Hiking & Walking Groups in San Jose

Make friends in San Jose › Hiking & walking groups

By Greg de Vries · Published October 11, 2026 · Updated October 11, 2026 · Listings re-checked weekly; next full review January 2027

San Jose hiking groups organize mostly on Meetup and meet at South Bay trailheads such as Almaden Quicksilver. San Jose Mid-Week Hikers goes several weekday mornings, South Bay Hiking and Travel Meetup hikes on weekends, and Bay Area Active & Social runs hikes for people in their 20s to 40s. All are free to join.

Which hiking groups meet in and around San Jose?

San Jose hiking groups mostly organize on Meetup. Each hike is posted as its own event with the trailhead, distance and pace, and you RSVP to that hike. Many hikes use South Bay parks such as Almaden Quicksilver.

Bay Area Hiking And Anything Fun

FreeRegional group

A very large San Jose-based group for hikes, walks, rides and other outings around the Bay Area.

Accepting new members?: Yes (open Meetup group; join on page)
Beginner-friendly?: Yes
OK to go alone?: Yes (open RSVP events for individuals)
Next meeting: Sun Oct 11, 2026
Usual schedule: Several events weekly
Where: Regional (based in San Jose)
Varies (trailheads and venues around the Bay Area)
Cost: Free (you need a free Meetup account to RSVP)
How to join: Join the Meetup group, then RSVP. RSVP: Meetup RSVP

San Jose Mid-Week Hikers Group

FreeRegional groupRetirees and flexible schedulesweekdays

Organized weekday hikes for people with flexible schedules, retirees or anyone off midweek, usually 5 to 7 miles.

Accepting new members?: Yes (open Meetup group; join on page)
Beginner-friendly?: Yes (Distances and elevation listed for each hike)
OK to go alone?: Yes (open RSVP events for individuals)
Next meeting: Mon Oct 12, 2026 9:15 AM
Usual schedule: Several weekday hikes per week
Where: Regional (based in San Jose)
Trailheads across the South Bay and beyond, posted per hike
Cost: Free (you need a free Meetup account to RSVP)
How to join: Join the Meetup group, then RSVP. RSVP: Meetup RSVP

San José FrontRunners, Walkers and Wheelers (SJFRWW)

FreeLGBTQ+ and friendsweekendsearly mornings

A weekly Saturday run and walk for LGBTQ+ people and friends through Guadalupe River Park, followed by optional coffee and brunch.

Accepting new members?: Yes (open groups.io mailing list; anyone can join)
Beginner-friendly?: Yes (Run, walk or ride a bike; everyone is welcome)
OK to go alone?: Yes (weekly drop-in meet)
Next meeting: Sat Oct 17, 2026 9:00 AM (weekly, rain or shine)
Usual schedule: Every Saturday, 9:00 AM, rain or shine
Where: Downtown / Coleman Ave (Guadalupe River Park)
Panera Bread parking lot, 503 Coleman Ave, San Jose; route runs through Guadalupe River Park
Cost: Free. Coffee and brunch after are optional and paid on your own.
How to join: Show up Saturday at 9 AM; join the groups.io mailing list for updates. RSVP: No RSVP needed

South Bay Hiking and Travel Meetup

FreeRegional groupweekends

A San Jose-centered hiking group that explores parks around the region, with mileage and climbing posted for every outing.

Accepting new members?: Yes (open Meetup group; join on page)
Beginner-friendly?: Yes
OK to go alone?: Yes (open RSVP events for individuals)
Next meeting: Sun Oct 18, 2026 1:30 PM
Usual schedule: Weekly weekend hikes plus trips
Where: Regional (based in San Jose)
Trailheads around the Bay Area and Central Coast, posted per hike
Cost: Free (you need a free Meetup account to RSVP)
How to join: Join the Meetup group, then RSVP. RSVP: Meetup RSVP

Santa Clara-San Jose Running Group

FreeSanta Claraweekends

Runners and walkers of every speed head down The Alameda toward downtown San Jose and back, then hang out over coffee.

