Celebrate Pride Month With These 8 Pride Hikes Around the Country
The outdoors should be for everyone, but that doesn’t mean the trail always feels welcoming. At Cloudline, we recognize organizations, companies, and grassroots groups — like Venture Out, LGBT Outdoors, Unlikely Hikers, and more — working to change that.
With Pride Month around the corner, we wanted to highlight hikes, trips, and meetups happening this June on trails across the country. These outings are generally open to LBTQ+ individuals and their allies and range from easy strolls around the park to multi-day backpacking trips through the mountains.
Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ and want to find like-minded outdoor enthusiasts to adventure with or you’re an ally excited to get outside with your friends, lace up your boots and check out one of the following Pride Month hikes!
1. Hike and Beach Cleanup in Seattle
When: June 8th, 2024, 9am - 12pm
Where: Pocket Beach, Seattle, Washington
In Cloudline’s home in the PNW, join QPOC Hikers for We’re Coming Out: World Oceans Day, Birding Beach Clean Up. The event brings together a bunch of environmentally and socially conscious community organizations, like Patagonia Seattle, Washington Conservation Action, Birds Connect Seattle, Conservation Northwest, Orca Action Month, and SR3.
You can expect easy to moderate hiking over mostly flat terrain during this beach cleanup and hike. QPOC encourages participants to bring plenty of food, water, sun protection, and pride! Leashed dogs are allowed, and carpooling is recommended.
Learn more and register at QPOC’s website.
2. Backpacking in the Blue Ridge Mountains
When: June 21 to 23, 2024
Where: Hot Springs, North Carolina
Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Blue Ridge Hiking Company (founded by AT legend Jennifer Pharr Davis) offers guided day hikes and overnights in the surrounding mountains. This Pride Month, the company is leading an LBGTQ+ Pride backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail.
Open to LGBTQ+ hikers and their family, friends, and allies, this trip is beginner-friendly, but the guides recommend you have some hiking experience. The trip will cover about 20 miles of rolling Appalachian terrain over three days, and participants will learn basic backpacking skills. Need gear? No problem. Blue Ridge Hiking Company is happy to lend out gear, like backpacks, sleeping pads, tents, and more.
This trip has sliding-scale pricing. Learn more and register at Blue Ridge Hiking Company’s website.
3. Hike and Picnic in Boise, Idaho
When: June 5, 2024, 5:30 - 8pm
Where: Harrison Hollow Trailhead, Boise, Idaho
The Sierra Club Idaho Chapter along with OUTdoors Idaho and Big Gal Backpackers Boise are hosting a choose-your-own adventure hike and picnic in celebration of Pride Month. Note that this event, unlike most others on this list, is only for LGBTQIA+ individuals. The goal is for locals to come together over a shared love of the outdoors and enjoy conversation and community in a queer-only space.
Participants can choose a shorter, easier hike or a more intense option. After the hike, there will be a picnic at Camel’s Back Park — free sandwiches and snacks provided.
Learn more and register at the Sierra Club’s website.
4. Tea Hike in Southwest Michigan
When: June 23, 2024, 1 - 2pm
Where: Fernwood Botanical Garden, Niles, Michigan
Sipping a sample of fresh iced teas and strolling through a botanical garden? Yes, please! At Fernwood Botanical Gardens in southwest Michigan, you can celebrate Pride Month with this delightful combo. Based on tea dances popular in the 1800s that later grew to have significance within New York City’s gay community, this tea hike combines connecting over a refreshing drink and learning about the garden’s unique biodiversity.
Register and learn more at Fernwood Botanical Garden’s website.
5. Wildflower Hike in Leadville, Colorado
When: June 23, 2024 (time TBD)
Where: Timberline Lake Trailhead
In honor of Pride Month, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition is hosting a colorful wildflower hike in scenic Leadville, Colorado. Hikers can connect and celebrate pride and nature on this beautiful mountain trek.
This 4.3-mile round-trip hike winds through gorgeous alpine terrain to Timberline Lake. Snacks are provided, but participants should bring lots of water and sunscreen.
Hikers should meet at the Get Outdoors Leadville! gear library on the Colorado Mountain College campus to carpool the 25 minutes to the trailhead.
6. Pride Hike in Las Vegas, Nevada
When: June 9, 2024, 10am - 1pm
Where: Tule Springs Loop, Floyd Lamb Park, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas Pride hosts monthly events with Pride OUTside, and Pride Month is no exception. This June, Las Vegas area hikers can join the group for a late morning hike at Floyd Lamb Park. These casual hikes are open to all ages and varying abilities, and hikers should bring plenty of snacks and water.
Learn more and register at Las Vegas Pride’s website.
7. Pride Hike in Northern Michigan
When: June 8, 2024, 3:30 - 5:30pm (Rain Date: June 22)
Where: Lake Ann, Michigan
The Venture Out Project (TVOP) is a nonprofit organization that leads wilderness backpacking trips for the queer and transgender community. In addition to these trips, TVOP facilitates workshops and organizes day hikes and other events across the country — all with the intent to bring together the LGBTQ+ community in the outdoors.
This Pride Month, attend a volunteer-led hike in northern Michigan to see beautiful lakes and old-growth forests. The hike is 3.2 miles with a couple hundred feet of elevation gain, and dogs are welcome on the trail. Hikers should bring their own food and water.
There’s a sliding scale cost for this hike, which funds TVOP program operating costs.
Learn more about the cost and register for this day hike at TVOP’s website.
8. Hike and Lunch in New Hampshire
When: June 8, 2024, 9:30am
Where: Boulder Loop Trailhead, White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
Celebrate Pride Month with White Mountains Pride by attending a 3-mile hike in White Mountains National Forest. Enjoy being on a scenic trail with new friends, work up an appetite, then gather for lunch at The Station Bistro in Conway after the hike.
Hikers should expect to be on the trail for about 2-3 hours. Event leaders recommend bringing trekking poles, water, sunscreen, bug spray, and a head net.
Learn more at White Mountains Pride’s website.
Help us spread the word about Pride Month hikes!
Regardless of where you live, we hope you can find a Pride Month hike near you. Everyone deserves to find adventure and connection in the outdoors, and we’re grateful for events like these in communities across the country.
Know of any Pride Month hikes, trips, or outdoor meetups in your area? Comment below to share more Pride Month events with Cloudline blog readers.
