How To Find People To Hike With

You’re perhaps tired of hiking alone or just looking for a hiking buddy to accompany you to the trail. Well, here’s a guide to making new friends.

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You’re perhaps tired of hiking alone or just looking for a hiking buddy to accompany you to the trail. Well, here’s a guide to making new friends.

Hitting the trails on your own can be lots of fun. Not only do you get to spend the time alone but you also get to learn about the real you. However, it’s always advisable to find a hiking buddy or partner; someone who can join you on your outdoor adventures. Having a hiking buddy will, of course, improve safety and make your hike more thrilling. But let’s face it, making new friends as an adult can be quite tough. That doesn’t, however, mean that you should throw in the towel and resign yourself to lonely or solo hiking adventures.

Whether you are looking to expand your social circle or new in town, there are several ways on how to find hiking buddies. It’s always essential to keep in mind that there are a lot of people out there who love the outdoors just as much as you do. If you know how to look for them, you’re most likely to make a friendship that will last a lifetime. Better still, you’ll find a hiking buddy to share your experience with, to encourage you, to comfort you, and to make you become a better person.

That being said, here are a few tips on how to find hiking partners.

Table of Contents

Check Out MeetUp.com for Hiking Groups in Your Area

This is, without a doubt, the universally accepted way of finding people to hike with in your area. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in America or Brazil, this site is a worldwide site for outdoor adventurers. You’ll most likely find someone who shares the same problem as you: finding a hiking partner.

Although meeting strangers on the internet may seem quite weird to some of us, do not let this come between you and your love for hiking. Keep an open mind and use this incredible site to meet new hiking buddies. The best part about using the site is that you’ll find like-minded adventurers. Do you want a buddy for your mountain hiking activities? No problem, you’ll find them. Are you looking for a hiking partner for your weekend trip to Colorado? You’ll find quite a number.

In essence, this is a godsend hiking platform for outdoor lovers like you. You’ll find people of similar interests and you may choose a hiking partner based on your activities, time, gender, age, relationship status and many more.

Don’t Be Afraid Or Shy

You’ll probably be very nervous when meeting new buddies from the site. Well, that feeling is normal and it happens to all of us. However, you don’t have to be shy, afraid or quiet. Keep in mind that everyone else is in the group because they don’t want to hike alone and perhaps want to make new friends. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and start new conversations. You never know, your hiking partner could end up being your new BFF.

Use Social Media Platforms

Just like any other site, using social media to find hiking buddies may seem unsafe but this shouldn’t hold you back. Whether you choose to use Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, these are just some of the social media platforms that you can use to find a new hiking partner. Consider joining hiking groups on social media platforms and ask whether there are interested hiking partners.

When it comes to using social media platforms or any other online platform, it’s advisable to remain cautious and prioritize safety. So before deciding to go for a hike with a stranger, it’s important that you meet them first. You can meet at a public place for coffee or walk around a public local park. This will help you gauge whether you’re compatible or incompatible. You don’t want to go hiking with somebody with incompatible personalities. This won’t be fun so it’s better to avoid such awkward situations before it happens.

Chat with Fellow Hiker during Your Solo Adventures

Whether you live in an area where the outdoor culture is thriving or in a more laidback community, chances are you’ll run into a fellow hiker who doesn’t have a hiking buddy. All you have to do is smile and say a simple hello. This could be a simple but great way to strike a conversation and you never know, this fellow hiker could be your hiking partner for many years to come.  

Joining a Hiking Club or a Rock Climbing Gym

Hiking is growing more and more in popularity as many people continue to appreciate its benefits. For this reason, more hiking clubs are cropping up in many cities and this could work to your advantage if you’re looking for a hiking partner. Join a hiking club near you (if there’s one) and you’ll probably meet a hiker looking for hiking buddies.

Again, you can choose to join a rock climbing gym in your area. Most hikers are known to love the gym or fitness classes. And while your main aim isn’t to bulk up or learn how to climb rocks, you’re more likely to meet someone who would love to hit the hike with you.

Bring Your Dog

As a word of caution, you shouldn’t get a dog if you aren’t well prepared for it. However, most hikers love hiking with their dogs, so bringing a four-legged companion could be a superb ice breaker. With a dog as company, it will be very easy to strike conversations with fellow dog lovers on the trail and believe us, there is quite a number.

Keep in Touch

Whether you’re hiking alone or with fellow hikers, there comes a time when you’ll meet someone who seems like an impeccable hiking buddy. Make sure that you keep in touch with such a person. We are always very busy and can sometimes lose touch with such people. But because you both share your love for hiking, make sure that you stay in touch in case you need a hiking buddy.

All in all, you’ll never know where you’ll meet your hiking buddy. But because it’s important to have the company of someone to share your hiking experience with, you should look for a perfect hiking partner. After all, it’s safe to hike with a partner. Better still, this could be the beginning of a lifelong friendship so go for it.

Happy hiking!

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