The Dallas Sierra Club organizes different types of outings including day-hikes, backpacking, car camping, service outings, Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) and outings classes.  Below are descriptions of the different types.

Day Hikes – These one-day or half-day hikes are popular with the greatest number of people. They are usually in, or near, the Metroplex but may be a couple hours’ drive away. Check our outings list and the weather forecast for appropriate attire and specific items to bring. Please always wear comfortable shoes or hiking boots and a hat for sun protection. It's also recommended to bring lots of water, a lunch (or snack), and rain gear (such as a foldable rain slicker) for surprise storms. Advance registration is not required for many day hikes. Exceptions will be noted in the description of the outing.

Car Camping – This doesn’t mean sleeping in a car but, rather camping in a tent or under the stars within a very short walk from a car. Recent car camping trips have included Colorado Bend State Park (TX) and Beavers Bend State Park (OK). Cabin or lodge accommodations have been optional alternatives to tent camping on some of these trips. If camping, you’ll need a tent, sleeping bag, food and other suitable camping gear. The Dallas Sierra Club doesn’t provide food or equipment. Most outing excursions leave Dallas on a Friday after work and return by Sunday evening. Advance sign-up is required. Our car camping trips generally feature one or more day hikes from the base camp or a nearby trailhead. There may be a fee for car camping trips.

Backpacking – Backpacking trips allow hikers to range away from campgrounds exploring places that can’t be reached by road. Outings within two to five hours of Dallas typically begin on a Saturday morning at a preset rendezvous point, generally a trailhead. Consequently, participants usually drive or carpool from the Dallas area on Friday and camp or stay at a motel near the trailhead Friday night. After setting up a car shuttle (if needed) on Saturday morning, the group hikes most of Saturday and camps in the backcountry Saturday night. Sunday morning, the group hikes out (usually getting off the trail between 11 AM and 3 PM) to return to Dallas. Some of The Dallas Sierra Club’s most popular backpacking trips have been to Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas,Colorado,and Northern New Mexico ( delete…in summer). Our backpacking trips are rated from easy to very strenuous. Advance registration is required for all backpacking trips. A fee is charged for the longer trips.

Service Projects – These are a way to give back to the areas we use. Our monthly White Rock Lake cleanup (second Saturday of each month) helps keep the crown jewel of the Dallas park system looking good. Check the DSC Outings Calendar for details.

Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) - ICO's mission is to "promote personal development by linking cultures, fostering respect of self and others and providing leadership skills to promote appreciation and protection of our local and global environments through a process of spiritual growth and sharing." The ICO program meets this mission by providing safe and enjoyable outdoor experiences for those who, without ICO, might not otherwise have them. Adult volunteers provide these outings at no charge to partner agencies in our community. Please contact ico@dallassierraclub.org for more information.

Classes - At least once a year we offer our Backpacking 101 class. The class is about six hours on a Saturday. Volunteer leaders with decades of backpacking experiences present a comprehensive survey of what prospective backpackers need to know to anticipate and enjoy a backpacking trip. The curriculum covers packs, tents, clothes, food, cooking, sanitation, sleep gear and any questions you’ve got.  We charge a fee for this class, but participants tell us over and over that the course is well worth their time and admission. We schedule backpacking outings for beginners a few weeks after each class.

We also offer a Wilderness Navigation class once a year that’s twice the value and half the cost of any comparable courses in the metro area.  We teach map and compass skills that can save your life or make finding your way in the wilderness possible. This is a two-night class with an optional field practice on a weekend day after the class. Check the Outings List periodically for class dates.