About Hiking Clubs in Seattle, Washington

Hiking clubs within the Seattle area provide a valuable resource for hiking and other outdoor activities. Some of the best trails for day hiking are only an hour away from Seattle. Many trails in the Seattle area are easy; however, others can be up to 15 miles long. The main trail is the Pacific Crest, which runs through several states. Hiking the Seattle trail system, you will see coastal marshlands, beaches, lakes, rivers and mountain forests.

Types

The types of hiking clubs found around the Seattle area, range from causal hiking for fitness organizations such as the PNW Leisure Hiking Group to comprehensive outdoor recreation associations that include mountain climbing and skiing. A few of the Seattle hiking clubs are called recreation hiking clubs, designed to take hikes slow and easy for those overweight or disabled. Other clubs are family oriented and provide other sports in their event schedules such as the Cascadian's.

Size

Seattle's hiking clubs vary in size. Larger clubs, such as the Mountaineers, hold a 15,000-plus membership. This club is a family-oriented with multiple branches and a variety of activities for you and your family. The Cascadian has about 500 members as of 2010. The smaller clubs, such as PNW Leisure Hiking Group, have about 400 members. As of 2010, the Seattle Ramblers is the newest and smallest hiking club with only four members.

Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail travels through three states, as well as Mexico and Canada. The trail is about 2,650 miles long. Seattle hiking clubs plan short hikes that involve several miles of the trail. The clubs also help hikers that want to complete the entire trail. Many of the clubs also volunteer to maintain portions of the trail.

Other Outdoor Activities

Seattle, as well as the entire state of Washington, is an outdoor recreation playground with opportunities for hiking, backpacking, mountain biking and mountain climbing during the summer. During the winter, snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding abound. Water sports include sailing, kayaking and whitewater rafting. You can also participate in these activities as a group when joining the largest of Seattle's clubs, The Mountaineers.