Just moved to Olympia, 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.
Saturdays, 7:30am · long/medium/short distances
Olympia (see club for the week’s start)
The club’s flagship weekly run — long and medium routes follow the Capital City Marathon/half training cycle.
Thursdays, 6:00pm · casual ~50-min run, no-drop
Rose Garden, Squaxin Park, Olympia
The club’s weekly run — meets at the Rose Garden by the pavilion (winter: Friends’ Meeting House on Boston Harbor Rd), beverages after. They love helping newbies learn trails.
The Mountaineers — Olympia Branch
Wednesdays, 6:00pm (May–Sep) · social sea-kayak paddle
Boston Harbor / Budd Inlet, Olympia
May–September social sunset paddles for the sea-kayak community, launching at 6pm from Boston Harbor (or Swantown Marina during construction).
Two free weekly community runs — see current schedule
Around Olympia (see schedule)
Free membership and two weekly group runs; confirm current days and meet-up spots before heading out.
Select Tuesdays, 6:00pm · 4–5 mi, no-drop, rotating trails
Rotating South Sound trailheads
Spring–summer Tuesday series at rotating trailheads (Grass Lake, McKenny, LBA, Mima Falls, Millersylvania); some require a Discover Pass.
First & third Saturdays · volunteer trail-building
Two monthly work parties (first and third Saturdays) building and maintaining Capitol Forest’s singletrack — whacking weeds, fixing tread, and rebuilding berms.
Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance — South Sound Chapter
Seasonal community rides & stewardship days — see calendar
Rotating South Sound trailheads
Tuesdays, 6:00pm · a casual ride and a fast ride
Olympia (see club for start point)
Two parallel Tuesday-evening rides — one casual pace, one fast — so riders can self-select their group.
Paced weekend road rides — see club calendar
Rotating South Sound start points
The Mountaineers — Olympia Branch
Year-round branch hikes & trips — see activity calendar
Rotating Olympic/Cascade trailheads
Volunteer-led day hikes, the Conditioning Hiking Series, family hikes, and backpacking trips of all difficulties.
The Mountaineers — Olympia Branch
Winter snowshoe course & trips — see activity calendar
Rotating Rainier/White Pass-area trailheads
Second Saturday monthly · free guided preserve series
A free monthly event series at Bayshore Preserve — guided nature programming open to the community.
Guided nature walks & stewardship workdays — see events
Rotating Olympia-area preserves
Free public preserves around Olympia (Darlin Creek, Randall) plus guided walks and habitat-restoration workdays.
Open daily · bouldering, top rope & lead, plus classes
The South Sound’s full-service gym — drop-in bouldering and roped climbing with intro classes and youth programs.
Beginner-friendly birding walks — see field-trip calendar
Rotating Olympia-area parks
Welcoming social birding outings for all ages and experience levels (e.g. Pioneer Park, Frye Cove).
Year-round birding field trips — see calendar
Rotating Thurston/Mason/Lewis sites
Third Tuesday monthly · program, reports & business
North Olympia Fire Dept, Boston Harbor Rd, Olympia
Third-Tuesday meetings with presentations on fishing and conservation; the club also runs regular fishouts.
Monthly club fishouts — see schedule
Rotating South Sound waters
Olympia Chapter, Trout Unlimited
Monthly chapter meetings + conservation projects — see schedule
Olympia (see chapter page)
Chapter #189 — grassroots coldwater conservation on South Sound watersheds plus volunteer restoration work.
The Mountaineers — Olympia Branch
Seasonal sea-kayaking course & student paddles — see calendar
Daily spring–summer · single & tandem rentals off the dock
Walk-up kayak rentals (paddles and PFDs included) with a beginner-friendly loading station for exploring Budd Inlet.
The Mountaineers — Olympia Branch
Winter XC-ski course (Jan–Feb) + group outings — see calendar
Rotating Cascade nordic centers
Basic Nordic skiing instruction with field trips to Cascade trail systems (White Pass, Summit, Stevens Pass nordic centers).
The Evergreen State College — The Outdoor Program
Day trips & overnights (hike/kayak/climb/ski) — see schedule
Departs Evergreen campus, Olympia
TOP runs hiking, kayaking (Hope Island), and climbing (Smith Rock) trips with group gear and meals included; rental center for all-season gear.