Are there any groups for joint hiking trips or camping?

Calgary is not only the famous capital of the oil industry, but also the heart of Canadian outdoor culture, where tens of thousands of people take to the trails of the Rocky Mountains every year in search of adventure. Located just half an hour's drive from Kananaskis Country and an hour from Banff National Park, the city has become a true mecca for hiking and camping enthusiasts. A sophisticated infrastructure of organized groups allows both novices and experienced travelers to find like-minded people, share experiences, and embark on unforgettable journeys in a safe and organized manner.

Large volunteer clubs: the heart of the travel community

Calgary Outdoor Club (COC) is the largest and most enthusiastic club in the city with over 900 members. The club operates on a “free membership for all Calgary adults” basis and organizes regular monthly activities, including hiking, biking, kayaking, and disc golf in the summer, and skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, and snowshoeing in the winter. A unique feature of the COC is that activities are designed for different skill levels, from beginners to experts, with many options in between.

Most activities take place in Calgary and the surrounding area, Banff, Canmore, and Lake Louise, but trips to neighboring provinces or longer trips are organized from time to time. The club is run entirely by volunteers and tries to keep costs to a minimum for participants. Upcoming events include disc golf in Baker Park, hikes to Arnica Lake and Twin Lakes, and a climb to Emerald Peak.

Rocky Mountain Ramblers Association is another important club with over 40 years of experience, coordinating over 300 trips per year. Their activities include trail and backcountry hiking, scrambling and some mountaineering, snowshoeing, Nordic skiing (groomed trails and backcountry), and occasionally ski mountaineering, downhill skiing, mountain biking, and canoeing. Many day trips visit Kananaskis Country and Banff National Park, and multi-day trips may include backpacking, car camping, or staying in hostels and cabins.

Calgary Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts (CORE) was formed in November 1999 primarily as a hiking club. Their activities now include Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking, cycling, urban walking, occasional scrambling, camping, canoeing, tennis, and social events. The club organizes scheduled meetings with presentations, as well as summer and winter weekend trips. It is a smaller club with a wide range of ages and skill levels, but all members share an enthusiasm and love of nature.

Alpine and ski clubs: for serious adventurers

The Alpine Club of Canada, Calgary Section is one of the oldest and most respected organizations with over 800 members. The Calgary branch offers mountain trips of all kinds: backcountry skiing, ice climbing, rock climbing, and mountaineering. They also subsidize weekend courses throughout the year covering the full range of mountain skills. The Calgary section is very involved in regional access and environmental issues.

To access trip registration, you must be a member of the Alpine Club of Canada and join the Calgary section. After joining the Calgary branch, it usually takes one business day for the national organization to provide membership information. Upcoming events include a two-day alpine efficiency, rock climbing, and via ferrata intensive in Nordegg, as well as an evening series of improvised rope rescue skills.

The Calgary Ski Club extends its activities beyond the ski season by organizing popular hiking and biking events throughout the spring, summer, and fall. They coordinate day hikes anywhere within easy reach of Calgary, as well as regular bike rides of up to 100 km for those who prefer to stay in the saddle. Hikes are rated by both length and difficulty: short (up to 10 km), medium (10–20 km), and long (over 20 km), with levels ranging from casual to challenging.

Clubs for older adults: active aging in nature

Calgary has a particularly rich network of outdoor clubs for adults aged 50+, demonstrating that age is no barrier to an active lifestyle.

Second Sixties Outdoor Club has been providing year-round outdoor activities for seniors who share a love of nature for over 40 years. They welcome new members aged 50+. Every Wednesday during the spring and summer months, members and guests hike in Kananaskis Country, as well as in Banff, Kootenay, and Yoho National Parks. In winter, Wednesdays include Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in the Kananaskis, Banff, and Lake Louise areas. Transportation for all these outings is provided by a chartered bus that departs from northwest Calgary.

The Evergreen Seniors Outdoor Club is open to members 55+ and offers walks, hikes, Nordic skiing, and snowshoeing. Club president Kiyoko Miyanishi notes that a bus takes participants to trailheads in the mountains and foothills outside Calgary almost every Thursday throughout the year. The club limits total membership to 140 and uses a random drawing if more participants sign up for a trip than the bus can accommodate.

