Getting outdoors does not have to require a lot of time or money, but they are the biggest reported barriers among Outdoor Afros. With these fun, and mostly free options below, you can get your outdoor fix on, without sacrificing an entire weekend or your piggy bank.
1. Hike – Check out the options near you via local city parks, rec/nature centers, and National Parks. Do pack a snack and plenty of water to take with you!

2. Stargaze – In some parts of the country, the evenings are the best time …

Originally posted on Oakland Local
Welcome Outdoor Afro guest blogger CB Smith, who shares her personal connection to natural spaces, and why it’s important to support Balanced Rock, who provides the unique chance for women of color to connect with the outdoors on their own terms.
In this blog post, I am encouraging you to support a retreat for Women of Color…even if you are not a Woman of Color yourself. First, I need to tell you a little bit about what this kind of experience can mean and why it’s important.
CB Hiking in …

A great list contributed by Harriet Gordon, who runs a site to help people research Human Services careers. Clearly, Harriet likes to hike too!
Whether you are looking to have an adventurous weekend or cross something off of your bucket list, nature is, and probably should be, involved. One of the best ways to get back to it is to go on a hike. With literally thousands of trails taking anywhere from hours to months to complete, it can all be somewhat to very confusing. With little …

By Outdoor Afro Contributor, Alex Genadinik
Point Reyes National Seashore is too large to hike in its entirety unless you are a marathon hiker! The entire area spans thousands of acres and is large enough to be home to over 1,000 species of pants, birds and animals. If you are planning a hike in the area, you can start at the visitor center like most people, but if you want a real adventure, I suggest you choose a more unforgettable hike like the one to the northern-most point of …

Submitted by Outdoor Afro Contributor, Terri Davis-Merchant, of the fun blog: Try Anything Once
Faux hiking? Oh yeah! I’m not really into outdoorsy stuff. Perhaps you’ve noticed that. I mean I guess I’m not really destined for it. Having grown up in a Black working class neighborhood in New York City in the 80′s and 90′s, sleeping in a tent in the cold with no bathroom wasn’t exactly what many considered a vacation. Just sayin’. Even Oprah noticed the lack o’ folks o’ color during her recent trip to Yosemite. (By …

This week has been so packed with activity for me and my family, I have hardly had a moment to sit down and capture its highlights to share with the Outdoor Afro community. But alas! — A moment has opened to reflect in print on the equinox, which brought forth the gift of planets, stars, sun, and harvest moon under a canopy of sky still undecided about being day or night.
People ask all the time, “Do you do any events?” Well, the short answer is: no, but the most accurate …

Take a peek at this stunning hike in Colorado over the past weekend. Led by the renown Winston Walker, the group hiked 6+ miles in the valley between Bakerville and Loveland Ski Resort, south of I-70 and Clear Creek starting at 9,750 feet on the Bakerville-Loveland trail.
To learn more about Beckwourth Outdoors, and their Colorado area events, visit their website.
Photos courtesy of Tom Craft

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Photos courtesy of Andrea Juarez

Many participants in the Outdoor Afro community are long-standing members of Beckwourth Outdoors, a Denver-based nonprofit organization that provides year-round outdoor activities for kids and adults and educates the public about the contributions made by people-of-color in the West. The organization was founded in 1993 as the James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club, and now they are commonly known as simply Beckwourth Outdoors.

Winston Walker just sent Outdoor Afro some fun photos from a recent rainy day urban ramble walk with fellow Beckwourth Outdoors members in the Lower …

Photo by Pete Souza

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama took a hike yesterday as part of their romantic getaway in the Ashville, North Carolina, Blue Ridge Parkway area that included dining and golf.  Read about one woman’s chance encounter. They are setting a terrific example of outdoor engagement in America’s natural spaces for everyone.
Thanks Outdoor Afro Dustin Weeks for sharing!

By Dudley Edmondson
Continued from Part 1
Now you need something for the head and hands. I usually wear a synthetic stocking cap. The word synthetic pops up a lot because it is the fabric most commonly used in designing “performance clothing” that is clothing specifically desinged to be used in a number of outdoor activities from climbing to cycling, running etc.

After a Run in 25 Below Zero Winds!

I think I own more performance wear than I do any thing else. A good fleece hat and they come in many weights …