The hiking trails in and around Raleigh teleport hikers to gorgeous lakes, alluring trails that cross flowing rivers, beautiful waterfalls, tranquil shaded forest trails, and to the top of peaks with remarkable views. Having such great hiking trails naturally generates a lot of local hiking interest. A few local hikers from the city have gone on to create Raleigh hiking clubs and organizations. These hiking groups help foster a stronger hiking community.
Here is a list of the top 8 Raleigh hiking groups you should check out. Each group will provide many fun and unique experiences from hiking and other outdoor activities. The goals and interests of each group will vary, but this means you have a great selection to explore.
- Triangle Hiking and Outdoors Group – 10,760+ members
- Life is a Hike! – 6,650+ members
- Triangle Hiking Club (Ages 21-33) – 4,350+ members
- Raleigh Recreational Hikers – 4,220+ members
- 50 and Higher Hikers – 2,670+ members
- I’d Rather Walk – 2,530+ members
- Raleigh Weekday Outdoor Activity Group – 2,040+ members
- Hiking Over the Hill – 1,500+ members
Triangle Hiking and Outdoors Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Adventures/
Description: Triangle Hiking and Outdoors Group is a group for those that love the outdoors. Their members’ majority age are between 20 to 50s. They do activities such as hiking, walking, day trips, camping, backpacking, paddling, and more. This group has hosted a staggering 4,080+ events in the past and typically has many events throughout each week.
Life is a Hike!
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Life-is-a-Hike/
Description: Life is a Hike! Is for those that enjoy hiking, the outdoors, socializing, cycling, kayaking, walking their dog, and other outdoor activities. Their events range from leisurely to more adventurous. They do short and long hikes, but most events are over 5 miles. They hike at a comfortable pace to enjoy the surroundings and conversations. This group has hosted over 670+ events in the past and typically has two events each week.
Triangle Hiking Club (Ages 21-33)
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Triangle-Hiking-Club-Ages-20-30/
Description: Triangle Hiking Club (Ages 21-33) is a group to meet other people while hiking. They welcome anyone ages 21 to 33. This group has hosted over 190+ events in the past and typically organizes two or three events each month.
Raleigh Recreational Hikers
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Link: https://www.meetup.com/raleighrecreationalhikers/
Description: Raleigh Recreational Hikers is for those that love spending time on the trail and get together to hike and do other outdoor activities. They primarily hike in the state and local parks of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Umstead State Park. They do activities such as hiking, camping, and backpacking. This group has hosted over 2,410+ events in the past and typically has two events each week.
50 and Higher Hikers
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Link: https://www.meetup.com/50-and-Higher-Hikers/
Description: 50 and Higher Hikers is for hikers that are 50 and older that still want to hike but aren’t really into fast pace or long hikes. If you are older and looking for a Raleigh Senior hiking group then this is your best bet. Their hikes range from 1 mile to 5 miles at a social pace. This group has hosted over 770+ events in the past and typically has multiple events throughout the week.
I’d Rather Walk
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Link: https://www.meetup.com/idratherwalk/
Description: I’d Rather Walk is for those who enjoy the outdoors and good company. They do some easy hikes and some hard hikes. This group has hosted over 200+ events in the past and generally has multiple events throughout the week.
Raleigh Weekday Outdoor Activity Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Link: https://www.meetup.com/adventurers-139/
Description: Raleigh Weekday Outdoor Activity Group is a group to enjoy outdoor activities with other outdoor enthusiasts. This group likes to hike, walk, bike, kayak, ski, sail, and many other outdoor activities. They like to schedule their events between 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. This group has hosted over 2,920+ events in the past and typically have many events throughout the week.
Hiking Over the Hill
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Hiking-Over-the-Hill/
Description: Hiking Over the Hill is a group for hikers over 50 who love hiking and the outdoors but prefer to hike at a more relaxed pace. Most of their hikes are within an hour of Raleigh and are between 3 to 6 miles long. This group has hosted over 300+ events in the past and generally has multiple events each week.
Why should you join a Raleigh hiking group?
Build Hiking Stamina
Joining a local hiking group will have many added benefits. The first benefit of joining a group is that you can improve or maintain your hiking stamina. With so many groups and events to choose from you can hike with others more often and work on your hiking stamina. You can attend events that are longer in distance or are more strenuous.
Build Hiking Habit
The second benefit of joining a Raleigh hiking group is that you can build a hiking habit. You can join multiple groups to have more options that fit with your schedule. There are groups that organize events on weekdays and there are also groups that organize events on the weekends. With such a wide variety of events and times to choose from this means you can hike more and more frequently.
New Challenges
Another great benefit of joining a local hiking group is that you will be able to encounter new and exciting challenges. If you are interested in hiking more strenuous hikes or expand into backpacking then joining a group is a great way to tackle those challenges. You will be able to face these challenges with the support and guidance of other hikers.
3 things to consider when joining a Raleigh hiking group
Experience Required
The idea of joining a local hiking group can be very enticing, however, there are three things you should consider before you attend your first event. The first thing you should look into is the level of experience that is expected before you join the event. There are groups that cater to beginners and groups that focus on hikers for more advanced hikers. Look at the group’s description and hiking event description to determine what they expect from their members.
Expected Fitness-level
Another key thing to research is the expected fitness level. If you are new to hiking or looking to get back into the swing of things then find a group that is for beginners or one that focus on slower more casual hikes. If you are looking to push your limits and work on fitness then find a group that hikes faster and focuses on hikes for advanced hikers. You can alternate between the two groups to train and then relax.
Types of Hikes
The third thing you should definitely look into is the types of hikes the group prefers. There are groups that organize more casual and relaxing hikes and there are groups that organize more challenging and strenuous hikes. There are also groups that do other outdoor activities such as backpacking, camping, and even paddling. Look at the group’s past events to see what types of hikes they prefer and other activities they do.
Summary
The beautiful hiking areas in and around Raleigh will take you to awe-inspiring lakes, breathtaking forest trails, wonderful river paths, and spectacular mountain views. While these hiking trails offer fantastic views, they are much better when shared with other local Raleigh hikers you will meet from these hiking groups.
The list above is only just the beginning when it comes to local hiking groups. As you go on more hikes and gain new experiences, your hiking interests will likely evolve. Use that as an opportunity to explore the other hiking clubs and organizations located in Raleigh. Enjoy all of your outdoor adventures with local Raleigh hiking clubs and organizations.
