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EnglishWhat Membership in the San Francisco Hiking Club Includes
Updated
Membership in the San Francisco Hiking Club (sfhiking.com) gets you three concrete things the public site does not: a more expansive list of hikes, non-hiking events such as the Holiday party, and the ability to register for hikes through the site's Register button. If you only want to try a hike or two before committing, you don't need to join — the club explicitly welcomes non-members to try out a couple of outings by emailing the hike leader or [email protected] in advance.
What Members Get That Visitors Don't
| Benefit | Non-member | Member |
|---|---|---|
| See the full hike list | Sees the posted upcoming events only | Access to a more expansive list of hikes |
| Non-hiking events (e.g., Holiday party) | Not listed publicly | Accessible through the member area |
| Register for a hike via the site | Register button won't work until you're a member | Can register online |
| Attend a hike | Welcome to try a couple, with prior email to the leader or [email protected] | Standard registration |
The site is built on Wild Apricot membership software, so the member area is gated behind a login — the "Log in" link and "Join" menu at the top of the page are the two entry points.
How the Try-Before-You-Join Path Works
The club's own instructions for non-members are specific, and following them matters:
- Find the hike posting you want to attend (they're listed on the home page with date, time, meeting location, and hike leader).
- Email the hike leader named in the posting, or [email protected], to say you'll attend.
- In that email, state whether you need a ride to the trailhead and/or whether you're willing to drive others.
- Show up at the stated meeting point. Note that the Register button will not work for you until you become a member, so don't rely on it.
After trying a hike or two, the club asks that you consider joining via the Join menu if you enjoy it.
Where the Club Hikes and When
Most events fall on Saturdays, sometimes Sundays. The usual meeting point is the Whole Foods at Dolores Street and Market Street in San Francisco; some hikes instead (or also) meet at the Rockridge BART Station in Oakland. Always check the individual posting, since it lists the meeting location(s) for that hike along with the expected difficulty.
Upcoming events shown on the site at the time of writing:
- Tombstones Totally — SF City Hike, 10/31/2026, 10:00 AM, San Francisco; leader Chuin Phang
- Sibley Volcanic and Huckleberry Botanical Regional Park Preserves, 11/14/2026, 10:00 AM, East Bay / Oakland; leader Robert H!ckey
- Angel Island Hike, 11/21/2026, details to follow
Who the Club Is For
The club organizes hikes and similar outings for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people and their friends. Anyone is welcome to try a couple of hikes regardless of membership status.
Which Email to Use
- [email protected] — questions about membership itself (cost, sign-up process, member access)
- [email protected] — general questions about the club, and the address for non-members announcing attendance
- The hike leader named in the posting — the fastest route for confirming a specific hike and arranging rides
The public page does not state membership dues or fees, so if cost is your deciding factor, ask [email protected] directly rather than assuming.
Deciding Whether to Join
Join if you plan to hike regularly with the group, want to see the fuller hike calendar, or want access to social events like the Holiday party — and if you'd rather register online than email a leader each time. Skip joining for now if you're new to the club: try one or two posted hikes first, since that's explicitly allowed, and decide afterward. Either way, the practical first step is the same — pick a posting, note its meeting point and leader, and send a short email saying you'll be there and whether you need or can offer a ride.