The FLC Seniors Outdoor Club is part of the larger FLC Seniors Club, which has over 2,500 members. Membership in the general club costs $25, and then you can choose an outdoor club for an additional $5 from among various activities. Participants use their own transportation to meet at the starting point for all club outings, and many walks take place in parks or places such as Reader Rock Garden, Inglewood, or even local cemeteries to explore local history.

The 5th Dimension Outdoor Club was created for active seniors in the Calgary area aged 55 and older. It is the fifth such club in the city of Calgary, hence its name. The club offers year-round day trips by bus every Thursday to destinations primarily in the foothills and mountain parks west of Calgary. Different skill levels are accommodated, and the bus must be booked in advance, with guests invited on a space-available basis.

Meetup groups: flexibility and variety

The Meetup platform has become a popular way to organize outdoor activities in Calgary, offering more flexibility and a less formal structure than traditional clubs.

Slow and Steady Hikers organize all kinds of summer and winter activities, including day hikes, scrambling, backpacking trips, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, ski trips, and anything else considered an outdoor activity. The group has clear requirements: no guests, no children, no pets. Upcoming events include bike-hike-scrambling on Mount Nestor with mandatory rock climbing helmets and a backpacking trip to the Petain pool and Mount Foch.

Calgary Hiking and Scrambling Meetup organizes trips that include backpacking, hut trips, rock climbing, cycling, paddling, and anything else considered an outdoor activity. This is a volunteer group with no guided trips — everyone is responsible for their own safety, proper preparation for the trip, and knowing their limits. Upcoming events include the Peytain pool and Mount Foch — a long day with the first 5 km by bike.

The Calgary Wilderness Hiking Meetup Group aims to provide outdoor activities for physical and mental health. Who should join: anyone who enjoys hiking with dogs and people. The group emphasizes that hiking is a very dangerous activity and all participants participate at their own risk. Upcoming events include James Walker Mountain (easy scrambling) with mandatory helmets and bear spray.

Backcountry Wild YYC is a group of outdoor adventurers with a primary focus on overnight backpacking trips and occasional hut stays, as well as unique day hikes off the beaten path. Hikes and overnight trips are usually best suited for intermediate/advanced skill levels, although there may be occasional easier trips. The emphasis is on lighter backpacking for efficient travel on more challenging trips.

University programs: accessibility and professional guidance

University of Calgary Outdoor Centre offers comprehensive hiking and backpacking programs led by experienced guides. Their guided day hikes include van transportation for some programs and take place in the Bow Valley, Kananaskis Country, and beyond. Participants learn about the local ecology, pacing, travel skills, map reading, group safety, and much more. Trips are available for all fitness levels and interests.

Backpacking programs allow you to go further and stay longer in the wilderness with multi-day trips. Their trips include group gear and guide support for planning, packing, setting up camp, and cooking on the trail so participants leave with comfortable skills to continue. They offer a one-night introductory backpacking trip, and then you can sign up for local trips to different destinations each year.

UofC Outdoor Adventurers (UCOA) is a student group that organizes informal events, including hikes to Mount Yates via the Prairie View Trail and trips to the Tonquin Valley hut. These events often sell out quickly and have waiting lists.

Camping opportunities: from car camping to remote wilderness

Calgary is ideally located for access to a variety of camping opportunities. Alberta Parks operates a camping reservation system that allows you to reserve individual campsites 90 days in advance and group and comfort campsites 180 days in advance. The system operates as a first-come, first-served reservation system that advances daily at 9:00 a.m. mountain time.

Kananaskis Country offers numerous camping opportunities, from serviced campgrounds to casual camping on public lands. The area is sometimes overlooked as people rush along the Trans-Canada Highway to Banff, which is good news for those who want a less crowded camping experience. Bow Valley Provincial Park is one of the protected parks in the area with several options for serviced and unserviced campgrounds.

Banff National Park is popular for a reason, with majestic views of the Canadian Rockies, wildlife, a charming town along the Bow River, and many camping options ranging from glamping and full-service RV parks with hookups to basic walk-in campsites.

A Public Lands Camping Pass is required for casual camping on public lands along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains within the pass area from Grand Prairie to Waterton Lakes National Park. Passes are $20 per person for a 3-day pass or $30 per person for an annual pass. A system processing fee of $3.25 plus GST per transaction will be charged when purchasing a pass.

