Join the Pack: Great Indy Hiking and Biking Groups

The Indianapolis Hiking Club
Founded in 1957, this 580-member group organizes more than 2,000 hikes annually around the state and beyond (including a 2015 weeklong trip to the Rio Grande). $10 new-member fee; $20 annual dues. indyhike.org
Hoosier Backpackers
Hikes with this more-informal crowd include Deam Wilderness this month and Big South Fork, along the Tennessee-Kentucky border, in November. Free. To join the mailing list, contact David Culp, 317-253-3498.
The Indianapolis Hiking Meetup Group
A loosely organized collection of about 1,800 hikers have the opportunity to commune with nature and each other at spots such as Shades State Park and Red River Gorge. $5 annual dues. meetup.com/hiking-223/
Hoosier Hikers Council
Volunteers and members build, maintain, and promote trails across the state, and the HHC website includes for-sale maps and invaluable tips for stretches like the popular Monroe-to-Brown County Tecumseh Trail and their newly built Eagle’s Crest Nature Preserve, which overlooks Eagle Creek reservoir. $25 annual dues. 855-812-4453, hoosierhikerscouncil.org

Hoosier Mountain Bike Association
HMBA maintains more than 120 miles of the state’s narrow singletrack trails, and it’s also a great place to meet other fanatics at events like the Hoosier Outdoor Experience. $30 annual dues. hmba.org
Central Indiana Bicycling Association
Although it’s primarily a road-riding club, many CIBA members like to get dirty on the trail every now and then. $25 annual dues. cibaride.org
IndyCog
IndyCog advocates for bicycle safety in Indianapolis, and also takes part in events like the Thirsty Thursday Urban Ride, a trail-cruising, barhopping good time. The route changes nearly every week. $35 annual dues. 317-663-3423, indycog.org
Sub-9 Productions
Jonathan and Tania Juillerat put on some of the best biking events in the region, including the annual Midwest Women’s Mountain Bike Clinic. 317-413-0624, sub-9.com