Ever since my first backpacking trip in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I’ve loved hiking. But as a queer person, I haven’t always feel comfortable to be my full self on the trail. Aside from one unpleasant incident in Shenandoah National Park, other hikers haven’t said or done anything to make me feel like I’m unsafe. My worries stem from the lack of diversity in outdoor recreation, a handful of grisly stories about the murders of women and lesbian hikers, and the more widespread (and unfortunate) harassment women and nonbinary folks experience when we do venture outdoors.
The outdoor recreation industry is majority white, cisgender and male. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, over 70 percent of outdoor adventurers are white. While BIPOC participation in outdoor adventures is growing, the gains are small: 4 percent annually for Latine and 1 percent annually for Asian and Black people.
The gender gap is similarly entrenched. Men outnumber women in the outdoors by 8 percentage points. Nonbinary identities are not counted in the survey, nor is the LGBTQ+ community.
Our invisibility in a survey built around making the outdoors industry more diverse and inclusive tells us everything we need to know about our welcome.
While the broader outdoor industry still doesn’t see gay and lesbian hikers, there are many outdoor groups diversifying the image of who gets to have outdoor adventures.
These 11 hiking groups are not only LGBTQ+ inclusive, they are run by gay and lesbian hikers for other queer hikers, offering us a much-needed community aspect while also showing mainstream adventurers that we are here to stay.
Know of a group I missed? Please comment below, so I can keep this list as updated as possible!
1. Outwalking
- Location: White Plains, NY
- Hike frequency: Monthly
- Who can attend: LGBTQIA people
Affiliated with The LOFT: LGBTQ+ Community Services Center in White Plains, New York, Outwalking leads free monthly hikes for LGBTQ+ folks and allies, which are open to all over age 18.
The group visits spots like the Leon Levy Preserve, the Marshlands Conservancy, Teatown Lake Reservation and a holiday excursion to the Bronx Zoo for their famous lights display.
2. Hudson Valley Queer Rockhoppers
- Location: Hudson Valley, NY
- Hike frequency: Weekly
- Who can attend: LGBTQIA people
Founded two years ago, Hudson Valley Queer Rockhoppers leads weekly hikes in the Hudson Valley, NY. The group fills a much-needed void after the Hudson Valley queer hiking group Queer and Trans Outdoors went on hiatus several years ago.
Hikes are announced on their Instagram page, linked above.
Most hikes are suitable for beginners, and dogs are welcome. Typical hiking spots include the super-popular Overlook Mountain, Sloan Gorge in Woodstock and rail trails like Walkway Over the Hudson and the Rosendale Trestle.
3. Dyke Hikes – NY/NJ
- Location: New York (Hudson Valley)/northern New Jersey
- Hike frequency: Weekly
- Who can attend: Lesbians and queer women
Dyke Hikes leads weekly adventures in the New York-New Jersey area for lesbians and queer women.
According to their New York-New Jersey Trail Conference page, the lesbian hiking group boasts 1300 members!
Group activities include hiking, biking, cross country skiing, and overnight trips. All activities are posted on their Meetup page.
Their hikes tend to be moderate to difficult. They may not be suitable for beginner hikers. Most hikes are in the Harriman State Park area and lower Hudson Valley areas.
4. Maui LGBT Hiking Group
- Location: Maui, HI
- Hike frequency: Monthly
- Who can attend: LGBTQIA people
This Hawaii LGBTQ+ hiking group offers monthly hikes for the Maui LGBTQ+ community. Their Facebook group has over 800 members. Follow them there or email mauihiking[at]gmail.com to get notified of upcoming hikes.
5. San Francisco Hiking Club
- Location: San Francisco, CA
- Hike frequency: weekly
- Who can attend: LGBTQIA and allies
The San Francisco Hiking Club organizes hikes in San Francisco and Oakland. Hikes take places on Saturday or Sunday, with 1-2 events every week.
New hikers are welcome to take part.
The queer hiking club requests that non-members email the hike leader or their info[at]sfhiking.com address to let them know you’ll be coming. You can get a ride to the trailhead if you need one.
The group also holds hike leader trainings, which can be a great way to step up your outdoor leadership skills!
Recent adventures include a 10 mile shoreline hike from Martinez to Port Costa (shorter option available) and a dog-friendly 5 to 6 mile trek to Hoo-Koo-E-Koo and Dawn Falls in Marin Countryโs Baltimore Canyon Preserve.
