Hiking trails in and outside of Washington DC have hikers encounter breathtaking views of the historical monuments, alluring paths along the gorgeous rivers, serene views near the shores of beautiful creeks, tranquil shaded forest groves, and wonderful sights of the sweeping views from the tallest nearby peaks. Since there is so much to hike and explore near Washington DC, there are naturally many other hikers in the city. Some hikers have gone on to create hiking clubs, hiking organizations, and hiking groups near you.
Here is a list of 8 of the many hiking groups located near you. Each of these groups will provide you with unique hiking experiences. They all have their own goals, energy, and culture as organizations and are all worth checking out. Use this list as a starting point to explore and try out local hiking groups.
- Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group – 24,675+ members
- Alexandria Walking & Hiking Group – 12,720+ members
- Capital Hiking Club – 10,570+ members
- Center Hiking Club – 7,970+ members
- US Hiking & Backpacking Club – 4,540+ members
- Washington Area Discovery Hikes – 2,930+ members
- Northern Virginia Hiking Club (NVHC) – 1,630+ members
- NOVA Trail Dogs Hiking Club – 1,600+ members
Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Washington, D.C.
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Mid-Atlantic-Hiking-Group/
Description: Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group was created to help reconnect people with the natural world. They host events for hiking, educational workshops, paddling trips, and more. This group has hosted over 6,790+ events in the past and typically have multiple events throughout the week.
Alexandria Walking & Hiking Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Washington, D.C.
Link: https://www.meetup.com/alexandria-walking-group/
Description: Alexandria Walking & Hiking Group is an adults-only group that likes to hike in VA, DC, and MD. They have hosted over 1,080+ events in the past and generally have one event each week.
Capital Hiking Club
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Washington, D.C.
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Capital-Hiking-Club/
Description: Capital Hiking Club has a bus that will take you on day-hike adventures at the regions many great outdoor destinations. Their hikes for hikers of all skill levels with a mix of easy and long hikes.They have hosted over 570+ events in the past and typically have two or three events each month.
Center Hiking Club
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Arlington, VA
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Center-Hiking-Club/
Description: Center Hiking Club is for those that enjoy the great outdoors. Their events range from urban walks, country rambles, to mountain hikes. They hike on Saturdays, Sundays and occasionally on Tuesdays.They have hosted over 1,000 events and generally have weekly hiking events.
US Hiking & Backpacking Club
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Washington, D.C.
Link: https://www.meetup.com/us-hbc/
Description: US Hiking & Backpacking Club is a volunteer lead organization that seeks to teach what we learn and share what we know. They do a mix of hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, paddling, camping, and more. The have hosted over 970+ events in the past and will typically have one event each week.
Washington Area Discovery Hikes
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Washington, D.C.
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Washarea-Discovery-Hikes/
Description: Washington Area Discovery Hikes is a touring and hiking club that focuses on hikes and walks around the historical, cultural, and scenic areas. This group has hosted over 270+ events in the past and generally hosts two or three events each month.
Northern Virginia Hiking Club (NVHC)
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Mc Lean, VA.
Link: https://www.meetup.com/NVHC-Hiking/
Description: Northern Virginia Hiking Club (NVHC) offers a range of hiking of various difficulty in Virginia, Maryland, and the D.C. areas. This group has hosted over 2,340+ events in the past and will organize multiple events every week.
NOVA Trail Dogs Hiking Club
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Washington, D.C.
Link: https://www.meetup.com/activedogs-237/
Description: NOVA Trail Dogs Hiking Club promotes safe, responsible caning hiking in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C area. This group is for anyone who enjoys hiking with docs. They like to hike trails in VA< MD, WV, and DC. This group has hosted over 310+ events in the past with one event every few months.
Why should you join a Washington DC hiking group?
Discover New Hiking Areas
Joining a Washington D.C. hiking group will provide many great benefits. The first benefit for you will be discovering new hiking areas. There are so many trails and hiking areas in and outside of the city that it is easy to miss or skip certain areas. By attending many hiking events you will likely hike completely new trails and explore new hiking areas. There will be local hidden gem trails that aren’t documented online or places that aren’t well known that you will be able to encounter with these new hiking groups.
Build a Hiking Routine
Another great benefit of joining a Washington D.C. hiking group is that they will help you build and establish a hiking routine. If you are used to more seasonal hiking then local groups can help you hike more throughout the year. There are groups that organize hikes at the same time each week. This can help you maintain your hiking legs and keep your hiking stamina throughout the year. By attending more events you can establish your hiking routine year-round.
Expand Outdoor Activities
Joining a local hiking group will provide you with one unexpected benefit, which is the ability to try out other outdoor activities. Although the groups on this list are hiking-focused, many of them will organize events for other outdoor activities such as camping, backpacking, kayaking, climbing, and more. This is a great way to be introduced to new and exciting outdoor activities to help mix it up from hiking.
3 things to consider when joining a Washington DC hiking group
Meeting Locations
Prior to joining a Washington DC hiking group, there are a number of things you should think about. The first thing you should think about is where the meeting locations typically take place for the groups you are considering. You don’t want to join a group that meets up on the opposite side of Highway 495. Look at the group’s past events to determine where they typically meet up so that you can find a group that meets at a convenient location for you.
Meeting Days
Another key thing you should consider is what days the group typically hosts its hiking events. There are some groups that only meet on weekdays and there are groups that only meet on weekends. You can research the group’s past events and see the days they prefer to meet on. With this consideration you can join multiple groups that meet on different days to help increase the flexibility in your choices to find what fits best for your schedule!
Average Attendance
The last, but not least important thing you should consider is what the average attendance is for the group’s events. While some groups may have a large number of members, their attendance could be very low or they might have a small yet dedicated number of members and their attendance could be high. If you are looking for a smaller more intimate vibe when hiking, find groups with smaller attendance numbers per event. You can see the group’s number of attendees per past events and even see who has RSVP’d for future events to see how large a group’s events are.
Summary
The many hiking trails in Washington DC will take you right up to remarkable views of national monuments, spectacular paths along calming rivers, under the cover of towering forest trees, and to awe-inspiring views of the city below.. These awesome hiking trails and wonderful sights are fantastic to experience, but they are even better when shared with the new hikers you will meet at local hiking events.
The list above only just scratches the surface when it comes to hiking clubs, hiking organizations, and hiking groups that are available to you in Washington DC. As you go on more hikes and gain more experience, your goals and interests will likely evolve over time. As your goals and interests change, you can start trying out new groups that align with you. Enjoy your time out on the trails with these great Washington DC hiking groups.