By Heather Keller
Above: The Western Mass Hilltown Hikers, whose brief experiment in silent hiking was a chatty failure.
Enter any trailhead dotting the 800+ miles of trails that snake through the Berkshires, and you may notice some interesting things going on inside your body. With the chirp of a wren, your cortisol drops and with it stress and blood pressure. Your focus returns and your immune system is boosted with the scent of white pine. Spot a shock of trillium at your feet, or a porcupine climbing a tree, and you feel a kick of dopamine. Share your observation with a fellow hiker and a flow of contentment from oxytocin washes over. It’s as if your body is having a party in the natural world.
The boost to our physical and mental well-being might help explain why hiking is now the most popular outdoor sport in the U.S., according to the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA)’s 2025 Annual Report.
Jeff Minkler, owner of Lenox outdoor gear mecca The Arcadian Shop, has noted the uptick. “All outdoor recreation has been growing across all age groups here, but hiking is the most popular,” he observes. “It started during the pandemic and hasn’t stopped.”
Hiking can be communal in ways more rigorous sports can’t, and hiking clubs provide an easy entry to both connecting with others and great exercise. “Hiking is a social event,” notes Liz Massa, co-founder and president of the Western Mass Hilltown Hikers, a club that organizes hikes with a historical focus. “People want to talk to each other. We tried to do a silent hike on the Solstice and it just didn’t work. Great friendships are produced just from going out on our hikes.”
Long before hiking became trendy, the Taconic Hiking Club was formed in 1932 by a dedicated group wanting to create and maintain a trail along the Taconic Crest. “Our dues are minimal, but we require registration and vetting for ability,” says the club’s VP, Karen Ross. “We want to make sure everyone is safe on the trail.” She explains that the THC, as well as some of the more informal groups, tend to attract retirees since the hikes take place mid-week. “My husband is part of the Monday Mountain Boys, and I hike with The Berkshire Hikers and The Silver Scramblers; they all go out mid-week.”
Jeff Poushter, owner of Tie-Dyed Guide, recently started a local hiking club, leading folks of all ages, including kids and families, on a monthly hike. “A walk through the woods alone is something very special but doing it with friends or in a group can be even better, with higher energy, great conversation, and other folks there to help you out.”
The greatest increase in outdoor activity in the OIA report came from diverse communities, such as Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ participants, the latter comprising 11.4% of outdoor participants. Bart Church is the executive director of Berkshire-based Q-MoB, which hosts two LGBTQ+ hiking events every month. “With the economy changing, people are shifting their recreation to outdoor events because they’re cheaper,” he says. “Our numbers keep growing and the diversity of our population is growing.”
The long legacy of hiking in the Berkshires means that new hikers of any level and interest can find a club to call their own. And, now more than ever, the human connection a group hike can provide is critical, especially for those who might feel isolated. “If we can get people off their screens and into a fun activity, outside with other people, their oxytocin levels go up and stay up for a long, sustained time,” explains Church. “It’s addictive—they’ll come back for more, and it can make a bigger difference in their physical and mental health than anything else they can do.”
With expert guides, low-to-no fees, minimal gear, numerous health benefits, and some of the most scenic vistas in the Northeast, it’s no wonder hiking clubs are booming. The Arcadian Shop’s Minkler sums it up nicely: “Just show up with water, a decent pair of shoes, and a good attitude.” The rest comes naturally.
