The hiking trails of Sacramento transport hikers along gorgeous riverbeds, deep into towering shaded forests, through rugged and epic valleys, and to the top of sweeping panoramic views on mountain tops. Having such an abundance of beautiful hiking trails and hiking areas, also means there is a large hiking interest in the city. There are local hikers who have created Sacramento hiking clubs and hiking organizations for you to check out.
Here is a list of the top 8 Sacramento hiking groups you should start exploring. Each one of these groups will have its own unique focus and energy. Some groups will focus on more challenging hikes, while others will focus on hikes for beginners. Use this list as a starting point to meet local Sacramento hiking groups.
- Trail Mix Hikes Sacramento – 19,540+ members
- The Sacramento Hiking Meetup Group – 3,265+ members
- Northern CA Geology & Natural Science Hiking & Camping Group – 3,670+ members
- Sacramento Turtle Trekkers Hiking Group – 3,520+ members
- Sacramento Hikers with Kids – 1,970+ members
- Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Sierrans – 1,445+ members
- GOLDEN SOLES – an Over-50 Hiking & Walking Group – 600+ members
- Dog Lovers and Hiking Hounds of Sacramento – 210+ members
Trail Mix Hikes Sacramento
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Sacramento, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Sacramento-Hiking/
Description: Trail Mix Hikes Sacramento is to help you enjoy the sport of social hiking. They want to help you hike and explore the Sacramento region and explore state and national parks throughout Northern California. This group has hosted over 2,500+ events in the past and they typically have one event each week.
The Sacramento Hiking Meetup Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Sacramento, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/sachikinggroup/
Description: The Sacramento Hiking Meetup Group is for those interested hiking the local areas, desolation wilderness in the Sierras, coastal, urban, and midtown hikes. They have hosted over 2,050 hiking events and organize one event each week.
Northern CA Geology & Natural Science Hiking & Camping Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Davis, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/SF-Bay-Area-Geology-Hiking/
Description: Northern CA Geology & Natural Science Hiking & Camping Group is a group that goes on multi-day hiking trips. These are mainly out of town trips where they generally stay in hotels or other forms of lodging. Occasionally they will do camping trips. They have hosted over 190+ events in the past and typically have one event each month.
Sacramento Turtle Trekkers Hiking Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Citrus Heights, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Sacramento-Turtle-Trekkers-Hiking-Group/
Description: Sacramento Turtle Trekkers Hiking Group is for anyone interested in hiking and bagging peaks, but at a slower pace. This group is for those that feel like they are “holding up the group” when hiking with others. This group has organized over 500+ events in the past with multiple events each week.
Sacramento Hikers with Kids
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Sacramento, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Sac-Hikers-With-Kids/
Description: Sacramento Hikers with Kids is to get together with other hikers with kids. They typically hike between 2 and 5 miles and will generally have picnics and rest points. They also do non-hiking events such as picnics, roller skating, swimming, and more. This group has organized over 760+ events in the past with weekly events.
Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Sierrans
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Sacramento, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Sacramento-Gay-Lesbian-Sierrans/
Description: Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Sierrans is a friendly, relaxed group of lesbians and gay men who enjoy the outdoors and camraderie. They host events for hiking, biking, camping, and other social activities. This group has organized over 160+ events in the past and typically have one or two events each month.
GOLDEN SOLES – an Over-50 Hiking & Walking Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Sacramento, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Citrus-Heights-Golden-Soles/
Description: GOLDEN SOLES – an Over-50 Hiking & Walking Group is a 50 and over hiking group where they hike on weekdays. They are not a speed hiking group and will stick together as a group throughout the entire hike. They do a mix of brisk walks on more paved trails and also do trail hikes with more rugged terrain. This group has hosted over 290+ events in the past and generally hosts multiple events each week.
Dog Lovers and Hiking Hounds of Sacramento
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Sacramento, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Dog-Lovers-and-Hiking-Hounds-of-Sacramento/
Description: Dog Lovers and Hiking Hounds of Sacramento is for dog owners who want to get outdoors. Most of the events involve off leash time with your dog. They like to do hikes of various distances and difficulty. This group has hosted over 620+ events in the past and typically has one event each week.
Why should you join a Sacramento hiking group?
Hiking Education
Joining a Sacramento hiking group will provide you with many great benefits. The first benefit you will get is the ability to learn through organized workshops. There are some groups that will have formal workshops that will teach you about hiking gear, camping, backpacking, and more. This is a great way to expand your hiking skills. You can also directly learn from more experienced hikers and share tips on your gear and your hikes.
New Challenges
Another added benefit of joining a local hiking group is you will be able to encounter new hiking challenges. You can join a group that focuses on long hikes or more strenuous hikes that will push your limits. Attending these events will help you push your hiking pace, improve your stamina, and experience more challenging hikes. Attending
No Research Required
One of the best benefits of joining a Sacramento hiking group is that there’s no research required for hikes. If you want a break from researching trails, trailheads, mileage, elevation gain, and all that fun stuff, then joining a group will be good for you. Hiking groups will organize, plan, and research hikes for you. All you need to do is show up! Now you can pick your hiking event based on what trail sounds the most interesting and not have to deal with the logistics research.
3 things to consider when joining a Sacramento hiking group
Hiking Location
Before you attend a hiking group event, there are a number of things you should consider. The first thing you should consider is where the group typically prefers to hike. There are some groups that only hike urban and very local hikes, while there are other groups that expand outside of Sacramento. Some groups hike in local state parks and others will go to National Parks. Pick a group that fits your preferred hiking area.
Frequency
Another key thing to consider before joining a group is how frequently the group meets up. The meeting cadence of groups will vary. Some will host multiple events a week, some just weekly, and some groups will only meet once every few months. If you are looking to build a hiking habit and stay in hiking shape then look into the group’s past events to see how often they host events. This is a great way to fit multiple groups into your schedule because if one group is taking the week off, then you can go to another group’s event.
Group Goals
One of the most important things to consider is what the group’s goals are for their members. Each group will have its own unique goals and vision for the hiking group. Some will have a goal of relaxing and casual hikes, some groups will prefer more challenging and strenuous hikes, and others will be somewhere in between. Find a group that aligns with your current hiking goals so that you can get the most out of the events that you attend.
Summary
Trails in and near Sacramento will take you to serene flowing river fronts, through the shaded forest groves, on rugged mountain terrain, and to the top of the spectacular mountain views. While these hiking trails offer beautiful views and wonderful experiences, they are elevated if shared with other local hikers you meet at these local hiking events.
This list is only the beginning of your journey of exploring hiking groups in Sacramento. Over time as you gain more experience out on the trails, your hiking goals and interests will likely change. As your goals and interests evolve, you can start to try out other hiking groups and hiking organizations that align with your new goals and interests. Enjoy all of your hikes and adventures with these local hiking groups!
