By Katie Vaughn | Photography by Hillary Schave
Growing up in South Africa, Dineo Dowd was fascinated with tourists who visited her town to hike the nearby Drakensberg Mountains. Yet the segregationist rules of apartheid prevented Black families like hers from exploring national parks. “That had always been on my mind,” she says.
“What is it like to go hiking?”
She discovered the joys and challenges for herself when she visited Utah in her twenties. After settling there and becoming a mom, she joined the local chapter of Hike It Baby, bringing her daughter on hikes with other new parents. Upon moving to Wisconsin, she revived the Madison chapter.
These days, Dowd focuses on making hiking accessible and exciting for women in all stages of life. Through her organization, Wisconsin Adventure Family, she leads regional hikes and hosts international adventure travel. All women are welcome to join events, which she announces on her website, newsletter and social media.
They can also consider going bigger: Dowd has led women to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro three times, and this summer she’ll bring groups to the Italian Dolomites and the Four Corners of Africa.
Whether atop a mountain or on a local trail, Dowd never tires of witnessing how hiking can transform women.
“That’s when things start changing,” she says.
Read on for more local groups that can help you explore the outdoors.
TAKE A HIKE
In early 2020, when Katy Amphlett was searching for a supportive, female-focused Wisconsin hiking group, she discovered HikerBabes. She became the first ambassador for HikerBabes Wisconsin, which has since grown to more than 3,000 members across the state.
“Some have been hiking for years and some join us for their first-ever hike,” she says. “What brings us all together is a shared love for the outdoors and a desire to build community. When you hear us coming down the trail, you’ll hear chatting, joy and laughter.” Most hikes range 3 to 7 miles, and all events are posted in the chapter’s Facebook group.
With a mission to increase women’s participation in trail running and hiking, Trail Sisters Madison coordinates group runs on local trails. A chapter of the national Trail Sisters organization, the group welcomes runners of all levels, focusing on inspiration, education and empowerment.
“It’s a great place to ask questions and learn from others,” says Steena Cirves, one of the group’s three administrators. “A lot of beginners are timid about trying new trails; our members can learn about the local trail systems from members who have experience with them.” Join the chapter’s Facebook group for meet-up details.
Also promoting inclusivity in trail running, Madison Trail Runners is a group of more than a thousand “women, men and non-binary runners of all running levels and experiences,” says organizer and event host Jesse DeAngelis. Her Tuesday evening and Thursday morning events take place on trails at the UW Arboretum, typically drawing 10-30 runners to each, and the group also coordinates weekend pop-up runs and volunteer days “as a way to give back to the trails that we use and love.” Find event details on the online platform Meetup.
ON A ROLL
All that’s needed to join the Blonde Duck Bike Club is a working bicycle and a desire to have some fun. Benna Stengl and Emily Lynn started the group in the summer of 2024, as a “dedicated space in Madison for femme/trans/non-binary people to gather, move our bodies, spend time outside, build community and feel empowered to get on bikes.” Rides range from 10-20 miles, and each starts and ends at B.B. Clarke Beach Park, with a break halfway for snacks and sometimes a craft project. About a dozen bikers typically attend and all fitness levels are welcome. Visit the group’s Instagram for ride details.
ADVENTURE AWAITS
Think you’re not a rock climber? Rebecca Johnson and Emma Letcher believe differently. They’re the former co-chairs of Madison Women Climbers, a group for women (cis and transgender), femmes and non-binary or gender-nonconforming folks that builds climbing skills through community.
“We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn to climb,” says Johnson. “If you are thinking, ‘I’m not strong enough to climb’ or ‘I’m too old for that,’ we would like to invite you to climb with us. You are stronger and more capable than you know!”
Events include monthly meetups at local climbing gyms to teach fundamentals, clinics, social activities, stewardship projects and an annual camping trip to Devil’s Lake that includes professionally guided climbing opportunities as well as skills clinics.
“Whether someone is overcoming fear on their first indoor climb, learning how to set top rope anchors at Devil’s Lake or pushing their limits on a challenging outdoor sport route, they’re surrounded by people who support their journey and celebrate their progress,” says Letcher.
