Welcome to Hiking With Dean, the largest and most popular hiking group in the country and 2nd largest in the world (after Hong Kong Hiking Meetup)* 

Our hikes are based upon a simple philosophy: You should be able go out your front door and within a few minutes be on trails winding your way through the local wilderness. With rugged coastlines, lush valleys, and craggy mountain peaks that harbor a wealth of wildlife, including deer, bobcats, dolphins, quail, coyotes, and the elusive mountain lion, the local hiking trails in and around Los Angeles provide us this opportunity.

Be sure to visit our web site at https://www.hikingwithdean.com

Hike reports are provided so that you can review your adventures when you get home.

Once a month or so we'll leave our comfort zone and explore the trails of Santa Barbara, Orange County and Palos Verdes. During the Spring and Summer months I'll be leading evening and full moon hikes during the week (byob!). 

Beginners are welcome to join the group and attend our easy and beginner hikes. 

As a HWD member you are eligible to join our VIP Hiking Club. Enjoy many benefits not available in other groups, for example, breakfast at the trail head, free prizes and other goodies, hiking secret and forbidden trails, no waiting lists, etc. Sounds better than the usual "please donate" doesn't it? For more information please visit the VIP web site.

THE RULES

• Don't be a flake by signing up and not showing up

• No dogs unless indicated in hike description (our special dog-friendly hikes)

The following is not a rule, but if you want to avoid being a victim of sarcastic remarks do not ask how long a hike is going to take. Hint: An eight mile hike takes about twice as long as a four mile hike.

*HWD has the largest membership per capita leader

Please, no dogs unless otherwise indicated in hike description.

Proud Member of:

Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council
California State Parks Foundation
The Mountains Restoration Trust
Montecito Trails Foundation
Conejo Open Space Foundation

Read about What's On The Home Page?

By joining you agree to the Assumption of Risk and Liability Waiver

A Few Testimonials

Dean is a wonderful leader. He really paid attention to the needs of the group. He facilitated the group, but didn't control the group. I will attend again -- Kimmy

If Dean [one of the original SoCal Meetup-ers mind you] would ever write a book on hiking SoCal [as he rightfully should] it would be a must-buy. Dean is both knowledgeable and adventurous. Conscientious and kind. I would have no problem hiking with Dean anywhere. - Les

Dean is a great hike leader. He knows the trails. — Lydia

The group leader Dean is very conscious of all of us hikers as a group. We all get to trek at our own pace comfortably and still stay together.He's got an agenda planned with an extra twist on where we are going to hike. — elyse

Dean is an excellent group leader who knows the trails very well. He is always looking out for the welfare of his hikers. The group attracts some of the most pleasant people you can hope to meet. — Bruce

What can I say? This group ROCKS!!! Some of the friendliest people I have met and the Organizer, Dean is a sweetheart! - Sara

Dean has organized the best group of hikers who like to hike and have fun. — Blake

Dean is extremely knowledgeable and serves up a seemingly endless array of hikes. A very pleasant and down-to-earth group of people who are easy to get to know ... and like — Drew

Dean is a strong hike leader with a friendly and outgoing group of people who know how to have fun while hiking - Laura

Sponsored by Collabora Hosting and Amazon