Accepting new members?: Yes (open Meetup group; join on page)
Beginner-friendly?: Yes (All speeds; walkers welcome)
OK to go alone?: Yes (open RSVP events for individuals)
Next meeting: Sat Oct 17, 2026 9:00 AM
Usual schedule: Weekly, Saturday 9:00 AM
Where: The Alameda (near Santa Clara University)
Mission City Coffee Roasting Co, 2221 The Alameda, Santa Clara
Cost: Free (you need a free Meetup account to RSVP)
How to join: Join the Meetup group, then RSVP. RSVP: Meetup RSVP

Are there walking groups in San Jose?

Walking groups are still the thinnest part of this directory. San José FrontRunners, Walkers and Wheelers, an LGBTQ+ and friends group, walks, runs and rides through Guadalupe River Park every Saturday at 9 AM (listed above). Santa Clara-San Jose Running Group welcomes walkers on its Saturday run/walk near Santa Clara University (listed on our running clubs page), and several hiking groups post easy, shorter hikes. We're checking more walking clubs now.

Are there social bike rides in San Jose?

Yes. San José Bike Party is a free monthly themed night ride, and Mere Mortals Mountain Biking runs relaxed rides in South Bay parks.

San José Bike Party

Freeevenings

A huge, free monthly themed night ride through San Jose streets, with music and costumes, organized by volunteers.

Accepting new members?: Yes (open Meetup group; join on page)
Beginner-friendly?: Yes (Casual pace; lights required)
OK to go alone?: Yes (open RSVP events for individuals)
Next meeting: Fri Oct 16, 2026 7:30 PM
Usual schedule: Monthly themed night ride (usually third Friday, 7:30 PM) plus test rides and volunteer meetings
Where: Downtown / varies
Start points vary by month; Oct 16 ride starts near 361 W Santa Clara St, San Jose
Cost: Free
How to join: Show up at the posted start. RSVP: None needed

Mere Mortals Mountain Biking

FreeLos AltosRegional groupeveningsweekends

A relaxed-pace mountain bike group that welcomes riders of every skill level, including San Jose rides at Calero.

Accepting new members?: Yes (open Meetup group; join on page)
Beginner-friendly?: Yes (Relaxed pace; all levels)
OK to go alone?: Yes (open RSVP events for individuals)
Next meeting: Thu Oct 15, 2026 6:00 PM
Usual schedule: Weekly Thursday evening rides plus weekend rides
Where: South Bay (rides in San Jose parks such as Calero)
Trailheads vary; recent rides at Calero/Rancho San Vicente (San Jose) and the Baylands
Cost: Free (you need a free Meetup account to RSVP)
How to join: Join the Meetup group, then RSVP. RSVP: Meetup RSVP

Common questions

Are San Jose hiking groups free?

Yes. All 6 hiking groups on this page are free to join. You need a free Meetup account to RSVP to most hikes, and some parks charge for parking.

Are there weekday hiking groups in San Jose?

San Jose Mid-Week Hikers Group runs several weekday hikes each week, usually 5 to 7 miles, for retirees and people with flexible schedules.

Is there a hiking group for people in their 20s and 30s?

Bay Area Active & Social (20s, 30s & 40s) runs hikes and outings across the Bay Area, including San Jose hikes such as Almaden Quicksilver.

How hard are group hikes?

It depends on the hike. Most hiking groups post distance, elevation gain and pace on each event page. Start with a hike under 5 miles and tell the organizer you're new.

Can I bring my dog on a group hike?

Check the event and the park. Some groups allow dogs on certain hikes, and park rules vary. Ask the organizer before you bring one.

About the editor. SanJoseClubs is run by Greg de Vries, a longtime South Bay local. Greg owns Living Well Event Center in Los Gatos, is Managing Director at BTB Capital, and has taught meditation and mindfulness for 25 years. He started SanJoseClubs to make it easier for people to find a group and actually show up. Every listing is checked against the group's own page, and groups never pay to be listed. Reach him at [email protected]. Listings are checked against each group's own public page (Meetup, Strava, groups.io, library calendars, or the club website). A group is listed only if we saw an upcoming event or dated activity within about the last 90 days. How we verify listings.

Hiking and walking groups in San Jose