The hiking areas of Milwaukee transport hikers through tranquil forests, to the shores of beautiful blue lakes, along the path to serene creeks, and to the top of grand peaks that offer sweeping views of the forest groves. The unique terrain and beautiful hiking trails attract many hikers in Milwaukee. Some of these hikers have formed Milwaukee hiking clubs and organizations to bring together a community of like-minded hikers.
Below is a list of the top 8 hiking groups from Milwaukee that you should definitely check out. Each of these groups will offer you a unique experience as these groups have their own goals, culture, and activities. These groups are a great way to meet other hikers from Milwaukee and share time on the trails together.
- NOW Outdoors Wilderness Adventure Group – 5,795+ members
- Southeast Wisconsin Hiking Group – 4,450+ members
- Southeast Wisconsin Outdoor Group – 2,080+ members
- Explorer Chicks of Milwaukee – 2,370+ members
- Milwaukee Area Hiking, Biking, Paddling, Plus – 1,420+ members
- Urban Wilderness Explorers – 1,110+ members
- Wisconsin Hiking & Backpacking – 130+ members
- Aldo Leopold Cafe and Hiking Group – 45+ members
NOW Outdoors Wilderness Adventure Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/NOW-Outdoors-Milwaukee/
Description: NOW Outdoors Wilderness Adventure Group is for those that want to spend more time in nature, learn new skills, amd meet great people. This group welcome all skill levels and host events ranging from day hiking, backpacking, wild edibles, cold weather adventure, and more. This group has organized over 310+ events in the past and typically has one event each month.
Southeast Wisconsin Hiking Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Waukesha, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Southeast-Wisconsin-Hiking-Group/
Description: Southeast Wisconsin Hiking Group is for those that enjoy hiking and new experiences. They like to schedule hikes on state properties around Southeast Wisconsin which include state parks, forests, and wildlife areas. They have hosted over 375+ events in the past and typically do monthly events.
Southeast Wisconsin Outdoor Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/southwisconsinoutdoorgroup/
Description: Southeast Wisconsin Outdoor Group was originally the Milwaukee Kayaking group, but they have expanded into hiking, snowshoeing, spooky trails, corn mazes, polar plunges, and more. This group has hosted over 190+ events in the past and typically hosts two events each month.
Explorer Chicks of Milwaukee
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Explorer-Chicks-of-Milwaukee/
Description: Explorer Chicks of Milwaukee is a group for chicks that dig the outdoor, adventurous life, and love to travel. They organize mostly out of state hiking trips and also even international hiking trips. This group has hosted more than 230+ events in the past and typically has one event organized for each week.
Milwaukee Area Hiking, Biking, Paddling, Plus
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/milwaukee-campers-backpackers-and-hikers/
Description: Milwaukee Area Hiking, Biking, Paddling, Plus is a group for outdoor enthusiasts who want to meet others, see new places, and learn and teach new skills. They do events such as hiking, paddling, and even weekend camping. They have hosted over 1,530+ events in the past and typically have multiple events each week.
Urban Wilderness Explorers
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Urban-Wilderness-Explorers/
Description: Urban Wilderness Explorers is for those who enjoy hiking and exploring the abundance of nearby nature in Southeast Wisconsin. They like to explore state, county, and local parks. This group has hosted over 20+ events in the past and typically organizes one event every few months.
Wisconsin Hiking & Backpacking
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Wisconsin-Hiking-Backpacking/
Description: Wisconsin Hiking & Backpacking is for hikers and backpackers of all skill levels. They welcome beginners, intermediate, and advanced hikers and focus on getting out on the trails and meeting other like-minded hikers. This group has organized over 25+ events in the past and typically has one event every month.
Aldo Leopold Cafe and Hiking Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Link: https://www.meetup.com/milwaukee-leopolds-preserve-meetup-group/
Description: Aldo Leopold Cafe and Hiking Group likes to split time between planned group hikes and discussion over coffee about land use and issues in the state. This group has hosted 5+ events in the past and typically has weekly events.
Why should you join an Milwaukee hiking group?
New Hiking Friends
Joining a Milwaukee hiking group will provide you with many benefits. The first benefit you will experience is being able to meet many other like-minded hikers. With so many groups to pick from you will meet other hikes from many different backgrounds and experience levels. This means you will likely meet hikers of similar experience and fitness and also more advanced hikers you can learn from.
Build a Habit
The next benefit of joining a local hiking group is that you can build a hiking habit. With so many groups that host events all throughout the week, you can easily join multiple groups to pick events that fit your schedule. You can also join groups that host hikes at the same time and same day each week. These small things can help you build a hiking habit and hike more consistently.
Trail Stamina
The third added benefit of joining a Milwaukee hiking group is the ability to build and improve your trail stamina. You can join hiking groups that focus on fitness and tackling more strenuous hikes. This will push your hiking ability while at the same time provide you with support from other group members. You can also join groups that focus on faster-paced hikes to work on your hiking pace so you can tackle longer hikes in a shorter time.
3 things to consider when joining an Milwaukee hiking group
Experience Required
Before you attend any local hiking events there are three things you should consider. The first thing you should consider is what the required experience level is for the group. There are groups that cater to beginner hikers and groups that are for more advanced hikers. Find a group that matches your current experience or is just a bit more experienced than you. This way you can keep up with the group at a more enjoyable pace.
Outdoor Activities
Another thing you should think about is what types of activities the group has. While most groups on this list mainly focus on hiking, there are some that also do other outdoor activities such as camping, backpacking, kayaking, and more. Joining groups that offer activities outside of hiking is a good way to be introduced to new activities with the help of others. Check out the group’s past events to see if they do a variety of outdoor activities.
Workshops
The third major thing you should look into is if the group offers formal workshops to learn more about hiking, camping, backpacking, or other outdoor activities. These workshops are a great way to learn new outdoor skills so that you can become a more prepared and safe hiker while out on your hiking adventures.
Summary
The unique hiking trails in and around Milwaukee will take you to awe-inspiring lakes, past raging rivers, to the delightful creeks, and to the top of giant mountain tops that have panoramic views of the valley. These trails are great experiences and offer fantastic views, but they are much better when shared with other local hikers you will meet from these hiking groups.
The list of the top 8 hiking groups in Milwaukee only scratches the surface. There are definitely more than 8 hiking groups you should check out as this list is only just a starting place. As you level up your hiking skills by attending local hiking events, your interests may change. There are other groups that will align with your new interests when you are ready. Enjoy all of your hiking trips with these local hiking Milwaukee clubs and organizations!