I receive a lot of questions from people who really want to get into hiking or backpacking but can’t find friends or people to hike with. Not everyone is comfortable adventuring alone, and that’s totally okay! plus hiking with people is a good way to get started. If you are looking for people to hike with, here are a few suggestions for you.

Facebook groups

This is the easiest place to find groups of people who share the same interest. All you have to do is search for groups in your state or city for hiking or backpacking. For example, if you live in Arizona, you could search for terms like “Arizona Hiking”, “Arizona hiking groups”, “hiking groups in Arizona”.

How to connect with people when you join a facebook group?

First of all, you want to read the group rules, what’s allowed and what’s not, in order to avoid offending others or even getting banned (Some groups are very serious about their rules). Start by writing a post to introduce yourself, the reason you joined the group and what you are looking for. It can be as simple as:

” Hi, My name is Habiba. I am new to Arizona and I would like to hike with people from the area. Anyone interested or have some suggestions?”

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Or something like:

” Hey guys, I am planning on heading to Mount xyz next Saturday and I wanted to check if anyone is interested in tagging along”

Some groups have planned events that you can join if you are interested. Stay engaged with people by liking and commenting their posts and I am sure you’ll find someone to hike with.

Meetup groups

Meetup is a mobile app and a website that is used worldwide to bring together people with different interests. Plenty of them are related to outdoor activities. I went on sone amazing adventures through meetup groups.

How does it work?

After you create an account, you start exploring groups in the area using a your Zipcode. Use a filter to show only groups for outdoor adventures if that’s what you are looking for.

Most of Meetup groups require you to RSVP with a possibility to bring a person or more. To be respectful, only RSVP when you are sure you are going and do communicate to the host and change your RSVP if you aren’t.

Most of these groups are free, but few of them require you to pay a symbolic fee to help with the group’s maintenance.

REI classes

I LOVE REI CLASSES (No, this is not a sponsored article) but yes I DO LOVE REI CLASSES.

If you didn’t know, REI provides free or paid classes about the outdoors for members and non members.

REI ( Recreational Equipment, Inc) is an American company that sells sports equipment. It is also the place where all my money goes…guilt free.

Anyway, besides selling camping gear, kayaks, bicycles… they do provide classes about outdoor safety, guided hikes, how to plan for a specific trip or even paddle boarding guided tours.

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So, you can look for one of their classes in your area and see if you can join their hikes or backpacking trips. You’ll learn, have a great time and make new friends that you can eventually hike with in the future.

Reddit communities

Reddit is a website where members submit content to the site such as links, text posts, and images and people are grouped around communities: communities for backpacking, travelling, playing chess…

You can use this platform to socialize and meet fellow hikers who are willing to adventure with you.

Make Friends while hiking

While hiking and especially if you are a friendly person you will make friends! especially on those not too touristy trails. I once met two ladies on a trail, we became Facebook friends and they even invited me to join them to hike Tour Du Mont Blanc in Europe.

What to expect when hiking with others?

It is a lot safer to hike wit ha group. However, it can also present its drawbacks, especially if you are with a group of people you don’t really know. People have different expectations while hiking. Some people want to get to the summit or the end as soon as possible, some people like to take their time, some people enjoy photography, some people enjoy videography. Some people are slow and others are fast.

It is important before going with a group to set expectations around your comfort level, your experience and fitness level. Be open, honest and communicate before your trip/hike.

NEVER rely on anyone when it comes to a map, a GPS, Water or Food. NEVER! You should always be sufficiently prepared and independent.

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How to choose a hiking trail?

Choosing the right hiking trail can be overwhelming, especially if you are new to hiking or if you have a lot of options to choose from. Usually, your physical ability and physical fitness is a number one factor to determine what trail is best for you.

I am new to hiking, what should I know as a first time hiker?

Hiking is a good hobby to pick, not only it is healthy for your heart but it has also proven to help people with their mental health and make them happier.

As a beginner, there are a lot of ethics or Dos and Don’ts that you might not be familiar with. Some rules are in place for you safety and some rules are there to keep nature wild and people around you safe.

In the video below, you will find 10 valuable tips for beginner day hikers.

Hiking gear for beginners

If you are new to hiking, make sure you check this guide for beginner hikers.

Acquiring gear as a new hiker can be overwhelming. The rule is, it takes time to know what you like, what you don’t and what gear works for you.

If you are looking for some suggestions, you can check our Hiking Gear list below.