Hiking & Backpacking: guides, shops and venues

Guide services, gear shops and venues in every region, A to Z. Listed from their public websites; they don't pay to be here and are never mixed into the communities.

All regions · just Western Carolinas · all of the Southeast

A Walk in the Woodsguide service · Day hikes · Gatlinburg, TN
Gatlinburg naturalist guide service leading half- and full-day hikes and backpacking trips in the Smokies since 1998.
All Ways Adventureguide service · Day hikes · Kanab, UT
Kanab and East Zion guide service for canyoneering, rappelling, hiking and family adventures.
AMC Cardigan Lodgevenue · Day hikes · Alexandria, NH
AMC backcountry lodge at the foot of Mount Cardigan with hiking, workshops and trail volunteer programs.
AMC Highland Centervenue · Day hikes · Bretton Woods, NH
Appalachian Mountain Club lodge and program center in Crawford Notch with guided hikes, workshops and family programs.
American Alpine Institute (Red Rock)guide service · Day hikes · Las Vegas, NV · not in an area yet
Guide service running group hikes and climbing programs at Red Rock Canyon.
Amicalola Falls State Parkvenue · Waterfalls · Dahlonega, GA
State park west of Dahlonega with Georgia's tallest waterfall, the AT approach trail and ranger programs.
Anne Springs Close Greenwayvenue · Day hikes · Rock Hill, SC
2,100-acre nature preserve near Rock Hill with trails, paddling rentals and nature programs.
Aspen Expeditionsguide service · Peak bagging · Aspen, CO · not in an area yet
Aspen mountain guide service for climbing, fourteeners, backcountry skiing and avalanche courses.
Babcock State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Clifftop, WV
State park known for the Glade Creek Grist Mill, with hiking and mountain bike trails, cabins and camping near Fayetteville.
Bernheim Forest and Arboretumvenue · Day hikes · Clermont, KY
Research forest and arboretum south of Louisville with trails and guided nature programs.
Big Sky Community Organization (BSCO)venue · Day hikes · Big Sky, MT
Big Sky nonprofit running local parks and trails, free Hike Big Sky group hikes, outdoor programs and events.
Blackwater Falls State Parkvenue · Waterfalls · Davis, WV
State park outside Davis around Blackwater Falls and canyon, with trails, sledding and park naturalist programs.
Blue Ridge Hiking Co.guide service · Day hikes · Hot Springs, NC
Guide service running guided day hikes and backpacking trips, with a bunkhouse in Hot Springs.
Bluestone State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Hinton, WV
State park five miles south of Hinton on Bluestone Lake with naturalist-led hikes and summer programs.
Boulder County Parks and Open Spacevenue · Day hikes · Boulder County, CO
Naturalist-led hikes, wildlife programs and volunteer days on Boulder County open space.
Brown County State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Nashville, IN · not in an area yet
Indiana's largest state park beside Nashville, with naturalist-led hikes, nature center programs and mountain bike trails.
Carolina Beach State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Wilmington, NC
State park near Wilmington with trails, a marina and ranger-led nature programs.
Carolina Bound Adventuresguide service · Waterfalls · Bryson City, NC
Bryson City company offering guided waterfall hikes, beginner mountain bike rides and kayak tours.
Catoctin Mountain Parkvenue · Day hikes · Frederick, MD
National park north of Frederick with hiking, climbing at Wolf Rock area and ranger programs.
Cedars of Lebanon State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Murfreesboro, TN
State park near Lebanon, northeast of Murfreesboro, with cedar glade trails and ranger programs.
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Chimney Rock
Park around Chimney Rock and Hickory Nut Falls with trails, naturalist-led hikes and seasonal programs.
Cincinnati Nature Centervenue · Day hikes · Cincinnati, OH · not in an area yet
Nature center with miles of hiking trails, guided hikes, birding and family nature programs east of Cincinnati.
City of Duluth Parks and Recreationvenue · Day hikes · Duluth, MN
City parks department running guided hikes, snowshoe outings, ski excursions and the Women Hike Duluth series.
Clemson University Forestvenue · Day hikes · Clemson, SC
17,500-acre university forest next to Clemson with public hiking, mountain biking and trail running trails such as Issaqueena Lake and Wildcat Creek Falls.
Conejo Recreation and Park Districtvenue · Day hikes · Thousand Oaks, CA
Park district running recreation programs, guided hikes and community events in Thousand Oaks.
Crowders Mountain State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Gastonia, NC
State park outside Gastonia with 20-plus miles of trails, climbing and ranger programs.
Cumberland Falls State Resort Parkvenue · Day hikes · Corbin, KY
State park near Corbin with naturalist-led hikes on botany, reptiles, insects and fungi.
Custer State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Custer, SD · not in an area yet
Large state park beside Custer with hiking, climbing, paddling, wildlife and naturalist programs.