6. QPOC Hikers
- Location: Seattle, WA
- Hike frequency: Twice a month
- Who can attend: QTBIPOC
Based in the greater Seattle area, QPOC Hikers maintains a popular Instagram presence for queer BIPOC adventurers. They also run a range of events, from group hikes to yoga on the beach to birding walks.
7. Unlikely Hikers
Location: Multiple locations
Hike frequency: Periodically
Who can attend: Underrepresented hikers, including queer women
Unlikely Hikers is an active Instagram community that gives visibility to folks who are perceived as unlikely outdoor adventurers. This includes queer hikers, fat hikers, BIPOC hikers and other underrepresented groups.
Find Unlikely Hikers via their Instagram community (where you can tag your posts to be featured) or look to one of their group chapters for an inclusive hiking meetup.
Hiking locations vary by which chapter is organizing the event. Recently Unlikely Hikers has organized group hikes in Portland, OR, Atlanta, GA, Durham, NC and Nashville, TN.
You must register to attend one of their hikes, and popular locations fill up quickly. Hikes are announced first to their email list and Patreon community so get on the list for priority signup.
8. Out and About Hillwalking
- Location: Dublin, Ireland
- Hike frequency: Every Sunday and Wednesday
- Who can attend: LGBTQIA folks
With over 1,000 Facebook followers, Out and About is a friendly LGBTQ+ hiking group based in Dublin, Ireland. The group has been in existence for over 25 years!
Irish hikers and queer vacationers alike are welcome on their hiking and mountaineering trips in the gorgeous Wicklow Mountains of Ireland. Recent destinations include the Royal Canal Way, the Dublin Mountains, and Ballyknockan in the Wicklow Mountains.
To accommodate beginner and advanced hikers, the group splits up. New members and slower folks take it easy, while experienced hikers go at a faster pace.
The group allows anyone to attend up to 3 hikes. After that point, youโll need to become a member of Mountaineering Ireland, this LGBTQ hiking groupโs parent organization. Membership is โฌ35 for the year. Additionally, there is a โฌ2 administrative charge per hike.
9. Gay Ramblers Hill Walking Club
- Location: Cork, Ireland
- Hike frequency: Monthly
- Who can attend: LGBTQ+
Affiliated with through the Gay Project in Cork, Ireland, the Gay Ramblers Hill Walking Club creates queer community through nature hikes. Walks take place the second Sunday of the month. Anyone who wants to attend must register in advance. The gay hiking group communicates via WhatsApp.
10. Rainbow Ramblers
- Location: Cork, Ireland
- Hike frequency: Periodic
- Who can attend: LGBTQ+
Rainbow Ramblers offers short social walks through the greater Cork area. Typical trips feature the Looped Walks and Way Marked Ways in Cork and surrounding communities.
Whether you are a novice hiker, or looking for an activity that is more social than sporting, check out the Rainbow Ramblers. The group communicates via a Facebook page. To learn more about planned trips or RSVP for a hike, email walk leader Doc at rainbow.ramblers.cork[at]gmail.com
11. London Lesbians Afoot
- Location: London, UK
- Hike frequency: Sporadically
- Who can attend: Lesbians and bi women
With almost 2,000 members, the London Lesbians Afoot Meetup group runs frequent city walks for Londonโs lesbian crowd.
Walks range from short canal walks and historic city treks to longer adventures in the surrounding countryside. They also do cycling trips.
Recent walks include a winter lights walk along Canary Wharf and a Walthamstow wetlands walk.
It looks like this lesbian walking group is taking a bit of a winter hiatus. There are several spring walks on their meetup page. As the weather warms, it looks like there are more opportunities to mingle with other women hikers.
Anyone wanting to join London Lesbians Afoot must do so by Meetup. You must also show a profile photo of your face.
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Another awesome inclusive resource list, Lindsey! Thank you for sharing!!
Thanks for your post! I’m an ally, and glad you’re taking up space in this area! Looks like some awesome hiking adventures.
Amazing list, and looks like some wonderful views! Thanks for the info!
Thanks for sharing and creating a safe space to help hikers connect!
Aloha from the Oahu Queer Hiking group! Our LGBTQ+ hiking and outdoors group is very inclusive! On Facebook and Instagram
Aloha and thanks for commenting! Maybe I’ll see you on the trails when I visit Hawaii ๐