Trails in and around Oakland offer hikers a variety of beautiful views and outdoor experiences. These trails will take hikers to beautiful lake shores, deep beneath towering redwoods, raging waterfalls’ base, and even to the top of rugged peaks with magnificent views of the beautiful California Coast. These fantastic hiking areas attract many hikers from Oakland. Some of these hikers have formed Oakland hiking clubs and organizations to build a stronger hiking community.
Here is a list of the top 8 Oakland hiking groups you should definitely check out. Each of these groups will provide a unique perspective and experience. The goals and trails of each group will present you with great hiking experiences. Use this list as a starting point to check out local Oakland hiking clubs and organizations.
- San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club – 11,310+ members
- Bay Area Short Hikes | 5-8 Miles – 11,270+ members
- H.E.A.T. (Hiking Every Available Trail) – 8,990+ members
- Bay area go outside and take a hike. – 6,630+ members
- Rainbow Sierrans – A Queer Outdoor Group – 3,150+ members
- Family Wellness – A Bay Area Hiking & Wellness Community – 3,120+ members
- Let’s Hike – 2,210+ members
- Casual Hikers of the East Bay – 2,150+ members
San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Berkeley, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/sanfranciscobay/
Description: San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club offers hike and outdoor recreation for people of all ages.You an also join the Sierra Club while attending these events. This group does events for hiking, camping, backpacking, and has educational workshops. This group has organized more than 1,320+ events in the past and typically has one event each week.
Bay Area Short Hikes | 5-8 Miles
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Oakland, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Bay-Area-Workout-Walks/
Description: Bay Area Short Hikes | 5-8 Miles is a faster-paced walking and hiking for fitness group. They like to pick routes with stairs, hills, and sights to soak in. They like to hike urban areas in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and other nearby areas. This group has hosted over 240+ events in the past and typically has one or two events each month.
H.E.A.T. (Hiking Every Available Trail)
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Oakland, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/HEAT-Hiking-Every-Available-Trail/
Description: H.E.A.T. (Hiking Every Available Trail) is a social, recreational, and fitness group. They want to turn up your level of fitness through hiking every available trail in the bay. They welcome those of all fitness levels. This group has organized over 250+ events in the past and typically has weekly events.
Bay area go outside and take a hike.
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Oakland, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Bay-area-go-outside-and-take-a-hike/
Description: Bay area go outside and take a hike is for hikers who enjoy hiking more strenuous hikes. They expect you to be in good shape and be able to hike at a quick pace. This group has hosted over 125+ events in the past and typically has one event each month.
Rainbow Sierrans – A Queer Outdoor Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Berkeley, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/San-Francisco-Bay-Chapter-Gay-Lesbian-Sierrans/
Description: Rainbow Sierrans – A Queer Outdoor Group is your LGBTQ hiking group. They are part of the Sierra Club and like to have fun outdoors while promoting conversation and community. They organize events from easy urban strolls to vigorous peak hikes. They also do car camping and even wilderness backpacking. This group has hosted over 680+ events in the past and typically has two or three events each month.
Family Wellness – A Bay Area Hiking & Wellness Community
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Oakland, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/WAFW-A-Bay-Area-Hiking-Community-Wellness-Group/
Description: Family Wellness – A Bay Area Hiking & Wellness Community wants to bring together positive people to share, network, and achieve individual health and fitness goals through hiking the amazing parks and trails around the Bay Area. This group has organized over 180+ events in the past and typically has weekly events.
Let’s Hike
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Castro Valley, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/letshike/
Description: Let’s Hike is a group of casual and social recreational hikers that meet for weekend half day hikes. They enjoy hikes in the urban paths in San Francisco and other hiking areas. They have hosted over 675+ events in the past and typically have multiple events each week.
Casual Hikers of the East Bay
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Oakland, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/casual-hikers-of-the-sf-east-bay/
Description: Casual Hikers of the East Bay is a slower paced hiking group for people who want to get active, have fun, and meet like-minded people. This group has hosted over 60+ events in the past and typically has weekly events.
Why should you join a Oakland hiking group?
Build a Routine
There are a few good reasons to join an Oakland hiking group. The first reason you should join a local hiking group is that they can help you build and maintain a hiking routine. If you are looking to stay in hiking shape and exercise more then these groups can help you with that. You can join multiple groups that have events on the weekdays and some on the weekends. With more options, you have the flexibility to attend more events that fit your schedule. This flexibility will help you maintain your hiking routine.
Learn New Skills
Another good reason to join an Oakland hiking group is that you can learn new skills for hiking. There are groups that offer formal workshops to teach members about hiking gear, camping, nutrition, first-aid, and more. This is a great way to learn more to be a more knowledgeable hiker. You can also share tips with other hikers regarding their gear, what they eat, and more. Learning these new skills will make hiking more enjoyable and safer!
New Challenges
One of the best reasons to join a hiking group is that you can encounter new and exciting challenges. If you are looking to build on your hiking stamina, tackle more strenuous peaks, or go backpacking for the first time, you will be able to experience all of these things. The best thing is that you can learn from more experienced hikers and also learn with others that have similar experiences.
3 things to consider when joining an Oakland hiking group
Frequency
Prior to joining an Oakland hiking group there are three things you should think about. The first thing you should think about is how often the group meets up. The frequency is important so that you can stay in touch with the group more often and also help you build a routine. There are some groups that organize multiple events a week, some have one event a week, and some only meet once every few months. Look at the group’s past events to see how often they meet up.
Average Attendance
Another key consideration you should have is what the average attendance is per event. Although some groups have large membership numbers, they could have many inactive participants. Some of these groups have been around for decades and members have come and gone over the years. Look at the group’s past events to see the number of attendees, this is the best way to determine how many people actually go to the events.
Hiking Area
The third thing you should consider before joining a group is where they like to hike. There are groups that only do local urban hikes, some the established trails near the city, others more local state parks, and some even out of state. Depending on where you want to hike, look at the group’s past events to see where they like to hike. As your interests evolve you can expand the hiking areas you hike in by trying out different groups.
Summary
Oakland hiking offers gorgeous and magnificent views that take hikers to beautiful waterfalls, tranquil redwood forests, around massive lakes, along the golden coast, and even to rocky summits of massive mountains. While these trails offer great hiking experiences, these trails are elevated even higher when shared with local hikers you will meet at these hiking group events.
The list above is only 8 of the many wonderful hiking groups available for you in Oakland. This is only the beginning. As you hike more trails and gain more experience, your hiking interests and goals will likely evolve as time passes. There are other groups that have goals that will align with yours and they will be ready for you when the time is right. Enjoy your hikes with the Oakland hiking groups and have a wonderful time out on the trails!
