While San Francisco is known as the tech capital of the world it is also home to many wonderful hiking trails. Hiking in and near San Francisco will take hikers to breathtaking views of the coast, into towering redwood forests, deep into majestic canyons, and to the top of mountains with sweeping views of the vistas. With so much to hike and explore in San Francisco, there is naturally a large interest in hiking. There are local hikers who have organized and created San Francisco hiking clubs and hiking organizations for you to check out.
Here is a list of the top 8 hiking groups in San Francisco that you should definitely check out. Each of these groups has its own unique perspective and goals. Use this list as a start to explore some of the many hiking groups available in this great city.
- Urban Hiking & Happy Hour (& random urban adventures) – 12,000+ members
- Super Fabulicious Hiking and Outdoor Adventure Group – 9,310+ members
- East Bay Travel Buddies, Adventures, Local Hikes, & Trips – 8,800+ members
- “California Camping & Hiking” Bay Area Back-Country Buddies – 7,620+ members
- US Hiking – Bay Area Chapter – 6,110+ members
- Urban & Bay Hikers (Hiking) – 5,140+ members
- SF Hills, Stairs & Trails Urban Hiking Club – 2,200+ members
- San Francisco Hiking Club LGBTQ + Friends – 1,270+ members
Urban Hiking & Happy Hour (& random urban adventures)
Cost to Join: Free
Location: San Francisco, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Urban-Hiking-Happy-Hour/
Description: Urban Hiking & Happy Hour is for those that want to do walks and urban hikes on weekend afternoons. Their events typically start at 12 or 1pm at the public transportation friendly starting point. This group has hosted over 480+ events in the past and typically has one or two events each week.
Super Fabulicious Hiking and Outdoor Adventure Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: San Francisco, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/SuperFab/
Description: Super Fabulicious Hiking and Outdoor Adventure Group is to meet others who enjoy outdoor activities. They host mostly out of town trips ranging from national parks to international trips. They have organized over 840+ events in the past and typically have one event each month.
East Bay Travel Buddies, Adventures, Local Hikes, & Trips
Cost to Join: Free
Location: San Francisco, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/east-bay-travel-hiking-club/
Description: East Bay Travel Buddies, Adventures, Local Hikes, & Trips is for those that want to go on local hikes, day trips, and international adventures. This group has hosted over 560+ events in the past and typically has one event each week.
“California Camping & Hiking” Bay Area Back-Country Buddies
Cost to Join: Free
Location: San Francisco, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/HikeSF/
Description: “California Camping & Hiking” Bay Area Back-Country Buddies is for beginner to expert hikers.This group focuses on camping and hiking, think of it as summer camp for adults. This group has hosted over 630+ events in the past and generally has one event each week.
US Hiking – Bay Area Chapter
Cost to Join: Free
Location: San Francisco, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/USHiking-BayArea/
Description: US Hiking – Bay Area Chapter organizes hikes to the most beautiful and iconic locations around the country. Their goal is to educate and train a new generation of hikers who are physically fit, mentally strong, and confident to take on life’s challenges. They have hosted over 320+ events in the past and typically have weekly events.
Urban & Bay Hikers (Hiking)
Cost to Join: Free
Location: San Francisco, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Urban-and-Bay-Hikers/
Description: Urban & Bay Hikers (Hiking) is for those that want to explore the wonders of the entire Bay Area through urban hiking and trail hiking. They tend to start their hikes at 10:00am to 11:30 am so you can get some errands done, have a cup of tea, or just sleep in.This group has hosted over 105+ events in the pat and typically has multiple events each week.
SF Hills, Stairs & Trails Urban Hiking Club
Cost to Join: Free
Location: San Francisco, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/SF-Hills-Stairs-Trails-Urban-Hiking-Club/
Description: SF Hills, Stairs & Trails Urban Hiking Club is for hikers who want to hike in the city and exploring the urban paths. This group has hosted over 300+ events in the past with one event every few months.
San Francisco Hiking Club LGBTQ + Friends
Cost to Join: Free
Location: San Francisco, CA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/San-Francisco-Hiking-Club-Meetup/
Description: San Francisco Hiking Club LGBTQ + Friends is a hiking club serving the LGBTQ community and its friends. This group has hosted over 65+ events in the past and typically has two or three events each month.
Why should you join a San Francisco hiking group?
Training
Attending local hiking events through a San Francisco hiking group has many great benefits. The first benefit of joining is you can work on training your stamina and pace for hiking. If you are trying to build your hiking stamina or working on becoming faster on your hikes, then attending hiking events is a great way to work on this. There are groups that focus specifically on pace and tackling longer hikes. Having others push your pace and keep you motivated while hiking will definitely help with your training.
Shared Views
Another great benefit of joining a local hiking group is that you will have shared experiences on the trail and be able to soak in the views with other like-minded hikers. You will be able to meet hikers from various backgrounds and experience levels. These shared experiences will increase your bond will your fellow hikers you meet at these events.
Relaxation
While joining local hiking groups can help with training, it can also help with relaxation. Since all of these events will be organized and researched for you, all you need to do is show up. You can join hiking events that are more casual and slow-paced to just enjoy the sights and sounds on the trail. There are even some hiking groups that do yoga and meditation to help you even more with relaxation.
3 things to consider when joining a San Francisco hiking group
Experience Needed
Before you attend your first hiking event there are some things you should consider before going. The first and very important thing to consider is the experience that is expected by the group. There are some groups that host hikes for intermediate to advanced hikers. They typically go on longer and more challenging hikes, so they don’t want hikers to join are not in shape or ready to hike as it could be a liability. On the flip side, there are groups that cater towards beginners where the pace is slower and the focus is on taking a more casual pace. Find a group that fits your current skill level so you don’t feel like you’re going too fast or too slow.
Group Goals
Another consideration you should have before joining a group is what the group’s goals are for its members. There are groups that just want to relax and have fun, there are other groups that are specifically training for an extremely challenging hike, or they are training for a long backpacking trip. Find a group that matches your current goals so you can hike and work on your hiking goals at the same time. Check out the group’s description and ask their organizer what the goals are and if they have changed over time.
Group Size
One more thing to consider is the size of the group. Although the number of members may be large for some groups, the number that is important is the actual attendance. There are many groups that have been around for more than two decades and many members have come and gone. You can look at a group’s past events to see how many people are actually attending their events. This can help you find a group that is either small and intimate or large and very social. Depending on what atmosphere you want, this should definitely be something you look into.
Summary
The trails in San Francisco will take you right up to the base of giant redwoods, along the beautiful coastal trails, through serene forest groves, and to panoramic views of towering mountains. These hiking trails offer such great views and wonderful experiences, however, these trails are enhanced if shared with other local hikers you meet in these groups.
This list of the top 8 hiking groups in San Francisco is only just the beginning. As you hike more hikes and gain more experience your goals and interest in hiking will likely change. In the future, you can check out new groups that align with your new hiking interest and goals. Have a wonderful time with the local San Francisco hiking clubs and hiking organizations!