Women's Beginner Hike • No Experience Needed

New to hiking? Haven’t found your outdoor footing yet? Start here! No gear or experience needed.

Our beginner-friendly walks are a casual, supportive way to ease into hiking and spending time outside. Whether you’re here to learn, get more comfortable outdoors, or just look at moss and birds with us, welcome!

SCHEDULE

10:00 - 10:30am
Coffee tailgate in the North Parking Lot (optional). Come hang before we head out. We'll be in the North Parking Lot with a camp french press. Bring your own drink or have a cup of ours. (Fair warning: enthusiasm > barista skills.)

Look for us on the grass strip between the two parking aisles. We'll have a tree flag.

10:30 - noon
Walk Discovery Park Loop Trail

WHAT TO EXPECT
Casual group walk. Ask questions, be social, or hang back and just enjoy the scenery.

• 2.8-mile trail. A gentle 220 ft elevation gain. Hike takes ~ 1.5hrs
• Trail is crushed rock or dirt, varying in width from 2 to 8 feet.
• Trail is not ADA accessible due to uneven terrain and occasional stairs
• We move at a conversational pace (~ 30-minute mile). Stopping to look at anything cool (flowers, eagles, viewpoints). Folks are welcome to move ahead, fall behind or stick with the group. No pressure.

Common questions I love to answer

• Where do I find beginner-friendly hikes or campsites?
• What do I actually need to pack?
• …Wait, what are the “10 essentials”?
• I’m nervous to go camping/hiking. How do I even start?
• What about encountering bears, or worse, strangers?!
• I’m not sure I’m “fit enough”. How do I ease into this?
• Is there camping & trail etiquette that I don't know about?

WHAT TO BRING

• Comfortable walking shoes (may get muddy depending on weather)
• Weather-appropriate layers
• Water bottle
• Optional: snacks or questions

WHO IT'S FOR
This walk is designed with beginners in mind, but anyone is welcome to join. We’re a good fit if you’re:

• New to hiking or still getting comfortable in outdoor spaces
• New-ish to the PNW and wanting an easy way to explore nature
• Wanting to build confidence hiking safely and comfortably
• Curious about exploring the PNW but unsure where to start
• The WTFNB community (Women, Trans, Femme, Non binary)

Proudly welcoming to all regardless of ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, or religion.

Who this group is not for

• People looking for a dating meetup or pickup scene
• Folks expecting fast-paced, advanced, or performance-focused outdoor culture
• People unwilling to respect differing comfort levels, identities, or experience levels
• Folks more interested in proving themselves than helping create a welcoming experience for beginners

This group exists to help people feel more comfortable, capable, and welcomed outdoors. Folks who bring their curiosity, kindness, patience, and respect are welcome.
Come hang, ask questions, and let’s figure this outdoor thing out together.

About Discovery Park
Discovery Park is Seattle’s largest green space, offering forest trails, open meadows, and coastal views, all within city limits. It’s a beginner-friendly place to experience nature without leaving town.

Meet Your Instructor
Celeste Olds is founder of the Sequoia Social Club, and PNW outdoor instructor dedicated to building wilderness skills, confidence, and meaningful connections in nature. Her work is shaped by decades of project management, thousands of miles trekked locally and abroad, and a lifetime of camping in the Pacific Northwest.