Solo hiking can be great, but imagine how much more fun it would be with friends! While solo hiking has benefits, I recommend something other than it as a primary choice. Travelling with friends makes you feel good and provides a sense of relaxation and safety. Sharing meals with mates, enjoying activities, and spending time together enhance the overall experience, making the trip truly memorable.
There are many ways to make outdoorsy friends who can make your trip incredibly fun. You can attend meetups, join social media groups, reconnect with past acquaintances, or participate in in-person events to easily find like-minded people. Once you meet someone, take the time to sit, talk, share a meal, and build a strong connection.
To make your trip truly memorable, you need friends. If you’re reading this, it likely means you’re a solo hiker. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many people face the same challenge of finding like-minded friends. In this article, I’ll guide you on how to find outdoorsy friends to join you as your travel companions or other outdoor Advantures.
1.Start with Your Existing Network
Reach out to the people you already know, such as family, friends, colleagues, or acquaintances, to find potential connections who share your interests. Below are some ways to explore your existing network.
2.Ask Friends and Family
Everyone knows what their family and friends enjoy doing. Connect with friends who love hiking, or they might introduce you to someone else who shares a passion for the outdoors. Strengthen your bond with your family circle, as they might also be looking for outdoorsy friends. I value friends who love the outdoors, which is why my friends’ friends often become my friends, too.
3.Reconnect with Past Connections
Revisit your past connections, such as old social media groups or former college mates. Even if you didn’t know them closely, they might now share your love for the outdoors. It’s okay if you’re unfamiliar with them, but as long as you both enjoy the same activities, it can still be a great experience. I find it exciting to go on hikes with understanding from college or even strangers with the same passion.
4.Explore Social Media and Online Communities
Exploring social media and online communities can help you connect with like-minded people. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are great places to find hundreds of individuals who share similar hobbies. For example, since I love hiking, I would join communities related to it, where I can find outdoorsy friends
Best Social Media Ways To FInd Outdoorsy Friends
Join Facebook Groups
Facebook is one of the most popular platforms, where billions of people interact directly with one another. It offers many Facebook groups as excellent online resources for making outdoorsy friends.
Join multiple groups that align with your interests and connect with like-minded people. For instance, I love hiking, so I would search for hiking groups and join them to find adventure companions.
Instagram
Instagram is one of the best ways to find adventure buddies. Use hashtags with specific location tags to discover like-minded people. Explore your DMs and reach out to profiles that share content you enjoy. Instagram can help you connect with outdoorsy people who attend outdoor social events.
Find someone with similar interests, start a conversation, and plan a trip together. However, before going on a trip with a stranger, ensure you thoroughly review their profile (which should be public) to ensure you have completed the verification.
Attend Classes, Events, or Workshops
Attending classes, events, or workshops is a great way to meet people who share your interests in outdoor activities. Many local organizations, outdoor retailers, or adventure groups host events such as hiking workshops, rock climbing classes, or nature photography sessions. These gatherings are designed for people with similar hobbies, making them perfect for building connections.
By participating, you not only learn new skills or improve existing ones but also have the opportunity to bond with like-minded individuals. It’s a relaxed environment where conversations naturally flow, often leading to new friendships or even future adventure companions.
Join Hobby-Specific Groups
Joining hobby-specific groups like hiking, cooking, and art can help you find like-minded people. There are plenty of such groups to expand your circle of friends.Find Groups Relating to Your Hobbies
Make Friends In Outdoor Gathering
Volunteering
Another way to attract people to yourself is by volunteering. Planting trees, watering flowers, and picking up trash can help you connect with others. Focus on finding volunteer opportunities that align with your interests and will attract people you’d like to meet. Check out opportunities at local parks, state parks, wildlife refuges, or even community gardens.
Meet People in Everyday Settings
Attending events and organized trips can be a great way to meet new outdoorsy friends. A friendly chat in shared outdoor spaces can spark new connections. Say hello to people during the trip, as this might encourage them to show interest in building a friendship with you.
Join organized trips for shared experiences and networking. These trips offer excellent opportunities to meet like-minded individuals and form lasting friendships.
Create Your Community
Creating your own community is one of the best ways to find outdoorsy friends. Start social media groups with your friends and ask them to add their friends to expand the circle. This approach can significantly simplify your search for outdoor companions. For instance, since I love hiking, I would create a friendly WhatsApp group with my friends who also enjoy hiking. I would then ask them to add their friends, increasing the chances of finding like-minded, outdoorsy friends.
Go Solo to Make Friends
As mentioned, I love solo hiking, but going with friends makes me feel happier and safer. Embark on a solo hiking adventure and connect with new people you meet on the trail. Attend solo events and step out of your comfort zone with confidence. This will help you engage with new people.
Tips for Safe and Meaningful Connections
Safety comes first. If you’re planning a hiking trip with a stranger, make sure to do thorough research to get to know them better.
Here are the top 5 tips for making safe and meaningful connections:
- Ask plenty of questions: Before setting a meetup date, ask plenty of questions to understand the person’s interests. Inquire about their experience, skill level, fitness, and hiking style. Do they prefer to hike quickly to reach the viewpoint, or do they enjoy taking breaks and capturing photos along the way?
- Conduct some background research on the person: Do a simple Google search on the person you’re planning to hike with, or check their social media accounts, such as Instagram and Facebook. Make sure their profiles are not set to private.
- First, meet at a busy, public location: Be careful; don’t go on a hike directly. First, meet at a public location, such as a café or park. This will help you decide whether you want to hike with this person or not.
- Take a short, well-known hike: Before embarking on a long hike, start with a short hike in areas you’re familiar with, ensuring the routes are well-populated in case you need assistance.
- Inform someone about your meeting location and the person you’re hiking with: Tell your friends or family about your hiking trip and the person you’re hiking with. Also, share your hiking route so they can easily find you if you need help. Send them all the information about the person, such as their phone number, social media handles, license plate, and any other relevant details. I always share my GPS location with family members.
- Ensure you have an exit plan: Drive yourself for the first few meetups. Meeting at the trailhead ensures they don’t know where you live and gives you control over when to leave.
Conclusion
All of the ideas for finding outdoorsy friends are great, but I personally recommend using social media groups and online communities. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are full of groups and pages that you can follow to connect with like-minded people. Since I enjoy hiking, I would join hiking-related groups to meet new people and expand my circle of friends.
