Imagine the sunrise casting golden hues over the Rockies as you share a moment of awe with a group of women who've become your adventure sisters. There's something magical about hiking with a group—especially in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park. Group hiking trips offer more than just stunning views; they bring connection, shared experiences, and the confidence that comes from tackling trails together.
Even though I live only 2 hours from Rocky Mountain National Park, I chose to do a group hiking trip there – in my backyard. I have taken many Denver day trips to the park before to get my day hiking fix. But I wanted more – I wanted to get to know the park, and I didn't want to hike it alone like I usually do. In addition, I had never spent an extended time in Estes Park before, so this was my chance to build some new hiking friendships, get introduced to new areas of RMNP and Estes Park, and take on some hikes that I wouldn't want to do on my own!
Why Group Hiking Trips Are Worth It
I've been adventuring alone my entire life, which is great – but sometimes you want to reap the benefits of being around people. For me, hiking is especially enjoyable with other people – here's why.
Safety in Numbers
Safety is my most significant benefit. When you hike in remote areas, anything can happen. Not only do I worry about injuries, getting lost, or being stuck in bad weather, but as a woman, I worry about the intentions of other hikers around me. I'd much rather be with people for the peace of mind, knowing I have help if something goes wrong.
Expert-Led Confidence
Many group trips are guided by experts, reducing the stress and time of planning it on my own. Plus – it's nice to leave the navigation to an expert so that I can just enjoy the views and nature around me.
Personal Growth and Empowerment
Women seek social connections for support. I always look to other women for inspiration; when I'm struggling, my girlfriends are the first people I'll seek out. Often, when I'm hiking, I'm working through my 'life challenges' in my head – it's cathartic. Having other women there benefits me to get more feedback and opinions in a safe and welcoming environment. Group activities like hiking allow for sharing advice, brainstorming solutions, or simply venting, which we all know can be necessary for our mental well-being!
Cost Effective Travel
Who doesn't love to save money? Group travel is often more economical because you are all sharing resources, such as transportation to trailheads and accommodations. Plus – my group hiking trip to Rocky Mountain National Park also had us sharing family-style meals, which really helped me save money on food for the week! Group trips significantly reduce costs while maximizing your adventure!
Shared Adventure, Shared Joy
The camaraderie of conquering trails together creates lifelong memories, which is priceless to me. There have been so many times I've been traveling around the world on a solo trip, and I wish I could share that experience, view, and feeling with someone. Granted – I still love solo travel, but there are moments when I get that little pang of wishing someone was with me.
Why Women Choose AGC for Group Hiking Trips
To my surprise, I received a pre-trip phone call from our guide, Brenda…yes, an actual call. This was something that I had never experienced on another group trip. You usually don't meet your guide until you are there. However, at AGC, you get a pre-trip call to ask any of those last-minute nagging questions about packing and logistics. This was the beginning of things that set my experience with AGC and other group hiking trips apart!
Guide Expertise and No Woman Left Behind
This was my first time traveling with Adventures in Good Company, and the quality of the guides stood out to me. Brenda and Kaitlyn far exceeded my expectations in terms of experience and general energy. They never stopped – always being mama bears to our every need on and off the trail.
I felt so taken care of on the trail as they accommodated different speeds in our group, different food requirements, and different abilities.
"It also means that "no woman is left behind." By this, we mean our guides are like bookends for the group, allowing us to accommodate comfortable (and various) hiking speeds, with safety being the biggest priority. We'll periodically gather the group for check-ins, making sure everyone is doing well, staying hydrated, and keeping blisters at bay."– Excerpt from The Nine Most Frequently Asked Questions by AGC Travelers
Two Guides Are Better Than One
Two guides ensure a fun and safe group adventure. For our Rocky Mountain National Park trip, our two guides were able to coordinate multiple options for people in the group who didn't want to hike the full distance. They were logistics queens juggling vans, and plans to ensure that everyone was happy. If you had one guide, that flexibility wouldn't have been possible.
Learn about Group Hiking Etiquette
Hiking in a group is rewarding - but it also has the potential to be louder and more destructive. The one thing that absolutely stuck out to me was Brenda and Kaitlyn's knowledge of hiking etiquette and their eagerness to share it. As an avid hiker, I thought I knew everything there was to know about group hiking etiquette and safety, but boy, was I wrong.
From how to pass people on a trail, to where and how to pull over on the trail, to how to have your gear ready for rainstorms, to where to go if you see lightening (hint… it's not where you think!), to how to hold your hiking poles, to tying shoes for hiking downhill (watch the video here). We got a masterclass in hiking etiquette – one everyone could use!
