Connect Outdoors

Santa Cruz, CA, US

2,054 members · Public group

Organized by Peter and 1 other

What we’re about

Welcome to our Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Jose hiking and friendship group. Make friends and sweat 💦😅😋😊👍.

We offer an array of outdoor activities, with a focus on moderate to challenging hikes. Our hikes are also a place to learn some of the natural history of our area. Some hikes will go slowly enough to identify and photograph plants and mushrooms, and the occasional newt or bird (or mammal, of course). Other hikes are more focused on getting a good workout in a beautiful environment, in the company of other pleasant people. Most of our hikes are a mix of the two. Please be compassionate and mindful of everyone during our hikes.

We also sponsor a smaller number of indoor activities, be it (optionally) getting together at a pub or restaurant after a hike, or our monthly, roving trivia night. We sometimes refer to these events, affectionately and mirthfully, as "Connect Indoors".

Please join us!

Upcoming events (3)

See all

Wed, May 28, 2025, 11:00 AM PDTLand of Medicine Buddha, 6 miles, 900’ TEG.
Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, CA
Join us in having no attachment to this hike!

Land of the Medicine Buddha is surrounded by beautiful, mature second growth redwoods, and is adjacent to the Forest of Nisene Marks. Our planned route is a 5.6 mile clockwise loop, with several options to extend it, based on preferences. You may also want to linger at the end and walk the short 8 Verses Trail loop, to meditate on the eight Buddhist proverbs as well as the accompanying commentaries by the Dali Lama. You can read them quickly and discuss as we walk. Or linger, and detach from ambition, perhaps to peer across the cusp of enlightenment.

Approximate single-loop route:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/the-buddha-loop-trail?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map

To carpool, meet at Peet's in Capitola (click here for link) at 10:30, to depart at 10:45. It is a 10 minute drive to LMB.

6-7 miles, < 1,000’ TEG

Load your maps before leaving! Cell service (AT&T) is minimal.

Poison Oak is widespread, particularly on the upper trails.

Dogs allowed on leashes in areas with no poison oak.

Legal Disclaimer: The organizers and hosts in this group are not professional guides, and each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests and property. By signing up for this hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any social activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. As always, this is a “Participate at your Own Risk” event.
6 attendees+1
Wed, Jun 4, 2025, 6:00 PM PDTTrivia Night [Abbott Square]
Abbott Square, Santa Cruz, CA
Join us for the first Abbott Square Trivia Night of the Summer, hosted by Lookout Santa Cruz, and let’s see if our winning streak from 2023 is revived in 2025!

6pm — Arrive and find each other (look for Debra’s magnetic smile (center of photo). Brainstorm a group name! Buy some food or beer!!
6:30 — Trivia game begins.
8pm — Game ends.
8:10 — 9pm Optional sunset walk to work off the beer?

NOTE on tickets: We have tickets for 10 members, and may grab another 10 if we have a large demand. You may initially be on the waitlist, as we sort out our team. Please do not “no-show” if you get a seat with us (just update your RSVP on this page). Returning attendees may be given priority from the waitlist, due to their track record of showing up.
Abbott Square Trivia web page here.

During our legendary winning streak of yore, the Abbott Square goodie bag of prizes was fun, but unlike Greater Purpose trivia night, it included no free beer! Of course, free beer had its down side. What trims the budget can pad the waistline. 😂 Also, we regret to report, Greater Purpose went bankrupt as we started to cash in our winnings, so maybe Abbott Square has wised up. GP has been replaced by Balefire Brewing, sans the game room / ping pong tables 😢.

Come at 6pm to help us commandeer a table or two! Games start at 6:30.

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Our original / notorious trivia intro:
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Is your brain a trove of useless facts? Useless no longer! Join our team to compete in this high-stakes trivia competition!

If they ask about Santa Cruz hiking trails, or which local wildflower garners the word "fetid" in its name, we've got it covered. But, for more arcane topics, like music, or Kanye West's shoe size, we are at a loss. That's why we need you!

Help round out our square team. If hundreds show up, we can just branch out into multiple teams like a high IQ plasmodium! (Haven't heard of plasmodium? Hmmm, don't tell your trivia mates, and learn about them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8HEDqoTPgk).

Legal Disclaimer: The organizers and hosts in this group are not professional guides, and each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests and property. By signing up for a trivia night, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any social activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. As always, this is a “Participate at your Own Risk” event.
6 attendees+1
Fri, Jun 20, 2025, 9:00 AM PDTSummer Solstice 8x8 - Save the Date!
Henry Cowell Fall Creek Unit, Felton, CA
SAVE the DATE - Friday, June 20, 2025
In celebration of the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, join a happy group of hikers on two hikes, ~8 miles each, in two beautiful State Parks: Henry Cowell and Nisene Marks.

To order your own Summer Solstice 8x8 t-shirt, private message me and I will text you the link.

Two separate events will be posted for the day. You can sign up for one or both hikes.

We'll start the day at 9:00am with an 8+ mile trail at Fall Creek in Felton. Following a satisfying trek through one of the best places in Henry Cowell, we'll travel down Hwy 1 and re-group at Peet's Coffee in Rancho Del Mar before our the next hike in Nisene Marks.

Bring your lunch or grab a bite at any number of options nearby. Then we'll gather at George's picnic area for our second incredible 8 mile hike, in the cool shade, to Maple Falls. We'll break at an overlook of the fall or climb down to the water to marvel at the natural beauty of this spot.

Then for all who want to, we'll close the day at Aptos St BBQ to share stories and appreciate the gifts of nature, health and good friends.

******* MORE DETAILS IN SEPARATE EVENTS *******
Look for the two separate events to be posted on Monday, June 2 at 4:00PM. You can sign up for one or both.

Legal Disclaimer: The organizers and hosts in this group are not professional guides, and each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests and property. By signing up for a night at the pub, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any social activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. As always, this is a “Participate at your Own Risk” event.
1 attendee