Hiking & Backpacking communities

A sample group for testing Branch Outdoors. Nothing here is a real event. Sam (slritter@gmail.com) is the page admin.

Asheville

Free Atlanta Meetup group for LGBTQ+ hikers with walks and hikes around the metro.

Atlanta, GA

Volunteer-led club with hikes, paddles, bike rides and camping trips around Atlanta and North Georgia.

Atlanta, GA

Land trust based in Blowing Rock that runs a public guided hiking series and outings on protected land in the High Country.

Blowing Rock, NC

Informal hiking club in the High Country around Boone and Blowing Rock.

Boone and Blowing Rock

Hiking and trail-maintenance club, founded in 1923, with club hikes across Western North Carolina.

Asheville

Volunteer chapter leading hikes, bike rides, paddles, camping trips and trail work around Central Florida.

Orlando, FL

FTA chapter in the Tallahassee area leading hikes and trail maintenance on the Florida Trail.

Tallahassee, FL

FTA chapter for Miami-Dade and Monroe that maintains the southern Florida Trail in Big Cypress and leads hikes.

Miami, FL

FTA chapter maintaining trails around Lake Okeechobee and Jonathan Dickinson; known for the Big O hike.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

FTA chapters for Alachua, Marion, Levy and Gilchrist counties: hikes, skills workshops and trail maintenance.

Gainesville, FL

FTA's largest chapter, covering Tampa Bay to Sarasota with hikes, paddles and trail maintenance.

Tampa, FL

Morganton land trust that leads guided hikes on its preserves and hosts community events.

Morganton, NC

Volunteers who maintain the 77-mile Foothills Trail on the North and South Carolina line, with trail work days and member outings.

Mountain Rest, SC

Park support nonprofit running guided hike series, including beginner-paced hikes, and volunteer days in the Smokies.

Gatlinburg, TN

Women's hiking group getting women of all ages and backgrounds out on Florida trails.

Orlando, FL

Huntsville land trust with free guided hikes and trail care days on its public preserves.

Huntsville, AL

Meetup hiking group near Charleston with late-morning start times.

Charleston, SC

Large Meetup group for hikers, backpackers and campers with regular local hikes and volunteer outings.

Louisville, KY

Damascus club that maintains 59 miles of the Appalachian Trail and leads public hikes and trail work trips.

Damascus, VA

Franklin club that maintains 58 miles of the Appalachian Trail and leads hikes most weekends.

Franklin, NC

Meetup group running regular group hikes at Radnor Lake and other Middle Tennessee parks.

Nashville, TN

Volunteer-led hiking club in Brevard, with weekly hikes in Pisgah and the nearby forests.

Brevard

Nonprofit maintaining the Sheltowee Trace, which passes near Corbin, and leading its annual Hiker Challenge section hikes.

Corbin, KY

Meetup group for shorter Saturday-morning hikes of half a mile to five miles; dogs welcome.

Charleston, SC

Park partner nonprofit offering guided hikes, night walks and nature events in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Gatlinburg, TN

Knoxville hiking club founded in 1924 that maintains the Appalachian Trail in the Smokies and leads Saturday and Sunday hikes; visitors are welcome on hikes.

Knoxville

Tri-Cities club running scheduled hikes, paddling trips and Appalachian Trail maintenance.

Johnson City, TN

Statewide hiking and trail-building group with frequent group hikes and trail work days.

Nashville, TN

Middle Tennessee chapter of Trail Dames, a hiking club for women of all sizes and abilities.

Nashville, TN

Meetup group for close-by hikes, bike rides, paddles and easy overnight campouts.

Orlando, FL

Free, volunteer-run Meetup group for adults 21 and over in central North Carolina: mostly hikes, plus camping, backpacking and paddling.

Raleigh

Atlanta Meetup hiking group centering Black hikers, with group hikes around the region.

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta nonprofit giving children and teens safe outdoor experiences like camping and hiking.

Atlanta, GA