The hiking trails in and near Madison take hikers to beautiful riverbank views, tranquil marshes, relaxing shaded forests, splendid lake views, and to the top of towering mountains offering stunning views of the surrounding area. These beautiful sights and trails create a lot of interest in hiking from locals. A few of these hikers have formed Madison hiking clubs and organizations to help foster a strong local hiking community.
This is a list of the top 8 Madison hiking groups for you to check out. Each of these groups has unique leadership and goals. You will be able to meet a diverse group of hikers and explore new hiking trails together. Use this list as a starting point to check out a hiking group that matches your current goals and interests.
- Madison Hiking Enthusiasts – 3,090+ members
- NOW Outdoors Wilderness Adventure Group: Madison – 2,860+ members
- Madison LGBTQ+ Outdoor Group – 1,880+ members
- Madison Nature and Outdoors Activities – 1,690+ members
- MAOG – Madison Area Outdoor Group – 900+ members
- Outdoor Afro Milwaukee/Madison – 360+ members
- Madison Area LGBTQ+ Hiking & Adventure – 200+ members
- Midwest Outdoor Moms and Dads – 3+ members
Madison Hiking Enthusiasts
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Madison, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Madison-Hiking-Enthusiasts/
Description: Madison Hiking Enthusiasts is to meet new hiking friends, discover the best trails in Southern Wisconsin, and go on great walks. This group has hosted over 150+ events in the past and typically has multiple events each week.
NOW Outdoors Wilderness Adventure Group: Madison
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Madison, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/NOW-Outdoors-Madison/
Description: NOW Outdoors Wilderness Adventure Group: Madison is for those that want to spend more time in nature, learn new skills, and meet great people. They welcome all skill levels. They host events ranging from hiking, backpacking skills, wild edibles, cold weather adventure, and more. This group has hosted over 130+ events in the past and typically has one event each month.
Madison LGBTQ+ Outdoor Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Madison, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Madison-LGBT-Outdoor-Group/
Description: Madison LGBTQ+ Outdoor Group is a group for LGBTQ+ people, their friends, and allies to come together and enjoy the outdoors. They host events that include hiking, running, walking, biking, skiing, camping, backpacking, paddling, and much more. This group has hosted over 310+ events in the past and typically organizes two events each month.
Madison Nature and Outdoors Activities
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Madison, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Madison-Nature-and-Outdoors-Activities/
Description: Madison Nature and Outdoors Activities is a group for all manner of outdoor activities. They host events ranging from hiking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, beach parties, and much more. This group has hosted over 35+ events in the past and typically has one event every few months.
MAOG – Madison Area Outdoor Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Madison, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/madcityoutdoors/
Description: MAOG – Madison Area Outdoor Group is a group to meet other outdoor enthusiasts. They organize events near and fear with a focus on leaving no trace. They host events such as hiking, biking, paddling, camping, and more. This group has hosted over 2,100+ events in the past and typically has multiple events each week.
Outdoor Afro Milwaukee/Madison
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Madison, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Outdoor-Afro-Milwaukee-Madison/
Description: Outdoor Afro Milwaukee/Madison is a community that reconnects African-Americans with natural spaces and one another through outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, biking, birding, fishing, and much more. This group has hosted over 90+ events in the past and typically has one event every few months.
Madison Area LGBTQ+ Hiking & Adventure
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Madison, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/madisongayoutdoors/
Description: Madison Area LGBTQ+ Hiking & Adventure is a group that brings together outdoor enthusiast in the LGBTQ+ community for outdoor activities in the great outdoors. They offer events such as hiking, boating, biking, kayaking, and more. This group has hosted over 15+ events in the past and typically has two or three events each month.
Midwest Outdoor Moms and Dads
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Madison, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/midwest-moms-who-hike-and-backpack/
Description: Midwest Outdoor Moms and Dads is a newer group with the purpose to connect adventurous parents in the Midwest with each other to go hiking, various trips, and other outdoor activities. The events include events with kids and without kids. They welcome all moms and dads who love the outdoors. This group has hosted 2 events in the past.
Why should you join a Madison hiking group?
Work on Hiking Stamina
When looking for hiking groups, most hikers are looking to meet other like-minded hikers or go on more hikes, but there’s actually a few other benefits that Madison hiking groups will provide you. The first benefit is that you will be able to work on your hiking stamina. Whether you are new to hiking or are a more advanced hiker there is likely a group that will match your level of stamina. You can join groups that focus specifically on pacing and tackling longer hikes.
Discover New Trails
Another great benefit of joining a local hiking group is you will definitely discover new hiking trails. The group organizers will plan and find interesting hikes for you to join. You will be able to encounter local hidden gems that aren’t in any books or online. You can also join groups that hike trails throughout the state and even out of state. This will allow you to expand your hiking areas while having the support of the hiking group.
No Planning Needed
One of the best benefits of joining a hiking group is that there is no planning needed. If you are used to researching hikes by finding the trailhead, trail distance, elevation gain, and difficulty then you can finally take a break. The group organizers do all of that planning for you, so all you need to do is pick the hiking events that sound the most interesting to you and show up. This is a great way to relax and not think about the logistics of a hike!
3 things to consider when joining a Madison hiking group
Group Goals
It can be very exciting to join a local hiking group, but before you go to your first event there are 3 things you should look into. The first thing you should look into is what the group’s goals are for their members. The goals of each group will range from leisurely hikes to relax all the way to tackling the most strenuous hikes at a quick pace. You can look at the group’s description and the hiking event description to determine what the goals of the group and events are. This is important so you can find a group that aligns with your current goals.
Group Pacing
The next thing you should look into is what the pace preference is for the group. If you have ever hiked in a group and felt like you were going way too slow or you had to keep stopping then you know how important pacing is. You can find groups that hike at a slow casual pace and you can find groups that hike faster than 3 miles an hour. You can join each type of group to mix it up and enjoy some hikes and go hiking to work on your speed.
Frequency
The third and one of the most important things to consider is how frequently the group plans events. Since each group is run by different leadership the cadence of events varies greatly. There are some groups that have multiple events each week while others will only have one event every few months. You can look into the group’s past events and recent events to see how frequently they are hosting events.
Summary
As you hike in and around Madison you will be able to encounter views of lovely marshes, raging rivers, serene forest paths surrounded by lush green trees, and stunning views atop massive mountains. These views are even better when shared with local hikers from these hiking groups. The bonds and memories formed when experiencing all of these wonderful trails will create a lasting impact on you and your fellow hikers.
The list above is only just scratching the surface for Madison hiking groups. As you go on more hikes and gain more experience your interests will likely change. As time goes on you can start to explore the many other Madison hiking clubs and organizations that match your new interests. Enjoy all of your outdoor adventures with the Madison hiking groups!
