Hiking in and around Louisville teleports hikers to beautiful riverfront paths, gorgeous waterfalls, serene forest paths, and astonishing views of the surrounding area. The abundance of wonderful hiking trails attracts a lot of interest from local hikers. Some of these local hikers have gone on to create Louisville hiking clubs and organizations to build a strong local hiking community.
This is a list of the top 8 Louisville hiking groups that you should definitely check out. Each of these groups will have unique leadership and experiences. The members and trails you will come across will be unique and diverse. Checking out these groups is a great way to meet other like-minded hikers and explore the local trails with others.
- Louisville Hiking Club – 5,730+ members
- Louisville Hiking Meetup – 5,080+ members
- Explorer Chicks of Louisville – 2,120+ members
- Hike and Bike the Ville – 1,940+ members
- Outdoor Afro Louisville – 780+ members
- Outdoor Women of Louisville (OWL) Adventure Meet-up – 300+ members
- KISHAW (Kentucky & Indiana Hikers & Walkers) – 150+ members
- Louisville Dog Parks Meetup Group – 60+ members
Louisville Hiking Club
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Louisville, KY
Link: https://www.meetup.com/LouisvilleHikingClub/
Description: Louisville Hiking Club is a non profit organization that was created for people who enjoy being outside and socializing with like minded people. They do hikes every weekend and also do 3 weekend trips every year to various state parks.This group has hosted over 370+ events in the past and typically has one hiking event each week.
Louisville Hiking Meetup
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Louisville, KY
Link: https://www.meetup.com/louisvillehiking/
Description: Louisville Hiking Meetup has a goal to create a vibrant, fun, and friendly community for local hikers, backpackers, and campers. They welcome all skill levels from beginners to advanced hikers. They do hiking events, social events, gear events, and more. This group has hosted over 3,640+ events in the past and typically has multiple events each week.
Explorer Chicks of Louisville
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Louisville, KY
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Louisville-Rock-Climbing-Meetup/
Description: Explorer Chicks of Louisville is for chicks that dig the outdoor adventurous lifestyle and love to travel. This group organizes weekend trips at national parks, state parks, and even international trips to many outdoor locations. They also have online workshops to teach members about hiking, backpacking, travel, and more. They have hosted over 370+ events in the past and typically have multiple events each week.
Hike and Bike the Ville
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Louisville, KY
Link: https://www.meetup.com/hikeandbiketheville/
Description: Hike and Bike the Ville is for those interested in hiking, road biking, or mountain biking. They host events for all skill levels so you can learn the local trails in a safe environment. This group has organized over 275+ events in the past and typically have multiple events throughout the week.
Outdoor Afro Louisville
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Louisville, KY
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Outdoor-Afro-Louisville/
Description: Outdoor Afro Louisville is a community that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature through outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, biking, birding, fishing, and more. This group has hosted over 110+ events in the past and typically has two events every month.
Outdoor Women of Louisville (OWL) Adventure Meet-up
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Louisville, KY
Link: https://www.meetup.com/OutdoorWomenofLouisville/
Description: Outdoor Women of Louisville (OWL) Adventure Meet-up has the mission to join together positive and adventurous women who love the outdoors. This group organizes events such as hiking, paddling, running, biking, and more. This group has hosted over 1,040+ events in the past and typically has two or three events each month.
KISHAW (Kentucky & Indiana Hikers & Walkers)
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Louisville, KY
Link: https://www.meetup.com/KISHAW-Kentucky-Indiana-Singles-Hikers-Walkers/
Description: KISHAW (Kentucky & Indiana Hikers & Walkers) is a group for those that want to enjoy the outdoors mainly through hiking. They want to provide a fun way to unwind and experience nature, to provide a venue to meet quality people, and to promote a healthy respect for the environment and one another. This group has hosted over 420+ events in the past and typically has two or three events each month.
Louisville Dog Parks Meetup Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Louisville, KY
Link: https://www.meetup.com/louisville-dog-parks-meetup-group/
Description: Louisville Dog Parks Meetup Group is for hikers who want to take their dogs on walks and hikes. They like to take their dogs on hikes through Cherokee and Seneca Parks. The hikes range from moderate to difficult. This group has hosted over 8+ events in the past and typically organizes two events each month.
Why should you join a Louisville hiking group?
Build a Hiking Habit
While the main reason why most hikers join a local group is to meet other hikers, there are some other added benefits. The first benefit of joining a hiking group is you will be able to build a hiking habit with other hikers. You can join multiple groups and have many options to choose from for hiking. There are groups that host hikes on the weekdays and groups that do events on the weekends. This will help you meet others and establish a hiking habit.
Education
The second benefit of joining a Louisville hiking group is that there are groups that host workshops to teach members about hiking skills, camping, backpacking, first-aid and more. You can build your skills as a hiker and become prepared for any situation. This will help you feel more confident out on the trails and be ready for any challenge nature has for you.
Push Your Limits
Another great benefit of joining a local hiking group is you will be presented with many opportunities to push your hiking limits. You can join groups that focus on more strenuous hikes or groups that are focusing on hiking stamina. This is a great way to push your hiking limits since you will have the support and guidance of other local hikers.
3 things to consider when joining a Louisville hiking group
Experience Required
You may be excited to attend your first event this weekend, but there are three things you should consider before attending. The first thing you should look into is the required experience for the group. There are groups that welcome beginners and some that only want to hike with more advanced hikers. Find a group that matches your current skill level so that you can hike at your pace and enjoy your hike. Look into the group’s description and past events to see what they expect for your experience level.
Group Pacing
The next thing you should consider is the pace that the group prefers to hike at. If you have ever been on a hike where you are going too fast or you are always catching up then you know why you should look into this. There are groups that prefer to hike at more casual and leisurely paces and there are groups that want to hike at a fast pace. It is a good idea to check out both groups in order to mix up your hiking pace. That way you can relax on some hikes and on other hikes you can work on your hiking fitness.
Hiking Area
The third thing to keep in mind is what hiking area the group organizes hikes in. There is a wide range of locations from local urban hikes all the way to out-of-state hikes. Each group will typically have a specific focus. Research the group’s past hikes to determine what hiking area they frequent so you can see what you are comfortable with. Joining a group that does many out-of-town hikes is a great way to be exposed to new trails.
Summary
The trails near Louisville will take you along alluring rivers, stunning waterfalls, deep into the tranquil forests, and to the top of mountains offering majestic views of the surrounding areas. These great hiking trails and views are even better when shared with other local hikers from the Louisville hiking clubs and organizations.
The list above only represents eight of the many Louisville hiking groups available for you to check out. There are definitely other groups that are worth your time. As you hike more hikes and gain more experience then your interest will likely evolve. As your interests change you can start to check out other hiking groups that align with your new interests. Enjoy all of your hikes with the Louisville hiking clubs and organizations!
