Vancouver is one of the great hiking cities on earth — the mountains start where the streets end. But going alone gets lonely, and the trailheads can be intimidating if you're new. The fix is a group: someone who knows the trail, a ride to share, and a reason to actually go on Saturday instead of staying in.
Here's how to find a hiking group that fits your pace and your goals. Every club below is a real, active one from the directory's hiking & outdoors page.
If you're new to hiking (or new to Vancouver)
- Y Adventure Kommunity (YAK) is a free adventure club — hiking, paddle boarding, biking, bouldering, camping — built explicitly around making friends through the outdoors. The best possible starting point.
- Beginner Hiking Groups stick to easy, low-pressure trails and expect that you've never done this before.
- Slow Hikers Vancouver is for anyone who takes twice the suggested time — their whole motto is "we'll wait for you." No rushing, no getting dropped.
- Let's Adventure Vancouver runs weekly outdoor stranger meetups (hikes, cold plunges, paddling) that are warm to first-timers.
If you don't have a car
Getting to a trailhead is half the battle. Some groups solve it for you: look for the transit-accessible hiking groups on the hiking page that organize hikes reachable entirely by bus and SkyTrain, meeting at a station before heading out together. Wanderung — a 3,600-person subscriber-organized adventure list — is also great for finding car-shares to farther trailheads.
If you want an established club
- BC Mountaineering Club has been running serious outdoor trips since 1907 — an experienced community for challenging hikes and climbs.
- Alpine Club of Canada – Vancouver brings 1,500+ members, trips, courses, and backcountry hut access.
- North Shore / North Van clubs are established, insured, and cover hiking, snowshoeing, backpacking, and more year-round.
If you want your specific crowd
- Golden Age Hiking Club — social, moderate-pace hikes for active seniors (55+).
- Out and About Vancouver — gay men and friends enjoying nature together.
- BC Kids Hiking Club — family hiking for parents with kids (ages 3+), building trail-savvy little ones.
A few trail notes
Go with a group three times before you judge it. The first hike you're the new person; by the third you're the one welcoming someone else. That repetition is the whole secret to making friends in Vancouver, on the trail or off.
Say yes to the post-hike food. The friendships form at the taco stand afterward, not on the switchbacks.
Match the group to your honest fitness, not your aspirational one. Every club above lists its difficulty; a "we'll wait for you" group beats getting dropped on a summit push.
Want the full list, including snowshoe and backpacking crews? Browse every hiking group, or if you run one, add it to the directory. Prefer two wheels? There's a cycling guide too.
Part of the Vancouver Community Directory — a free, community-built list of 250+ groups, clubs, and meetups across the city.