People who live in cities such as Atlanta often lead busy lives and find it difficult to make time for exercise and socializing. Joining a hiking club helps busy urbanites dwellers keep fit and make friends at the same time. Many Atlanta hiking clubs organize hikes outside the city limits, helping people discover their surroundings while enjoying the fresh air.
Clubs
Hiking enthusiasts who live in or near Atlanta will be happy to know that there are many hiking clubs from which to choose. Atlanta Single Hikers (ASH) is a hiking club especially for single people 18 and older who love the outdoors, and who want to meet and hike with like-minded people. The Atlanta Outdoor Club (AOC) is for all ages and hosts more than over 200 events each year. Hotlanta Adventures is a club especially for adults aged 18 to 50, whose goals are fun, fitness and friendships.
Purpose
The purpose of hiking clubs in Atlanta is to promote fitness and enjoy the outdoors. Clubs welcome all fitness levels, from beginners wanting to embrace a healthy lifestyle to athletes who want to meet other fitness enthusiasts. Hiking clubs are not just about getting and keeping fit; the clubs also provide social interaction for Atlanta city dwellers.
Activities
Some of Atlanta's hiking clubs offer other outdoor activities besides hiking. The AOC hosts outdoor events including backpacking, camping, mountain biking and paddling. Hotlanta Adventures offers excursions such as mountain biking, trail cycling, camping, whitewater rafting, caving, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, rappelling, rock climbing, fishing and geocaching.
Trails
There are numerous hiking trails and paths that Atlanta's hiking clubs frequent. The Big Trees Trail in Sandy Springs, just north of Atlanta, has three hiking routes, some paved and some mulched dirt. Peachtree City, located southwest of Atlanta, has approximately 85 miles of paved trails for hiking and biking. Occasionally, hiking clubs offer overnight hiking and camping trips to bring their members away from the city.
Considerations
Volunteers run the majority of Atlanta's hiking clubs. The clubs do not have annual membership fees, but members can make voluntary donations. Some events have a fee decided by the club organizers to help cover costs. Check with the hiking club organizers to determine whether they require members to RSVP prior to an event.
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