Disability) – 160+ members
DNK Presents Adventure Meetup
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Link: https://www.meetup.com/DNK-Presents-Adventure-Meetup/
Description: DNK Presents Adventure Meetup provides guided adventure trips which consist of day hiking, overnight, and week long excursions. These trips include hiking, canoeing, backpacking, mountain biking, caving, rock climbing, and many other outdoor activities. This group has organized over 200+ events in the past with two or three events each month.
Central Indiana Wilderness Club – CIWC
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Link: https://www.meetup.com/CIWCLUB-ORG/
Description: Central Indiana Wilderness Club – CIWC was founded in 1982 and run by volunteers. They provide affordable wilderness adventures. Their trips include hiking, backpacking, car camping, biking, canoeing, rafting, and much more. They have hosted over 380+ events in the past with one event every few months.
Indy Hiker
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Link: https://www.meetup.com/indy-hiker/
Description: Indy Hiker is for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and hikers of all skill levels. They have a variety of events for hikers of all abilities. This group has organized over 35+ events in the past with typically one event each week.
Outdoor Afro – Indianapolis
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Outdoor-Afro-Indianapolis/
Description: Outdoor Afro – Indianapolis is a community that reconnects African-Americans with natural spaces through activities such as hiking, camping, biking, birding, fishing, and more. They have organized over 25+ events in the past with weekly events.
Indianapolis Hiking Club
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Link: https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-indyhikingclub/
Description: Indianapolis Hiking Club is for those that like to hike, love nature, want to stay fit, and want lifelong friends.This group has been around for more than 60 years and schedules multiple hikes each week.
Indianapolis Hiking Meetup Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Link: https://www.meetup.com/indianapolis-hiking-meetup-group/
Description: Indianapolis Hiking Meetup Group is for nature lovers and those that enjoy hiking in nature. They enjoy nature’s beauty through walking in nature, identifying trees, plants, insects, and mushrooms along the way. They have hosted 2 events in the past with one event each month.
The Indianapolis Hiking Meetup Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Link: https://www.meetup.com/hiking-223/
Description: The Indianapolis Hiking Meetup Group aims to explore great hiking spots in Indiana and provide an opportunity to socialize with others who are passionate bout hiking. They do a mix of easy to strenuous hikes for all skill levels. They have hosted over 370+ events in the past with typically one event every few months.< /p>
Indy Easy Nature Walks (Inclusive for People w/Disability)
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Link: https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-sxkzjgon/
Description: Indy Easy Nature Walks (Inclusive for People w/Disability) is for anyone who likes the outdoors, but aren’t up for the lengthy strenuous hikes. This group is open to select locations that are accessible to all. This group has hosted over 10 events in the past with one event every few months.
Why should you join an Indianapolis hiking group?
Relaxation
Joining an Indianapolis hiking group has many fun and wonderful benefits. One of the best benefits of joining the group is relaxing and enjoying nature with others. You can join groups that are much more casual and slow-paced. Their goal is usually to take things slow and just soak in the sights and sounds of nature. Having these organized events consistently can help you relax during your hikes.
No Planning Needed
Another added benefit of joining a local hiking group is there is no planning needed on your end. You can just look at that week’s events and pick the ones that sound the most interesting to you and just show up. No need to look for trailhead, mileage, elevation gain, just go and take a hike with others from your area. This also helps with the relaxation benefit as there is no needed by you!
Push your Pace
If you want to mix it up and push yourself a bit, instead of relaxing you can do this by attending more challenging groups. There are groups that focus on hiking at a fast pace and tackling more strenuous hikes. You will definitely level up your hiking pace by hiking with others who prefer to hike at an uptempo pace. This will help you tackle long mileage trips in the future as you learn and grow with other fast-paced hikers.
3 things to consider when joining an Indianapolis hiking group
Hiking Area
Before you attend a hiking event there are a number of things you should consider. The first and probably the most important is what hiking area does the group generally hike in. There are groups that focus only on local urban hikes, there are groups that do state parks, and some that do out-of-state trips to national parks. Find a group that matches your current hiking area interests.
Types of Hikes (Easy vs Hard)
Another major consideration you should think about is what types of hikes the group prefers to do. If you are in the mood for a casual hike then find a group that organizes more chill and relaxing hikes. Sometimes you might want to challenge yourself and tackle more challenging and strenuous hikes. By joining multiple groups you can alternate between the two. This will help keep things interesting and you will meet a wide variety of other hikers.
Event Size
The third and another important factor to consider is the average event size is. If you are looking for a smaller and more intimate environment then check out smaller groups as they tend to have fewer attendees per event. Or if you prefer to hike in larger groups find events on the weekends hosted by the larger groups. You will be able to see the number of attendees per event before you attend.
Summary
Hiking in and near Indianapolis will bring hikers to remarkable views of the flowing rivers, alluring sights of beautiful lakes, and dramatic views of the surrounding forest areas. These great hiking trails and hiking areas offer fantastic sights, sounds, and views, but are elevated when shared with other hikers.
The list above is only just the beginning of your hiking journey. As you gain more experience and your interests evolve, you can check out other groups not listed here so that you can find a group that aligns with your new goals and interests. Enjoy all of your hikes with your newly found Jacksonville hiking groups!
