Great Outdoors is the largest gay outdoor recreational organization in Southern California and include chapters in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Orange County/Long Beach, Inland Empire, Palm Springs, and and San Diego. Their outings include camping, hiking, backpacking as well as local activities such as volleyball and game nights.

The group was founded in 1978 by gay leaders who felt the time had come for a viable, healthy alternative to the bars. The community reacted with great enthusiasm and in August 1978 over 75 men and women from San Francisco to San Diego backpacked into Big Sur. Since that time, Great Outdoors has grown to over 800 members.

They are a member of IGLOO, a network of gay and lesbian clubs and organizations throughout the world dedicated to outdoor activities of a non-competitive nature. Great Outdoors posts many of their trips in the GayOutdoors.com web site and invite all of you to enjoy the natural world with them! Annual memberships are $25 single and $45 for couples and includes their newsletter, member rates for their outings, and more. For more information, click on their link in the right hand margin.