Special programs: scouting and youth organizations

Scouting Canada offers adventure programs for youth ages 14 to 17, including an informal program for planning and participating in short-term, adventure activities with an emphasis on teamwork and skill development. Activities include hiking expeditions, bicycle tours, extended water trips, adventure races (canoeing, kayaking), interprovincial and international travel, snowshoeing, attending large events such as jamborees, and long-term camping excursions.

Lost Lake Scout Camp, operated by the 18th Calgary Scout Troop, is a 16-acre lake in a mixed forest southwest of Water Valley, about an hour's drive from Calgary. This campground is best suited for outdoor skills training and activities, including hiking, canoeing, and outdoor camping with three separate camping areas. The camp is available for Scouts and Guide groups to reserve, and non-Scouting groups may use the camp by prior arrangement.

YMCA Calgary offers the Camp Chief Hector program, an outdoor overnight camp and outdoor education center located in the Bow Valley. Programs include archery, canoeing, high ropes, low ropes, horseback riding, backcountry expeditions, and general camp games. The camp operates in summer, fall, winter, and spring.

Equipment rental: accessibility without a big investment

Calgary has a well-developed network of outdoor equipment rentals, making hiking and camping accessible without a large initial investment.

The University of Calgary Outdoor Centre (2500 University Drive NW) is the most popular rental location with over 10,000 quality rental items. In the summer, you can find items such as backcountry camping gear, paddleboards, and bicycles. In winter, they have skis and snowshoes, ski sleds, winter clothing, and even avalanche safety equipment. Rentals are by appointment only through their online system.

Sports Rent (4424 16th Ave NW) positions itself as “For all kinds of sports” and has a large selection of equipment. In summer, you can rent all kinds of water sports equipment, bicycles, fishing and camping gear, and even golf clubs.

Rest Easy Rentals specializes in camping equipment and gear with free delivery of all rental items right to your door. They offer camping packages, quality camping tents, and various camping equipment. Pickup address: 210 15 Ave SE, Calgary, AB (call before pickup).

Nomad Mobile Gear Rental is a 100% mobile service, delivering summer and winter sports rental gear right to your door, office, hotel, or community center. They offer a free online equipment reservation system, free delivery and pickup anywhere in Calgary, and discounts on lift tickets for various ski resorts in the Calgary area.

Safety and preparation: key aspects of group activities

Most organized groups emphasize the importance of personal responsibility and proper preparation. The Alpine Club of Canada requires participants to have the appropriate skills and experience for the trip. The Calgary Wilderness Hiking Meetup Group has a detailed disclaimer emphasizing that hiking is a very dangerous activity and participants participate at their own risk.

The University of Calgary Outdoor Centre offers a “Bear & Wildlife Safety” lecture, a two-hour lecture on bear signs and behavior, how to avoid them, and what to do if you encounter an animal on the trail. This demonstrates a serious attitude toward safety in local outdoor communities.

Many groups emphasize the importance of following the Leave No Trace principles to minimize impact on the environment. Backcountry Wild YYC even requires all participants to learn and make every effort to follow these principles.

Accessibility for beginners: entry threshold and support

Most Calgary outdoor groups welcome beginners and offer activities of varying difficulty. Calgary Outdoor Club specifically notes that it offers beginner activities, more challenging activities, and many “in-between” activities. University of Calgary Outdoor Centre offers trips for all fitness and experience levels.

The Rocky Mountain Ramblers coordinate over 300 trips per year, which means a wide range of options for different experience levels. CORE describes itself as a smaller group with a wide range of ages and skill levels, but everyone shares an enthusiasm for the outdoors.

Clubs for older adults are especially welcoming to newcomers. Second Sixties Outdoor Club welcomes new members aged 50+, and Evergreen Seniors Outdoor Club plans each trip with different difficulty options so club members can choose.

Conclusion

The Calgary outdoor group system for hiking and camping is one of the most developed in North America, offering options for all ages, experience levels, and budgets. From large volunteer clubs with hundreds of members to specialized alpine sections, from flexible Meetup groups to university programs with professional guides, there is a community for everyone. The proximity to the Rocky Mountains, a well-developed equipment rental infrastructure, and a culture of safety make group hiking and camping not only accessible but also safe and enjoyable. For those who want to explore Alberta's stunning wilderness, Calgary's groups offer not just activities, but a whole way of life based on a love of the mountains, friendship, and a shared thirst for adventure.