Follow the group on social media or sign up for its newsletter to stay informed about events.
Paddling is better with friends, too, says Stephanie Krubsack, who launched Wisconsin Women Who Kayak in 2019.
“I noticed how many women loved kayaking, but didn’t always have someone to go with or weren’t sure where to start,” she says. “Creating a group gave us a safe space to connect, explore Wisconsin’s beautiful waterways and build confidence in the outdoors.”
More than 5,000 members across Wisconsin represent a wide range of backgrounds and skill levels, and events are casual, varied and welcoming.
“A member might post that she’s heading out to a local lake or river and invite others to join,” says Krubsack.
“Sometimes it’s a small paddle with two or three women, and other times it’s a larger group gathering.” Join the organization’s Facebook group to find events or host a paddle of your own.
WALK THIS WAY
While the cornerstone of the Madison Gospel 5K Foundation is its annual summer race, for the past eight years, founder Uchenna Jones (a 2024 BRAVA Woman to Watch) has also been leading 3-mile walks on Saturday mornings that begin and end at Penn Park. Most walkers are working women who are married, single or mothers looking to combine fitness, faith and fellowship.
“Besides maintaining our physical health, our mental wellbeing is also being tended to,” Jones says. “At the end of each walk, we ask everyone what concerns they may have and we close the walk with prayer.” Learn more on the Madison Gospel 5K Foundation Facebook page.
Weekly walks are also a focus for Mary Kay Lyons, who organizes both the Thursday Morning Walking Group and the Sunday Morning Monona Bay Walking Group. Open to women and men, the walks last an hour.
“We walk the same path weekly, so if someone is running late, they can catch up on the path,” Lyons says.
“We finish the walk at our starting point and walkers may join for our social time at a neighborhood establishment.” Find the groups on Meetup for details.
Thanks to the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, women who crave community with their steps don’t have to look far to find it. The Wellness Walking Collective has a handful of groups that get together regularly: The Northside Walkers meet on Tuesday mornings at the Warner Park rainbow shelter, the Capitol Walkers on Wednesday afternoons in the Capitol rotunda, the Thriving Warrior Walkers on the first Saturday of the month at the Tenney Park shelter and the West Towne Walkers on the third Saturday of the month at West Towne Mall. Visit ffbww.org/walkingcollective for details.
One of the longest-running walking groups in the area is the Dairyland Walkers, which formed in 1995. Part of the national organization, America’s Walking Club, the group is co-ed, with walkers joining for “fun, fitness and friendship,” says membership coordinator Mary B. Liebig, who adds that most members are over age 50. Routes are usually either a 5K or 10K — some are group walks and some are done independently with a map and directions. Applications are available at dairylandwalkers.com, and a perk of membership is being able to join walks in other states, as all 50 have a chapter.
A newcomer to the local walking scene is Girls Who Walk Madison. Co-founders (and twin sisters) Madelyn and Lindsey LaBorde formed the group to foster friendships while prioritizing wellness and hosted their first walk in December 2024.
They’ve held events in Madison, Verona, Middleton and Fitchburg, attracting a younger crowd of women who often bring their dogs. Follow the group on Instagram to learn about upcoming walks.
FOR THE BIRDS
It seems everyone is birding these days, and the Feminist Bird Club is ready to welcome you into the flock. The Madison chapter, which formed in 2019, is one of roughly 40 across the world committed to creating inclusive birding spaces.
“Birding is an incredibly joyful hobby that can connect you to nature, improve your mental health [and] keep you active,” says Caitlyn Schuchhardt, a member of the Madison chapter’s leadership team. “But there can also be a steep learning curve as you get acquainted with how to identify the roughly 400 species you might find in Wisconsin!”
The group welcomes birders of all experience levels, as well as individuals of any gender identity or sexual orientation; it also hosts several outings at accessible locations to accommodate members with mobility limitations.
“Nature is for everyone and our chapter embodies that,” Schuchhardt says. Subscribe to the club’s monthly newsletter (tinyurl.com/23akruxm) to learn about future events.
