Outdoor clubs in San Francisco.
5 clubs, and when they meet. Most meet on weekends, around Embarcadero, Golden Gate Park. Most are free to join. The ones without a fixed day are listed below, linked to where they announce. Subscribe to this calendar →
Nothing here yet.
That doesn’t mean nothing’s happening. We may just not have it yet.
What to expect.
Hiking groups, climbing meetups, cycling clubs, paddling and skating around San Francisco. Outdoor groups are the least likely to meet at the same spot every week, because the route changes, so many are listed with their day and a link to where the week's meet is announced.
Read the week's plan on their page before you go. It will tell you the distance, the pace and what to bring, and it is the only place a weather call is made.
All 5 outdoor clubs in San Francisco.
A to Z, in each club's own words. Every one links to the club, and every day and time is the one the club publishes.
Free fly-casting lessons at the Golden Gate Park casting ponds on the second Saturday of every month, with loaner rods and lunch included. The club itself is membership-based but the lessons are open to anyone.
Monthly, second Saturday · Golden Gate Park · Free · ggacc.org →Small-group mindful urban hikes led by a Zen priest, moderate pace with meditation stops and attention to the city's history and geology. Offered by donation; groups kept under a dozen.
Two to four roams a month, mostly weekend afternoons; dates on Meetup · By donation · meetup.com →The original leaderless mass bike ride, gathering at Embarcadero Plaza at the foot of Market Street on the last Friday of every month. No organisers and no route announced in advance.
Monthly, last Friday · Embarcadero · Free · sfcriticalmass.org →Themed night ride through the city on the first Friday of the month, with music and party stops; the start point changes each month. Decorate your bike and ride predictably.
Monthly, first Friday · Free · wordpress.com →Medium-paced city hikes over SF's hills, stairways and trails, usually weekend afternoons from a transit-friendly start and ending around 5:30 with drinks. Also runs film and other social outings.
Weekend afternoons (1-2pm start) and some weekday evenings; dates posted on Meetup · Free · meetup.com →
Questions people actually ask.
How hard are the outings?
Each group grades its own, and the grade is on the week's post, not here. Most hiking and cycling groups run an easy option alongside the main one. Start with the easy one.
Do I need gear?
For hiking, proper footwear, water and layers. For climbing, most meetups are at a gym that rents shoes and a harness. Cycling clubs expect a working bike and a helmet. Anything unusual is on the group's page.
Are they free?
Mostly. Some clubs charge an annual membership that covers insurance, which is normal for cycling and paddling. Gym meetups cost whatever the gym charges for entry.
Every listing links straight to the club. Know a outdoor club in San Francisco we don’t? Add it.