Even though hiking is a solitary diversion, many hikers crave companionship. Enter Go Wild Hikers, which organizes group hikes in Sonoma, Marin, Napa, and Lake counties every weekend of the year.
Executive director Zoli Somogyi of Santa Rosa plots and leads all the hikes himself, sharing his love of the great outdoors with up to 35 friends on any given trip, building community with every step.
“It’s one thing to experience the beauty of Sonoma and Marin counties on your own, but to experience it with other people makes it extra special,” says Somogyi, who has led more than 350 hikes in just over seven years. “The more people participate, the more comfortable they get with themselves, with the outdoors, and with others in the group.”
Most Go Wild hikes average between 4-9 miles, last anywhere from two to six hours, and max out at 1,000-feet gain in elevation. Degrees of difficulty for each hike vary, and participants usually form smaller groups based on strength and skill levels. Some hikes — at least one each month — even accommodate dogs, and all end with an optional post-hike get-together at local pubs and restaurants…