Cuyahoga Valley National Parkvenue · Day hikes · Peninsula, OH
National park around Peninsula with ranger-led hikes, Towpath Trail rides, waterfalls and seasonal programs.
DeSoto State Parkvenue · Waterfalls · Fort Payne, AL
Lookout Mountain state park near Mentone with waterfalls, trails, climbing and naturalist programs.
Dunbar Cave State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Clarksville, TN
State park in Clarksville with wooded trails, cave tours and ranger programs.
Elfin Forest Recreational Reservevenue · Day hikes · Escondido, CA
Reserve offering docent-led interpretive walks, guided hikes and a junior ranger program.
Exum Mountain Guidesguide service · Peak bagging · Grand Teton National Park, Moose, WY 83012
Guide & Education: Grand Teton Ascents, Backcountry Skiing.
First Landing State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Virginia Beach, VA
State park with cypress swamp trails, bay beach, camping and ranger programs.
Fontana Village Resortvenue · Day hikes · Robbinsville, NC
Resort and marina on Fontana Lake offering on-site and off-site guided hikes and bike and kayak rentals.
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Lanesboro, MN
State park southwest of Lanesboro with trout streams, hiking trails and guided Mystery Cave tours.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Areavenue · Day hikes · Page, AZ
National recreation area at Page with ranger-led walks, talks and special events.
Grandfather Mountainvenue · Day hikes · Linville
Nonprofit nature park near Linville with the Mile High Swinging Bridge, trails, wildlife habitats and naturalist programs.
Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundationvenue · Day hikes · Blowing Rock, NC
Nature park near Blowing Rock with daily naturalist programs, guided hikes and multi-day programs.
Great Basin Outdoor Schoolguide service · Day hikes · Reno
Reno nonprofit teaching outdoor science since 1998 through school field trips, day and overnight camps, SnowSchool and monthly family guided hikes.
Great Parks of Hamilton Countyvenue · Day hikes · Cincinnati, OH · not in an area yet
County park district with trails, paddling, nature centers and a public calendar of guided hikes and outdoor programs.
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremontvenue · Day hikes · Maryville, TN
Residential learning center in the Smokies near Townsend with public naturalist programs and adult and family camps.
Greenbrier State Forestvenue · Day hikes · Lewisburg, WV
State forest between Lewisburg and White Sulphur Springs with 13 miles of trails and weekly summer naturalist programs.
Greenville County Recreationvenue · Day hikes · Greenville County, SC
Greenville County parks events: festivals, park programs and outdoor activities.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Parkvenue · Day hikes · Harpers Ferry, WV
National park at the Potomac and Shenandoah confluence with hikes like Maryland Heights and ranger programs.
Henderson County Parks and Recreationvenue · Day hikes · Hendersonville, NC
County recreation department running free community hikes that meet in Hendersonville and carpool to trailheads.
Hike Expoevent company · Day hikes · Loveland, CO
National hiking expo tour with gear, guides and trails; free with preregistration, all ages.
Hikeish by Outlandishshop · Day hikes · Brooklyn, NY · not in an area yet
Black-founded Brooklyn outdoor shop's hiking club with monthly group hikes and shuttles from the city.
HikeTheSmokys.comguide service · Waterfalls · Gatlinburg, TN
Sevierville guide service leading waterfall day hikes and history walks in the Smokies.
Hobbs State Park-Conservation Areavenue · Day hikes · Bentonville, AR · not in an area yet
Arkansas's largest state park, east of Rogers, with trails and free interpreter-led hikes and nature programs.
Irvine Ranch Conservancy (Let's Go Outside)venue · Day hikes · Irvine, CA
Conservancy listing free guided hikes, rides and stewardship days on the Irvine Ranch open space.
Jackson County Parks and Recreationvenue · Day hikes · Sylva, NC
County recreation department that runs public programs including guided hikes such as Pinnacle Park outings.
Jefferson County Greenways (Red Mountain Park, Ruffner Mountain)venue · Day hikes · Birmingham, AL
Birmingham greenways group whose calendar has hikes, runs and workdays at Red Mountain and nature preserves.
Jewel Cave National Monumentvenue · Day hikes · Custer, SD · not in an area yet
National monument west of Custer with ranger-led cave tours and surface hiking trails.
Juneau Parks and Recreationvenue · Day hikes · Juneau, AK · not in an area yet
City and Borough of Juneau parks department with trails and recreation programs.
Just Get Outdoorsguide service · Day hikes · Maryville, TN
Naturalist guide service leading interpretive hikes and outings in the Smokies area.
Kanab Tour Companyguide service · Day hikes · Kanab, UT
Family-run Kanab outfitter leading guided hikes, including Coyote Buttes, plus 4WD and UTV tours.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Parkvenue · Day hikes · Marietta, GA
National park in Marietta with 22 miles of hiking trails and ranger programs.
