There is no better way to enjoy the beauty of Washington state than on a hike. And whether your goal is to expand your knowledge of native plants, to conserve and maintain public trails, or simply to get in shape, you likely can find a Seattle hiking club that suits your interest.
Meetup Groups
Meetup.com sponsors a hiking group based out of Seattle, the Pacific Northwest Hiking and Backpacking Group. There are 2,512 members, but most hikes attract between two and a dozen hikers. Some of the hiking excursions visit places such as Lake Ingalls, Round Lake, Trappers Peak and Foggy Lake, throughout the Seattle/Vancouver area. According to the website, this group met a total of 383 times since October 2006. The majority of these gatherings were hikes; other meetings include downtown work-out sessions, overnight backpacking trips and by-car camping trips.
Naturalist
The Seattle Mountaineers is a hard-core hiking, backpacking, kayaking and outdoor adventure group. A subgroup, the Seattle Naturalists, offers courses, hikes and activities focused around themes of botany, ecology, geology and ornithology. The naturalist committee meets quarterly to schedule trips and activities. Once you've gone through the introductory course, these trips provide opportunities to observe, study and identify various aspects of nature, such as flowers, birds and geological formations.
Fitness
Maria Faires is a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer based out of Sammamish, a short drive from Seattle. She offers guided, private, family and advanced fitness hikes aimed at improving vitality, strength and endurance. According to her website, hiking can burn 500 to 750 calories in an hour. Her beginner fitness hikes start at 2 to 4 miles; for advanced hikers, her Mount Rainer Camp Muir Hike is 4.5 miles one way and climes 3,000 vertical feet onto Rainer's glacier-covered peak.
Family
Faires also offers guided family hikes that focus on spending time together. These hikes are customized to fit each family's needs and limitations.
Another family friendly hiking activity available in the area is orienteering. The Cascade Orienteering Club, based in Seattle, bills itself as the largest group of its kind in the state. Orienteering is as much a mental exercise as a physical one. Participants must navigate the wilderness using mainly a compass and maps to locate predetermined checkpoints. The club encourages families to participate together. The group offers a range of activities, from beginner orienteering hikes to national level meets.
Conservation
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington, a conservationist group, works to preserve western Washington trails. According to the group's website, it partners with agencies to build trails and restore habitat. It is a way for hikers to give back to the trails they enjoy traveling. An online calendar alerts members to upcoming hikes and other events.
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