Health & Science Lifestyle & Culture Sports

Finding community and calm on regional hiking trails

By Jalen Long

In a city known for its crowded streets, packed subway cars and nonstop pace, one hiking club is helping New Yorkers slow down and reconnect with nature and each other.

What began as a small getaway among friends has grown into a thriving outdoor community. Founded in 2024, the Down to Earth Hiking Club now has 150 members who are setting out trails throughout the region.

For founder Red Young, the idea started during a hike with his mother.

“I went on that hike, and then immediately after, I was, like, ‘I gotta bring other people on this hike with me,’” Young said.

The 26-year-old said the inspiration came during a quiet moment on a mountaintop when he and his mother shared an experience that felt increasingly rare in city life. “We were just in this flow state of just one step after another, hiking,” Young said.

That moment sparked a mission to create opportunities for people to step away from the pressures of city living and find connection, while on foot, outdoors.

“People in New York are starving for connection and community,” Young said.

For many members, the hiking club has become more than just recreation. It has evolved into a place where friendships are formed and relationships grow.

“This is what we need,” said Anna Gonzalez, Young’s mother and a member of the club. Gonzalez said she has watched the group transform from a simple idea into a growing community. “This has become something where he’s, like, ‘If you try it, you’re going to love it,’” she said.

The club’s growth reflects a broader national trend. Hiking clubs grew sixfold in 2025, nearly doubling the growth rate of running clubs as more people sought outdoor group activities, according to Strava’s 2025 “Year in Sport” report on trends.

Matthew Peterson, one of the first to join the club, said the welcoming atmosphere keeps people coming back. “It’s always a lot of people, and I feel like it just looks fun,” Peterson said. “It looks like people are having a good time,” Peterson said.

The club has had a significant impact on his life, helping him build connections and find a sense of belonging.

For Young, those stories reinforce the purpose behind the hiking club. “I can bring people together under my own volition and help them out in the process and just build something beautiful,” he said.