Keowee-Toxaway State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Pickens, SC
Lake Keowee state park in Pickens County with lakeside hiking trails, paddling and interpretive programs.
Lake Mead National Recreation Areavenue · Day hikes · Boulder City, NV · not in an area yet
National recreation area near Las Vegas with ranger-led hikes and programs.
Leonard Harrison State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Wellsboro, PA
State park on the rim of the Pine Creek Gorge with overlook trails and ranger-led programs.
Long Hunter State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Nashville, TN
State park on Percy Priest Lake east of Nashville with trails, paddling and ranger programs.
Maine Huts & Trailsvenue · Day hikes · Kingfield, ME
Nonprofit running backcountry huts and trails near Kingfield and the Carrabassett Valley, with events and volunteer days.
Mammoth Lakes Trail Systemvenue · Day hikes · Mammoth Lakes, CA · not in an area yet
The town's trail system site, with maps and trail info for hiking, biking and nordic routes around Mammoth Lakes.
Matthiessen State Parkvenue · Waterfalls · Utica, IL
Canyon and waterfall state park just south of Starved Rock near Utica, with hiking trails.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Districtvenue · Day hikes · Los Altos, CA
Peninsula open space district offering docent-led hikes and volunteer trail and restoration projects.
Minnewaska State Park Preservevenue · Day hikes · New Paltz, NY · not in an area yet
State park preserve on the Shawangunk Ridge with lakes, waterfalls, carriage roads, cliffs and ski trails near New Paltz.
Mission Trails Regional Park Foundationvenue · Day hikes · Santee, CA
Foundation for Mission Trails Regional Park offering free guided nature walks and events.
Mohonk Preservevenue · Day hikes · New Paltz, NY · not in an area yet
Nature preserve on the Shawangunk Ridge with carriage roads, Gunks climbing cliffs and public guided hikes and nature programs.
Montana Alpine Guidesguide service · Peak bagging · Bozeman, MT
Bozeman guide service for rock, ice and alpine climbing, backcountry skiing and courses.
Monte Sano State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Huntsville, AL
Mountaintop state park in Huntsville with trails, mountain biking and programs.
Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authorityvenue · Day hikes · Los Angeles, CA
Public parks agency managing parkland in the Santa Monica Mountains and LA River with guided outdoor programs.
MT Sobekguide service · Backpacking · Nationwide trips (based in Emeryville, CA)
Guided small-group hiking, trekking and rafting trips since 1969, including national park and river trips across the United States.
Nags Head Woods Preservevenue · Day hikes · Nags Head, NC
Nature Conservancy maritime forest preserve with over 8 miles of trails and free guided hikes.
Natural Bridge State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Lexington, VA
State park south of Lexington with trails and ranger-led programs.
New River Gorge National Park and Preservevenue · Day hikes · Lansing, WV
National park along the New River gorge with whitewater, climbing, hiking and biking trails and the New River Gorge Bridge; ranger programs run in summer.
Noccalula Falls Parkvenue · Waterfalls · Gadsden, AL
Gadsden city park around a 90-foot waterfall with gorge trails, mountain bike routes and camping.
Norris Dam State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Clinton, TN
State park near Clinton with 21+ miles of trails and ranger-led hikes and nature programs.
North Carolina State Parks: Triangle and Piedmontvenue · Day hikes · Raleigh and the Piedmont
Ranger-led hikes, nature programs and volunteer days at North Carolina state parks around the Triangle and Piedmont.
North Carolina State Parks: Western NCvenue · Day hikes · Western North Carolina
Ranger-led hikes, nature programs and volunteer days at North Carolina state parks in the western mountains and foothills.
OC Parksvenue · Day hikes · Irvine, CA
Orange County park agency with ranger-led hikes, fitness hikes and nature programs at regional parks.
Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Areavenue · Day hikes · Hillsborough, NC
State natural area in Hillsborough, the highest point in Orange County, with trails and ranger programs.
Paria Outpost & Outfittersguide service · Day hikes · Kanab, UT
Guide and shuttle service for the Grand Staircase, Vermilion Cliffs, Coyote Buttes and White Pocket, east of Kanab.
Paris Mountain State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Greenville, SC
State park minutes from downtown Greenville with hiking and biking trails, a swimming lake and camping.
Pepperwood Preservevenue · Day hikes · Santa Rosa, CA
Nature preserve near Santa Rosa with guided hikes, classes and open days.
Pipestem Resort State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Hinton, WV
Large state park near Hinton with 20-plus trails and daily summer nature programs.
Placerita Canyon Nature Centervenue · Day hikes · Santa Clarita, CA
Nature center in Placerita Canyon with docent-led Saturday hikes and family nature programs.
