Great Outdoors (GO) is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization predominately serving the GLBTQA+ community. We provide low-cost outdoor activities, programs, education, and leadership training to members. Our activities include camping trips, hiking, backpacking, historical tours, whitewater rafting, canoes, pool parties, kayaking, 4x4 trail outings, bike rides, social gatherings, game nights, speaker programs, lectures, and other interesting events. Great Outdoors seeks to instill in its members a respect and appreciation for the environment and a desire that it be protected for this generation and for many to come.

Why Should I Join?

We offer a wide variety of activities: car camping, RV camping, hiking, back-packing, river rafting, kayaking, skiing, potlucks, movie nights, game nights, UNO card parties, bowling, volleyball, day trips, parties, sailing - the list goes on and on: Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring. If you have an interest we haven’t covered, let us know and we’ll put it on our calendar of events (but we may recruit you to lead the activity).

Who are the Great Outdoors?

California Great Outdoors, Inc., is the largest gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender/queer/ally outdoor recreation organization in the western United States. We are inclusive of everyone regardless of sexual orientation or identity.  GO is a registered not-for-profit organization.

Our charter is outdoors education. There are chapters in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Orange County/Long Beach and San Diego. The activities of each chapter are open to members of all the chapters.

The club was formed in 1977 as an alternative to meeting people in bars. The club motto was: “Out of the bars and under the stars.” That has been, and continues to be, our goal. We now use the motto "Great Friends, Great Times, Great Outdoors."

Our activities cover all the beautiful and unique locations of Southern California – and sometimes beyond — including beaches, local mountains, High Sierras, deserts, lakes, rivers - again, the list goes on and on.

Friendship and Fun

In addition to everything mentioned above, and maybe the most important thing is the fun, fellowship, and friendship we offer. Ask any member and they will be happy to tell you about the great people they have met in Great Outdoors and the strong friendships developed.