You can learn more about trail etiquette tips here.
Group Lodging
The comradery doesn't stop when you finish the hike. AGC group hiking trips typically rent a large home that the group stays in and utilizes as a 'home base.' I absolutely loved this concept of eating with the gre with the safety and support of a like-minded community. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or stepping into nature for the first time, group hiking unlocks confidence, new friendships, and lifelong memories.roup, relaxing, sharing pictures, watching movies, playing games, and soaking in the hot tub. However, our house was also big enough to have your own space if needed. Overall, things felt way more relaxed and fun.
Spotlight: Group Travel for Women in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park
If you are looking to try a group mountain-focused hiking trip, the Peak Pursuits trip is one of the hardest that AGC offers, so if you are considering it – be sure to be prepared for some challenges.
We completed six hikes in the park designed with altitude acclimation in mind, starting lower and getting progressively harder and higher each day. Always respect the altitude—it's a challenge not to be underestimated! To read more about our group experiences, see my account of it.
Each hike was more beautiful than the next, and even though my body felt battered at the end of the trip – it felt good. I felt good, and most importantly, I gained hiking confidence and a new group of hiking friends!
More All-Women's Hiking Trips with AGC
If you'd like more beginner-friendly/moderate-difficulty group hiking options – AGC has many! And the best part is that you'll get all of the great benefits of group hiking trips when you do any of these AGC trips!
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Exploring the Big South Fork: This trip combines hiking with an immersion into the uniqueness of this fascinating area - there is no better way to understand these two parks than by staying in the midst of them and exploring by foot. Hikes are moderate in terms of length and elevation gain, and it is an excellent trip for beginner to experienced hikers who like to immerse themselves in their trips.
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Bulgaria's Mountains And Monasteries: On this trip, AGC combines hiking with cultural exploration, including visiting some of the major monasteries, learning about the culture of Bulgarian Muslim women, eating traditional Bulgarian food, touring its two largest cities, visiting limestone caves, and listening to Bulgarian music. Following traditional shepherds' paths, forest tracks, and ancient Roman roads, you’ll hike in the Rhodope, Pirin, and Rila mountains for 1-5 hours daily, with time to stop for photographs, look at nature, and talk to local people. The daily hikes will take you through a mixture of silent forests and open meadows, as well as over some rough and rocky terrain with occasional steep ascents and descents.
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Wildflowers & Waterfalls: Exploring the Great Smokies or Fall in the Great Smokies: These trips combine hiking with learning about the natural and cultural history of the area. With lots of instructions and tips to make your hiking more enjoyable, this is an ideal trip for novice hikers. In the spring, you'll learn to identify the many wildflowers found here and enjoy the foliage during the fall months.
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Alaska: From Fairbanks to Anchorage: On this trip, AGC combines hiking, whitewater rafting, and searching for wildlife that is distinctly wild in Alaska. They combine time in Denali National Park, the best known of Alaska's National Parks, with excursions into some of its hidden corners.
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Ireland: Castles, Culture, and Hiking: AGC combines hiking throughout the trip with visiting some of the many historical and cultural sights, ranging from castles to remote islands. AGC’s Irish guide is a wealth of information about all things Ireland, and you’ll leave with a more profound knowledge of this country and its people.
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Waterfalls, Wildflowers, and Wineries: The title pretty well sums up the trip: you'll be hiking on the Appalachian Trail as well as to waterfalls, stopping to enjoy all the wildflowers, and learning about wine with a private wine tasting and visits to local wineries. The day you climb Blood Mountain, 5 miles with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet, is the longest hike. Other days are much less. This trip is suitable for novice and experienced hikers and drinkers. And even if you don't drink wine, learning about it is an enjoyable cultural experience.
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Exploring Scotland: Isles, Landscapes, and Lochs: This trip has lots of activity, interspersed with time for sightseeing, and the days can be enjoyed by any active and fit woman in good health who has a good level of physical conditioning, loves being outdoors, and wants to see Scotland.
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Hiking Through History in Shenandoah National Park: This is a hiking trip through the Shenandoah National Park trails. You will have the chance to hike anywhere from about 3 miles to upwards of 8 miles per day. The trails include a few tricky ups and downs, exhilarating rocky scrambles, and many nature viewing opportunities. These hiking adventures will test the limits of the title Level 3, so be prepared for a beautiful, naturistic challenge within each day.
For women seeking camaraderie in the great outdoors, these trips can be transformative, blending adventure, growth and fun.
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Sherry Ott is a long-time travel blogger and content creator sharing travel tips and stories of unique adventures to intriguing destinations. You can see more at Ottsworld.com and @Ottsworld on social media.
