Hiking in and around Virginia Beach transports hikers to relaxing views by the creeks, to the shores of alluring lakes, through dramatic marshes, and along gorgeous beach views. This wide array of hiking trails attracts a lot of local hiking interest. Some of these hikers went on to create local Virginia Beach hiking clubs and organizations to help build a strong hiking community.
Here is a list of the top 8 hiking groups in Virginia Beach. These groups all have unique leadership and goals. You will be able to meet hikers from a variety of backgrounds and experience levels. The outdoor adventures you will go on will be filled with new trails and wonderful memories shared with other local hikers. Use this list as a starting point to explore the local hiking groups.
- GetHiking! Virginia Beach! (Virginia Beach, VA) – 5,250+ members
- East Coast Hikers – 1,530+ members
- Va Beach Hikers & Campers Age 20s & 30s – 600+ members
- MOA (More Outdoor Adventures) – 220+ members
- Hampton Roads Hikers – 180+ members
- Virginia Backpacking Premium – 100+ members
- Faith Hikers – Prov 3:5-6 – 95+ members
- Black Outdoorswomen of Hampton Roads – 5+ members
GetHiking! Virginia Beach! (Virginia Beach, VA)
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/GetHiking-Virginia-Beach-Virginia-Beach-VA/
Description: GetHiking! Virginia Beach! (Virginia Beach, VA) has the goal to help others explore on foot the abundance of wonderful natural places Virginia has to offer. They welcome all skill levels and teach beginners how to become an intrepid hiker capable of exploring wherever and whenever. This group has hosted over 85+ events in the past and typically has one event each month.
East Coast Hikers
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Norfolk, VA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/EastCoastHikers/
Description: East Coast Hikers is a place to meet other local hiking enthusiasts. This group is filled with beginners and experienced hikers. They have slower hikers and fast paced hikers. This group has organized over 1,500+ events in the past and typically has two events every month.
Va Beach Hikers & Campers Age 20s & 30s
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/va-beach-hikers-campers-age-20s-30s/
Description: Va Beach Hikers & Campers Age 20s & 30s is for those looking to meet and become friends with others in their 20’s and 30’s that are also interested in hiking and camping activities. They plan events such as hiking, campfire hangouts, campfire cooking, swimming in lakes, fishing, brewery and winery hangouts, and more. This group has hosted over 50+ events in the past and typically hosts two or three events each month.
MOA (More Outdoor Adventures)
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Hampton, VA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/more-outdoor-adventures/
Description: MOA (More Outdoor Adventures) is for those that love being active and want to meet others with the same mindset and a sense of adventure. The goal of this group is to get outside together, make some friends, and strive for more outdoors. This group has hosted 3+ events in the past and typically has one event each month.
Hampton Roads Hikers
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Norfolk, VA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Hampton-Roads-Hikers/
Description: Hampton Roads Hikers is all about finding some peace of mind through nature, exercise, and socializing. This group organizes hikes, walks, and cookouts. They have hosted over 1,400+ events in the past and typically organize multiple events each week.
Virginia Backpacking Premium
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Virginia-Backpacking-Premium/
Description: Virginia Backpacking Premium is for anyone interested in backpacking in the Virginia area and surrounding states. They welcome all skill levels. This group has hosted over 35+ events in the past and typically has one or two events each month.
Faith Hikers – Prov 3:5-6
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-vivvtljj/
Description: Faith Hikers – Prov 3:5-6 is a group for Christians who enjoy hiking, walking, beach cruising, and other outdoor activities. This group has hosted 2+ events in the past and typically does one event every few months.
Black Outdoorswomen of Hampton Roads
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Portsmouth, VA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/black-outdoorswomen-of-hampton-roads/
Description: Black Outdoorswomen of Hampton Roads is a group to encourage black women in Hampton Roads to enjoy the outdoors more. They organize hiking, camping, fishing, and other outdoor activities. This group has organized 7+ events in the past and do one event every other month.
Why should you join a Virginia Beach hiking group?
Learn New Skills
Joining a local hiking group will provide you with many benefits on top of being able to meet other like-minded hikers. The first benefit is you will be able to learn new outdoor skills from these groups. Some groups offer organized workshops to teach their members about hiking, nutrition, camping, backpacking, and more. This is a great way to gain exposure to new skills and get direct help from members. You can also share tips with other members and get a variety of different perspectives to find what works for you.
New Challenges
The next benefit you will get from a Virginia Beach hiking club is that you will be presented with many new exciting challenges. Whether it be building your hiking stamina, working on pacing, backpacking the first time, or tackling a tough mountain, you will be able to get support from a group and face those new challenges. This is a great way to build your skills and gain valuable experience with the support of the hiking group.
No Research Required
The third benefit and one of my favorite benefits are that no research is required for the hikes. The group organizers will be the ones to research the hike information from the trailhead, distance, elevation, and difficulty, and more. If you are used to doing all of the research, now you can finally take a break. The only thing you need to do is look at the hiking events and pick the ones that sound the most interesting and just show up!
3 things to consider when joining a Virginia Beach hiking group
Hiking Area
You might be very excited and want to join your first hiking group right now, but there are some things you should consider before you go. The first thing you should look into is the hiking areas that the group plans their hikes for. Some groups plan hikes locally and some groups only do hikes out-of-town. You can look at the group’s past events to see where they typically hike so you can pick a group
Required Experience
The next thing you want to look into is the expected experience level from the group. Some groups welcome all skill levels, some cater to beginners, and some focus on hikes for more advanced hikers. Find a group that matches your current skill level or is slightly above it so you can work on building new skills and experiences. if you have ever hiked with a group and felt like you were going too slow or you had to keep slowing down, you know how important it is to match the group’s experience.
Average Attendance
The third and one of the most important things to consider for some is the average attendance size of the events. While some groups may have a large membership number, the number can actually be deceiving. Some groups have been around for longer than a decade and have accumulated members over the years, however over time many members become inactive. You can look at the most recent events for the group to get a feel for how many people actually show up to the events.
Summary
The wonderful hiking trails in and near Virginia Beach will take you on adventures through the dramatic marshes, to gorgeous lake views, beneath the shaded forest groves, and along the lovely beach shores. These outdoor experiences are made even better when shared with the many local hikers you will meet from these hiking groups.
The list above is only eight of the many hiking groups located in Virginia Beach. As you go on more hikes and gain new experiences, your hiking interests will likely change. As time passes you can start to explore new hiking groups that align with your new interests. Enjoy all of your hiking trips with these local Virginia Beach hiking clubs and organizations!
