How to find hiking partners in Austin
Austin has 12+ miles of greenbelt trail in the middle of the city and the Hill Country an hour away. Here's how to find people to hike with, plus trails that work well for a first hike with someone new.
Updated November 2026
Finding people to hike with in Austin
Austin is a city of transplants. It’s easy to find a trail here and harder to find someone who wants to hike it at 7am on a Saturday before the heat sets in. Most people’s weekends fill up with everything else Austin has going on.
The groups below meet every week, and the Greenbelt is easy to reach from almost anywhere in town. If you want a partner for one specific trail, post it in Ridgemate and we’ll ping you when someone nearby wants to do it too.
Hiking groups in Austin
These groups are run by locals and are free or low cost. Check each group's page for its next hike, since schedules change.
Austin Sierra Club Outings
Nearly 20,000 members on Meetup, with outings from easy greenbelt walks to weekend state park and national park trips. Many hikes are rated easy.
Hike with Maddy ATX
Casual, open-to-everyone group hikes of 2 to 3 hours on Austin trails like Shoal Creek, Walnut Creek and the Greenbelt. Leashed dogs are welcome.
ATX Women's Hikes (Journey Land & Soul)
A women's hike on the Barton Creek Greenbelt on the first Tuesday of every month at 5pm, starting from the Spyglass trailhead, at a relaxed pace.
Good trails for hiking with someone new near Austin
Busy, well marked trails with clear parking are the easiest place to meet a new hiking partner for the first time.
Barton Creek Greenbelt
Limestone cliffs, swimming holes and shade, right in town. Pick one trailhead and do an out-and-back, so it's easy to keep a first hike short.
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
Wooded, mostly flat trails along the creek. Good for an easy weekend hike, and local hiking groups use it regularly.
Shoal Creek Trail
An urban trail through the middle of the city. Good for a weeknight walk and talk.
Enchanted Rock
A climb up a giant pink granite dome with huge Hill Country views. Worth the drive for a day trip with a partner. Book a day pass ahead, since the park often fills.
Texas summers are brutal on the trail, so hike early, carry more water than you think, and watch for flash flooding on creek trails after heavy rain. Greenbelt trailheads have no lighting, so bring a headlamp near sunset.
How to find a hiking partner in Austin with Ridgemate
- Post the hike you want to do. Pick a trail (or paste an AllTrails link) and a day, or mark it as anytime.
- Go about your week. When someone nearby wants to hike the same trail around the same time, you both get a ping.
- Plan it in the group chat. Sort out the meetup spot and the carpool, then go.
Ridgemate is free on iPhone. Women and non-binary hikers can choose to match only with each other. It's new in Austin, so the more people post the hikes they actually want to do, the faster matches happen.
Meeting a hiking partner for the first time
- Pick a popular trail for the first hike and meet at the trailhead rather than carpooling.
- Tell a friend where you're going, who you're meeting, and when you expect to be back.
- Agree on pace, distance, and a turnaround time before you start.
- Carry your own water, food, layers, and a charged phone, even on a short hike.
- If the vibe is off at the trailhead, it's fine to call it. A good partner will understand.
Austin hiking FAQ
What's the biggest hiking group in Austin?
Austin Sierra Club Outings has nearly 20,000 members on Meetup and runs everything from easy greenbelt walks to weekend state park trips.
What's a good first hike with someone new in Austin?
The Barton Creek Greenbelt, starting from a popular trailhead like Spyglass. Do an out-and-back so you can turn around whenever you want.
Do I need a reservation for Enchanted Rock?
Yes, plan on it. The park often reaches capacity, especially on weekends and holidays, so book a day pass online in advance.
Are there hiking groups for women in Austin?
Yes. ATX Women's Hikes runs a women's hike on the Barton Creek Greenbelt on the first Tuesday of every month. In Ridgemate, women and non-binary hikers can also choose to match only with each other.
Find someone to hike with in Austin
Post the trail you've been wanting to do. We'll ping you when someone nearby wants in.
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