Ponderosa State Parkvenue · Day hikes · McCall, ID
State park on a peninsula in Payette Lake with hiking, biking, Nordic trails and ranger-led programs.
Raven Run Nature Sanctuaryvenue · Day hikes · Lexington, KY
City nature sanctuary along the Kentucky River with trails and naturalist-led programs.
Red Cliffs Desert Reservevenue · Day hikes · St. George, UT
Protected desert reserve north of St. George with trails and public education programs.
Red Rock Canyon (Southern Nevada Conservancy)venue · Day hikes · Las Vegas, NV · not in an area yet
Red Rock Canyon NCA visitor site with guided hikes, strolls and nature programs.
Ridge to Riversvenue · Day hikes · Boise, ID
The Boise Foothills trail system partnership, with trail guides and volunteer opportunities on 190+ miles of trails.
River Rock Outfittershop · Day hikes · Fredericksburg, VA
Downtown Fredericksburg outdoor clothing and gear shop.
Rocky Gap State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Cumberland, MD
State park near Cumberland around Lake Habeeb with hiking, swimming, paddling and ranger programs.
San Diego County Parks and Recreationvenue · Day hikes · San Diego, CA
County park agency with ranger-led hikes, nature programs and events at parks and preserves countywide.
San Dieguito River Parkvenue · Day hikes · Poway, CA
Regional park along the Coast to Crest Trail with guided walks, volunteer days and events.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Areavenue · Day hikes · Thousand Oaks, CA
National Park Service area offering ranger-led hikes, nature walks and programs across the Santa Monica Mountains.
Shenandoah National Parkvenue · Day hikes · Luray, VA
National park along Skyline Drive with ranger-led walks, talks and night-sky programs.
Snow Canyon State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Ivins, UT
State park near St. George within Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, with trails and ranger-led programs.
South Mountain State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Boonsboro, MD
State park along South Mountain carrying about 40 miles of the Appalachian Trail through Maryland.
Starved Rock Lodge Guided Hikesvenue · Day hikes · Utica, IL
Historic lodge inside Starved Rock State Park that runs public guided hikes at Starved Rock and Matthiessen.
Starved Rock State Parkvenue · Waterfalls · Utica, IL
State park of sandstone canyons and seasonal waterfalls near Utica, with park events and interpretive programs.
Sunlight Sportsshop · Backpacking · Cody, WY
Cody outdoor gear shop for hiking, camping, skiing and climbing.
SWVA Outdoor Adventures (White Blaze Outdoors)guide service · Day hikes · Abingdon, VA
Abingdon guide service offering educational nature hikes, field trips, fly fishing and hike-bike shuttles.
Table Rock State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Pickens, SC
Mountain state park near Pickens with classic Upstate hikes, a Foothills Trail access point and ranger-led programs.
The Nature Foundation at Wintergreenvenue · Day hikes · Nellysford, VA
Nature center that leads guided hikes and naturalist programs on Wintergreen's trails.
The Parklands of Floyds Forkvenue · Day hikes · Louisville, KY
Large public park system with trails, paddling and naturalist-led programs on Louisville's east side.
Town of Mentone Outdoor Adventuresvenue · Waterfalls · Mentone, AL
Town page listing Mentone's outdoor options: falls, canoeing, climbing areas and parks.
Trail Mavensguide service · Backpacking · San Francisco, CAWomen
Women's outdoor trips and skills courses aimed at beginners, based in the Bay Area.
Tyler State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Tyler, TX · not in an area yet
State park with pine-forest trails and a lake, hosting night hikes, paddles and star parties.
Unicoi State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Helen, GA
State park next to Helen with trails, paddling on Unicoi Lake and ranger programs.
Utah State Parksvenue · Day hikes · Utah (statewide)
Ranger programs, bird walks, star parties and guided hikes at Utah state parks.
Walkabout Outfittershop · Day hikes · Harrisonburg, VA
Outdoor shop with Harrisonburg roots that posts events and group hikes on its site.
Watoga State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Marlinton, WV
Large state park near Marlinton with trails, a lake and naturalist programs.
West Virginia State Parksvenue · Day hikes · West Virginia (statewide)
Ranger-led hikes, nature programs and festivals at West Virginia state parks and forests.
White Mountain National Forestvenue · Day hikes · Campton, NH
National forest covering the White Mountains, with ranger programs, volunteer trail days and visitor centers.
Wind Cave National Parkvenue · Day hikes · Custer, SD · not in an area yet
National park south of Custer with prairie hiking, cave tours and ranger programs.
Zion Adventure Companyguide service · Day hikes · Springdale, UT
Springdale outfitter and guide service for Zion canyoneering, climbing and Narrows hikes.
Zion Guruguide service · Day hikes · Springdale, UT
Springdale outfitter offering guided canyoneering, hiking and paddleboard trips near Zion.