How to find hiking partners in Denver
Denver has the Front Range in its backyard and a lot of people who moved here for the mountains but still hike alone. Here's where to find people to hike with, and trails that work well for a first hike with someone new.
Updated November 2026
Why it’s hard to find hiking partners in Denver
Denver is full of people who moved for the mountains. Plenty of them find out that the trails are easy to reach, but the friends to hike them with take longer. Coworkers ski on different days, roommates aren’t into 6am starts, and the people you’d hike with are still back home.
Two things work. Join a club that already hikes on a schedule, like the Colorado Mountain Club, or find a person or two who want the same trail you do. The trails along the Front Range are popular and easy to meet at, which makes both approaches easier here than in most places.
Hiking groups in Denver
These groups are run by locals and are free or low cost. Check each group's page for its next hike, since schedules change.
Colorado Mountain Club, Denver Group
The Denver chapter of the Colorado Mountain Club has 3,000+ members and schedules trips almost every day of the week, led by volunteer leaders. Its New & Prospective Member hikes are a good first step if you're new.
Denver Hiking Meetup Group
A 1,800+ member Meetup group with beginner, intermediate and advanced hikes to lakes and peaks around the Front Range, usually every few weeks.
REI Denver events
REI lists group hikes, classes and outdoor skills sessions on its events page. Filter by the Denver-area stores.
Good trails for hiking with someone new near Denver
Busy, well marked trails with clear parking are the easiest place to meet a new hiking partner for the first time.
Trading Post Trail
Short, busy and stunning, with red rock formations the whole way. Easy to pick as a first hike together, and the Trading Post lot is easy to find.
Royal Arch Trail
A real workout to a natural sandstone arch with views over Boulder. Better as a second hike, once you know each other's pace.
South Table Mountain
A flat-topped mesa with wide trails and big views of the foothills. Easy to walk side by side and talk.
Waterton Canyon
A wide, gentle gravel road along the South Platte River. Good for an easy out-and-back where you can turn around whenever you want.
Mount Falcon Park
Trails to castle ruins and a lookout tower with views back toward Denver. Several loop options for different paces.
Summer afternoons on the Front Range often bring thunderstorms, so start early and plan to be off exposed ridges by early afternoon. Altitude makes everything harder for newcomers, so agree on an easy pace for a first hike.
How to find a hiking partner in Denver 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 Denver, 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.
Denver hiking FAQ
What's the biggest hiking club in Denver?
The Colorado Mountain Club's Denver Group has more than 3,000 members and schedules trips almost every day. Meetup groups like the Denver Hiking Meetup Group also run regular hikes.
What's a good first hike with someone new near Denver?
The Trading Post Trail at Red Rocks Park is a loop of about 1.5 miles. It's popular, well marked and easy to meet at, which is what you want for a first hike with someone you just met.
How do I find a hiking partner in Denver for a specific trail?
Post the trail and day in Ridgemate. When someone nearby wants to hike the same trail around the same time, you both get a ping and a group chat opens to plan it.
Is it safe to hike alone around Denver?
Lots of people do, but weather changes fast in the mountains and cell service drops out. Hiking with a partner, telling someone your plan, and starting early all make it safer.
Find someone to hike with in Denver
Post the trail you've been wanting to do. We'll ping you when someone nearby wants in.
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