Clubs are cool – especially ones that get outside. Outdoor clubs have a long history of bringing together like-minded adventurers, imparting new skills and providing excellent opportunities for trips, accommodation and even gear. Also, many outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing are safer and more fun when enjoyed with others.
Related: These mountain bike trails offer the wildest adventures on two wheels
Whether you're new to outdoor sports or a seasoned veteran, clubs are a great way to meet people, get motivated, stay in shape and improve your craft. In addition, many clubs offer accommodation, discounts on equipment, outdoor skills clinics and international travel opportunities. Here are 10 of our favorite adventure organizations that provide affordable outdoor excursions if you're not sure where to go next—or with whom.
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ADL Ski Club
This Seattle-based group reinvents the ski club experience with small pro trips, huge gear discounts and retro fun. ADL Ski Club organizes small group trips (maximum 12-13 people at a time) to bucket list destinations such as Wengen, Kitzbuhel and Innsbruck in Switzerland, Austria, Chamonix and La Grave, France, Chile and Japan. Some of the trips take place in conjunction with World Cup ski competitions and provide special access to athletes on the US Ski Team. Others focus on powder and big mountains with no lift lines.
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American Alpine Club
In 1902, adventurers and environmentalists came together to support mountaineers, soil conservation, and the spirit of adventure. John Muir, known for his efforts to protect Yosemite National Park, was the second president of the American Alpine Club. The club continues to support the climbing lifestyle and has expanded its reach to become more diverse and inclusive (you no longer need to provide a climbing CV to apply for membership). Headquarters (and impressive library) are located in Golden, CO, but there are AAC chapters throughout the United States. Membership benefits include access to events, discounts in lodges and bunkhouses around the world and great travel insurance.
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Appalachian Mountain Club
Established in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is the oldest outdoor club in the United States. The group originally focused on protecting public lands in New England. Today, AAC leads education, exploration, and outdoor community building in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The AAC is famous for its lodges and campgrounds, which include the White Mountain Hut System, Pinkham Notch and Crawford Lodges, as well as New York's Bear Mountain/Harriman Lodges and Fire Island Cabin. There's also the Mohican Outdoor Center in New Jersey in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, which offers a variety of outdoor education opportunities. One long-standing AAC tradition is “August Camp,” held annually with 64 campers per week. Each year has a different location, with past camps held in New England, Wyoming, the Pacific Northwest, and Canada.
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Colorado Mountain Club
If you live in the Colorado Rockies and are interested in hiking and climbing, this is the club for you. Located in Golden, Colorado, the Colorado Mountain Club offers more than a dozen monthly activities in the surrounding forests and mountains, as well as well-priced guided hikes around the world. The group is designed to support mountain education, adventure and conversation, as well as a fun group of dedicated fans. You can start with easy day hikes near Denver, progress to the Colorado 14ers, or hunt in the Himalayas, Andes, and Alps. Activities include hiking, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, and several skills clinics. Groups are small and activities are accessible to everyone from novices to experts.
Related: The Complete Guide to Hiking and Climbing for 14-Year-Olds in California
Explorers Club
The Explorers Club is the premier international club dedicated to outdoor exploration and scientific study. Located on the east side of New York's Central Park, the clubhouse has been a meeting place for adventurers and explorers for nearly 200 years. President Theodore Roosevelt, aviator Charles Lindbergh, deep-sea diver Jacques Cousteau, astronaut Neil Armstrong and Sir Edmund Hillary were also members. Its current members are the world's best divers, astronauts, alpinists and climate scientists. EB hosts film screenings and lectures, many of which are open to the public. You don't have to be the first to climb Everest, circumnavigate Antarctica or walk on the moon to join – but that's okay.
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Mazamas
If you've ever dreamed of climbing Mt. Hood, consider joining Mazamas. Located in Portland, OR (founded in 1894 on the summit of Mt. Hood), the club is dedicated to mountaineering, conservation and outdoor education in the Pacific Northwest. The club runs over 700 hikes and 350 climbs a year, as well as plenty of skills courses. You have to climb a glaciated peak to join – but it's a great goal for everyone. The highlight of club membership is the Mazama Lodge at the base of Mt. Hood, near Government Camp. There are bunks and private rooms where staff prepare meals, and easy access to the popular peak and surrounding forest for skiing, hiking and climbing.
The climbers
Based in Seattle, The Mountaineers is a nonprofit outdoor community with approximately 13,000 members and 2,000 trained volunteers. It hosts more than 100 monthly activities and courses. You can learn to hike, rock climb, sail, navigate avalanche terrain, and read a map and compass. The organization has been around since 1906 and is responsible for introducing thousands of people to outdoor activities. There are clubhouses in Seattle and Tacoma, WA, and five lodges scattered throughout the western reaches of the state where members can stay, ski, hike, and even enjoy outdoor theater performances.
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Outdoor Adventure Club
While most clubs offer tours led by volunteers or paid experts, San Francisco-based Outdoor Adventure Club is a professional (insured and accredited) guide service dedicated to making it easier for people to get outdoors in a safe and community environment. They offer tons of hiking opportunities in the greater San Francisco area, as well as cool mountain climbing, skiing, rafting, and even mountain bike tours. Your membership fee (levels vary, but the standard annual option is $199) includes things like “free” gear rentals and discounts on tours and training clinics. For $3,000 a year, the club's “Ultimate” membership includes free weekend trips to California's most popular outdoor destinations. Non-members can also pay on the go.
Outdoor afro
This decades-old national organization is committed to the relationship between people and nature. The group focuses on furthering the Black outdoor experience, but anyone can join the trips. Plus, there's no fee. Outdoor Afro operates in over 55 cities across the United States, from New York to Honolulu. More than 100 volunteers organize and lead activities such as hiking, kayaking, fishing, swimming and even gardening. This year, the organization is committed to increasing access to swimming lessons. Outdoor Afro has a MeetUp site where you can find events in your area.
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Unique divers
Single Divers is not a dating site, but a group that organizes group diving trips and helps you find a diving partner. Plus, they offer well-priced trips to some of the planet's favorite dive sites, including Roatan, Cozumel, and the Red Sea.