Why Gen Z Is Ditching Bars and Dating Apps for Hiking Clubs in 2026
Hiking clubs have quietly become the social lifeline a lot of people didn't know they needed. What started as a niche weekend activity has turned into a full-blown movement, pulling in Gen Zers looking to escape the loneliness epidemic, remote workers craving face time after years behind a laptop and daters who are simply over the apps.
Unlike run clubs or happy hours, hiking offers something harder to fake: unhurried time together, minus the pressure of small talk over cocktails. The result is a boom that's reshaping how people meet friends, find community, and even fall in love. Here is what is fueling the surge.
Why Are Hiking Clubs So Popular in 2026?
Hiking clubs are booming because Americans, especially younger people and remote workers, want real-world community that book clubs and run clubs cannot always provide. The barrier to entry is lower than running, the health payoff is real and the format leaves plenty of room for conversation.
Carly Smith, chief marketing officer at AllTrails, told Business Insider the trend is tied to how work has changed. "There are more people working remotely than there were in the past. Hiking clubs in particular can give people a good sense of community in ways that maybe they aren't finding in other parts of their life," Smith said.
How Fast Are Hiking Clubs Growing?
Hiking clubs grew sixfold in 2025, nearly double the pace of run clubs, according to Strava's 12th annual Year in Sport report, which drew on data from more than 180 million users and a survey of over 30,000 users and non-users.
AllTrails saw its own surge. The platform's 2025 Impact Report shows a 20 percent increase in users, pushing the app to 90 million accounts. Many hikers are searching for trails more than 200 miles from home, suggesting the boom is also fueling travel.
"So we know that people are using us for planning travel and then for navigating and exploring National Parks and other destinations," Smith told Business Insider.
Why Are Hiking Clubs Replacing Bars for Gen Z?
Gen Z is drinking less and moving more, and hiking clubs are filling the social gap nightlife used to fill. Bank of America economists analyzed spending from 70 million consumer and small-business accounts and found Gen Z spending on fitness categories grew about 9 percent, while bar spending grew less than 4 percent.
"Younger Americans are really driving this movement that we're calling ‘The Great Moderation,'" Joe Wadford, an economist at the Bank of America Institute, told USA TODAY.
Florist Jeb Jagne, who started his own hiking group after friends moved away, told Refinery29 the shift is generational. "It's in the news a lot at the moment that our age group is just not drinking. I used to be a DJ and I met so many great friends through nightlife. I almost think now, if you were moving cities, aren't big on going out, and you just started a new job, you wouldn't know where to look for friends. Like, where would you meet people?" Jagne said.
Are Singles Finding Love in Hiking Clubs?
Yes, hiking trails are emerging as a swipe-free dating alternative, with psychotherapists saying the setting removes the pressure of a traditional first date. Singles fed up with apps are showing up to group hikes to meet people face to face.
"A hike gives singles the opportunity to connect and talk in a way that isn't threatening. Having a common goal of meeting and spending time outside, all while getting to know each other, allows people to open up more naturally," Robi Ludwig, a New York City psychotherapist, told the New York Post.
Ludwig said even hikers who do not meet a partner still expand their circle. "Either way, you're being brought into a whole new community. When you're single, you want to widen your circles as much as you can. You may be surprised to see what this does for you," she said.
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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM.