About us
Austin Sierra Club (local branch of the Sierra Club) holds outings for outdoor activities: hiking, camping, biking, backpacking, kayaking, community service projects, and more. These include local one-day events to greenbelts and natural areas, weekend trips to state parks, as well as longer trips to national parks.
All participants must sign our Sign-In Sheet with Participation Agreement before joining one of our outings. You are strongly urged to add your cell phone and emergency contact numbers on the sheet, for your safety. More information is needed for overnight trips.
Many of our events are rated Easy and everyone is invited to participate, but others have fitness and experience requirements. Smoking and vaping is not allowed on our events. Check with the Leader to see if pets are allowed.
Although it's not necessary to participate in our events, we encourage you to join the Sierra Club (in addition to the Meetup group), and support our efforts to protect the environment.
Upcoming events
6
June General Meeting -- So What is a Service Project, Anyway?
Mosaic Workshop, 729 Airport, Austin, TX, USJoin us at our monthly General Meeting at the Mosaic Workshop in East Austin for socializing, networking, and engagement on environmental topics of local interest. Doors open at 6:30 for light snacks and conversation. Club updates and program starts at 7pm.
Austin Sierra Club'ers have been traveling far and wide, volunteering for essential work on our public lands. In the last year this has included projects at Bandelier Nat'l Monument, Devil's River SNA, and Palo Duro Canyon SP, among others, with more scheduled for 2026. At our June program, outings leaders Stan Peyton and Diane Nunez will explain what service projects are, who can go on them, why so many fill up, and what they end up doing. Some of the questions they'll answer include:
- What kinds of volunteer work do we do?
- Why do people sign up for Service Projects over and over and over again?
- How do we handle the meals?
- What kind of skills level do you need to have?
- Why do we always bring bleach?
- Why is the 50’s television show Industry on Parade relevant to our Service Projects?
- What result of doing the Service Projects happens other than the volunteer work?
Stan Peyton started volunteering on Sierra Club Service Projects in 1995 at Great Basin National Park. After that, he was hooked. This means volunteering on at least 20 projects over the years, including six at Glacier National Park, and
In 2018 at Bryce Canyon, he started leading Service Projects. The Austin Group of the Sierra Club is offering six in 2026. A little background information on Stan: In 1994 he went to Washington as the Las Vegas Sierra Club's sole
representative to testify before Congress for expanding the Red Rock Canyon
National Conservation Area. We won - Clinton signed the bill and the NCA
more than doubled in size. In 2015, he flew into Cape Town, rented a 4x4, and headed into the bush. No guide. No gun. That trip opened a door he has walked through seven times since, covering ten African countries.
In the past year he hiked the Kumano Kodo in Japan and peered into the Cosmic Ashtray in the Utah desert.Diane Nunez started attending Austin Sierra Club trips in 2016, shortly after retirement from her job with the state. Her first trip was to Glacier and was not a service trip. She decided at that time, that going on trips with the ASC was both cost effective and fun and supported way to see the National Parks. She also decided that she could lead these trips with her attention to detail. She led 4 trips prior to the pandemic. At that time planning and executing a trip was very time consuming. She co-led her first service trip with Wesley Smith and went to Yosemite. They worked in their nursery and took care of their baby white oaks that had been planted in the places from which they had harvested the seeds. Her first service trip with Stan Peyton was one of the most memorable. They went to Glacier National Park’s Apgar Campground, where they conducted a mountain goat survey. Since 2018, she has led 15 trips, 10 of them service trips. She loves working in nature and giving back to our state and national parks. What she values most about these trips is the camaraderie among participants, the appreciation leaders show for each person’s contributions, and the chance to visit beautiful, rarely seen places with the rangers on days off.
Not able to make this event but still keenly interested in the topic? Look for a recording of the presentation posted to the Austin Group's Youtube channel within a few days.
12 attendees
Hike Shoal Creek Trail - 4 or 8 Miles
West 24th Street & North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX, USThe Shoal Creek Trail is the oldest trail in Austin (built in the early 1960's) and a truly wonderful "downtown" trail. We'll be walking the entire trail, out and back, for a total of about 8 miles. It is mostly hard-surfaced or crushed granite with a few sections of packed dirt. The walking pace will be brisk. For those who are interested, there will be an option to walk just the northern half of the trail, out and back, for a total of 4 miles.
The trail follows Shoal Creek as it winds from 38th Street to Lady Bird Lake, passing through Pease Park. North of Pease Park the trail features a small rock canyon and many mature oak and pecan trees. South of Pease Park it is much more of an urban trail giving a really unique creek-side view of the area by the Jenga building and main library. We can do a downtown crane count and see the latest changes to the Austin skyline!
We'll meet at the trail by the 24th Street overpass, then walk the northern half of the trail up to 38th Street and return. That's the end of the 4-mile outing. For the 8-mile outing, we'll then walk the southern half of the trail to Lady Bird Lake and return.There is ample street parking along Parkway on the west side of Pease Park.
Please bring plenty of water.
