Just moved to Boulder, or getting back into it after a while? These groups are beginner-friendly and welcoming — no need to be fast, experienced, or know a soul.
Sundays · 8:00am summer (Jun–Sep), 9:00am winter · long & short routes, snacks + coffee after
East Boulder Community Center, 5660 Sioux Dr
Start shifts to 9:00am from October through May. Route options run from short loops to dirt trails.
Tuesdays, 5:30pm · A/B/C pace groups, last group is no-drop
Twisted Pine Brewery
Riders split into 18–20, 16–18, and 14–16 mph groups; only the last (C) group is explicitly no-drop.
Wednesdays, 6:00pm · casual green-level ride, beginner-friendly · Apr–Sep
Rotating Boulder County trailheads
Free and open to all, members and non-members alike. Green = little climbing, no exposure, good for newer riders. Trailhead changes weekly (posted on Meetup).
Sundays · easy long run, free & open to the public · location rotates weekly
Rotating Boulder-area locations (see club home page)
Meeting spot changes each week — usually in or around Boulder, occasionally farther afield (e.g. Switzerland Trail). Check the club site for the week’s plan.
Wednesdays, 6:00pm · easy 5K or 10K on the creek path, pizza + beer after
In Motion Running, 30th & Walnut
A rotating vendor sponsors each week with samples and giveaways; beer for those 21+.
Mondays, 6:00pm · casual ~5K, all paces, no one left behind
Twisted Pine Brewing
Six-plus rotating routes, all roughly a 5K, then beer and food at the brewery.
Thursdays, 6:00pm · ~3-mile road loop, no-drop
Fleet Feet Boulder store
Tuesdays, 7:00am · 4–5 miles on trail
People’s Crossing Trailhead
An early trail run on open-space singletrack — well-behaved dogs are common on these foothill trails.
Recurring trail runs in & around Boulder · most no-drop, all speeds
Boulder-area trailheads (see club site)
A club built around Boulder singletrack; check the site/schedule for the current run calendar.
A couple of times a week · runs, jogs & hikes, 3–6 mi, all levels, coffee after
Rotating Boulder trails (e.g. Wonderland Lake)
Women-focused; mixes road, trail, and hikes with a strong social bent. Times posted per event on Meetup.
Ongoing · earn-a-bike, repair classes & volunteer shifts
Community Cycles shop, Boulder
Not a group ride but the city’s nonprofit bike hub — recurring repair education and volunteer opportunities. Check the calendar for current days.
Tuesdays, 6:00pm · women’s ride, green/blue · Apr–Sep
Rotating Boulder County trailheads
Women’s group ride with a ride guide; pace and trailhead posted weekly on Meetup.
Colorado Mountain Club — Boulder Group
Recurring early-morning hike + coffee series · volunteer-led, no charge
Boulder-area trailheads (see trip calendar)
One of several regular Boulder Group series (alongside Hiker Happy Hour and the beginner Ascending Hike Series). Dates and trailheads are posted on the CMC trip calendar; sign-up usually required.
Colorado Mountain Club — Boulder Group
Recurring after-work social hikes · volunteer-led, no charge
Boulder-area trailheads (see trip calendar)
After-work social hikes from the Boulder Group; specific dates/times on the trip calendar.
City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks
Free interpretive hikes on Boulder open space · changing dates
OSMP trailheads (Chautauqua, NCAR & others)
Naturalist-led interpretive hikes through the Flatirons open-space system; dates rotate — check the OSMP program calendar.
City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks
Recurring volunteer trail-building & restoration projects
OSMP project sites around Boulder
Hands-on trail work, restoration, and forestry projects; scheduled per project on the OSMP volunteer calendar.
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers
Single-day & weekend volunteer projects across the Front Range · seasonal
Project sites around Boulder County & beyond
Trail building, habitat and river restoration — 150+ projects a year, from single-day events to weekend wilderness work. Register per project.
Thursdays, ~5:00pm · social climb, will belay newcomers, brewpub after
Movement Boulder (lower-right staircase)
A community-run Meetup at the gym (gym day pass / membership applies). Regulars will belay you or set you up with a group if you don’t belay; the crew heads to a brewpub around 7:00–7:30pm.
Ongoing · partner finder, classes & community nights
Movement Boulder
Find-a-partner board plus rotating classes and community events; check the gym calendar for current nights.
Ongoing · adult & youth courses, fresh routes set 3×/week
Boulder Rock Club
Boulder’s original gym (since 1991); routes reset three times a week. Course schedule on the gym site.
Recurring guided climbing trips & courses through the school year
CU Boulder Rec Center / Front Range crags
Bouldering and rope climbing trips aimed at building beginner skills; part of 200+ annual Outdoor Pursuits offerings. Dates per the trips calendar.
Winter · avalanche safety, ski & snowshoe trips and courses
CU Boulder / Front Range backcountry
Avalanche education plus skiing and snowshoeing trips; scheduled through the winter season on the Outdoor Pursuits calendar.
When snow allows · 1–2 km groomed in-town loop, Nov into Mar
North Boulder Park
Not an organized outing but a free in-town groomed loop the club maintains when conditions permit — check trail conditions before going.
Winter season · classic & skate lessons and programs, ~40 km groomed
Eldora Nordic Center, near Nederland
The closest groomed Nordic skiing to Boulder (~30 min west). Lessons, group programs, and rentals run early winter into spring.
Boulder County Audubon Society
Every other month, Sunday afternoons · bird walk + a brewery after, all welcome
Rotating Boulder-area birding spots
Sponsored by Boulder County Audubon; meets roughly every other month, start time keyed to sunset, ending at a nearby brewery. Beginners welcome.
Boulder County Audubon Society
Free, mostly seasonal field trips · Walden Ponds, Rabbit Mountain, Pella Crossing & more
Boulder County wildlife areas (see events page)
Free local outings led by chapter birders; spring and fall are busiest. Dates and trip leaders posted on the events page.
Summer member outings into the high country · plus river cleanups & conservation work
Boulder-area & high-country waters
The local Trout Unlimited chapter runs summer Hike-and-Fish trips plus conservation outings; specific dates posted on the chapter calendar.
By appointment · guided trips and shop know-how for all levels
Front Range Anglers, Boulder
A Boulder Creek fly shop with guides for every level; trips scheduled by appointment. Not a recurring meetup but the local fly-fishing hub.
Winter/spring pool sessions + a season of river trips & safety training
Front Range pools & rivers (see club calendar)
One of the country’s oldest whitewater clubs (est. 1954). Indoor roll practice in the off-season, then beginner instruction and member river trips through the paddling season.
Warm-season lake/reservoir paddles + winter roll & rescue practice in pools
Front Range lakes & reservoirs / indoor pools
Members learn from each other and ACA-certified instructors; flatwater paddles in season, rescue/rolling practice in pools over winter. Schedule on the club site.
200+ trips a year · hiking, backpacking, kayaking, climbing & fly fishing
CU Boulder Recreation Center
CU’s outdoor program; primarily for students but a model of beginner-focused programming. Browse the trips calendar for current offerings.