No pets please.
Info on the trail from the City of Austin:
Shoal Creek Trail | AustinTexas.gov
And from the Shoal Creek Conservancy:
Participants will sign a Liability Waiver at the trailhead. You may view the waiver document here: SCSignUpSheet2020.pdf - Google Drive
11 attendees
Biking at the Veloway and beyond (all skill levels; great for beginners)
Veloway Park, 4900 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX, USThe Veloway is an off-road, one-way, 3.1 mile paved loop for bicycles and in-line skaters only. The loop is about 23 ft wide and divided in half so slower cyclists can stay on one side and faster cyclists on the other side. There are all levels of cyclists, including families with kids. Join us for multiple self-paced laps around the scenic track, which is car-free and dedicated solely to biking and inline skating. http://www.austintexas.gov/department/veloway
Great for those who are new to biking or just getting back into shape, as well as experienced riders and racers. Your bike should be in good working condition and you MUST wear a helmet and practice safe riding skills.
Participants must sign a Liability Waiver at the trailhead. You may view the waiver document: https://tinyurl.com/SCSignUpSheet2020
The first hour will be laps around the track at your own speed. Then if you choose, you may join us for a ride on low traffic residential streets in the Circle C neighborhood and along the Bliss Spillar bike path. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55547591 Expect about 14 miles at a pace of 10+ mph.
There is a water fountain and porta-potty at the Veloway, but if you intend to do the neighborhood ride after, you should bring sufficient water to stay hydrated.
The Veloway parking lot is limited, but there is ample street parking.
Often we go out for food and drink afterwards.4 attendees
Service Project - Olympic National Park
Heart O' the Hills Campground, 2823 S Oak St, Port Angeles, WA, US*** RSVP ON MEETUP ALONE DOES NOT RESERVE A SPOT ON THE TRIP***
Join us for four days of meaningful conservation work in one of America's most stunning old-growth forest settings. Volunteers will spend three days pulling invasive weeds to help restore the native understory, and one day supporting nursery operations to propagate the plants that will take their place.
No experience necessary — just a love of the outdoors and a willingness to dig in!***
About the Campground
Nestled just 15 minutes from downtown Port Angeles on the northern Olympic Peninsula, Heart O' the Hills Campground is surrounded by towering old-growth trees, offering a serene, deeply shaded retreat in the heart of Olympic National Park.***
A Rare Opportunity
Securing campsites at Heart O' the Hills during peak summer season is nearly impossible for the average visitor — sites are first-come, first-served and fill up every single day. Through our partnership with Olympic National Park, we have been granted 5–6 reserved campsites accommodating up to 12 tents and 2 RVs. This is a remarkable privilege, and one we don't take lightly. Note that we will be sharing campsites, and they may not end up being contiguous with the sites of the other members of our Service Project.***
Costs
Olympic National Park has generously waived camping fees on our volunteer work days. On non-work days, the standard fee of $24 per person per day applies — still a bargain for one of the most coveted spots in the Pacific Northwest. Park admission is also comped for all participants.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation, camping equipment, and breakfasts and lunches.***
Dinner Duty
We keep dinner simple: every team cooks one night only. The cooking team brings and prepares dinner, handles dish patrol, and washes the pots and pans — then enjoys the other evenings free.***
To Sign Up
- RSVP on Meetup — The event may show as full, but sign up anyway! There is usually plenty of turnover.
- Wait for approval from Trip Leaders, who may reach out for more details. Volunteering in a rugged wilderness area takes real preparation, and we want to make sure this trip is the right fit for you.
- Send your contact info — name, cell number, and email address — to stanpeyton@gmail.com.
- Complete the Medical Form at https://tinyurl.com/SCMedicalForm2021 and email it to stanpeyton@gmail.com, or mail it to the address below.
- Read the Participation Agreement and complete Page 1 at https://tinyurl.com/SCSignUpSheet2020, then email or mail it as well.
- Mail forms to: Stan Peyton 8408 Hanbridge Lane Austin, TX 78736
⚠️ Important: Paperwork must be received within ten days of signing up, or you will be removed from the trip. Please only sign up if you are serious about attending.
***
What to Bring
Camping Essentials- Tent and sleeping gear
- Sleeping pad or kneeling pad
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Earplugs
Food & Kitchen
- All breakfasts, lunches, and snacks for the trip
- Dinner ingredients for the night your team cooks
- Plate, bowl, and silverware
- Dish towel
- Containers for leftovers
- Water bottle
Work Gear
- Work gloves
- Long pants
- Hat
- Geologist's hammer (yes, really!)
- Trail tools, if you already own them
Health & Safety
- Personal prescriptions and first aid kit
- Sunscreen
- Tweezers
- Latitude: 48.0363° N
- Longitude: -123.4297° W
Decimal (GPS):
`48.0363, -123.4297`
Degrees-Minutes-Seconds:- 48° 02′ 11″ N
- 123° 25′ 47″ W
12 attendees
Past events
4240
Group links
Members
20,065
