How to Actually Make Friends in Denver
The best part about living in the Denver area is that almost everyone is new in town and is just as eager to make connections as you are. So far, I’ve had an overwhelmingly positive experience showing up to social events where everyone is a complete stranger. It sounds scary at first, but everyone has been so friendly and welcoming at each event I’ve attended. If you have the courage to put yourself out there, I guarantee you’ll find your community.
Check out the list I curated below of clubs and groups you should look into if you’re wanting to make friends in Denver!
Bumble BFF:
If there’s one piece of advice I could give, it would be this: download Bumble BFF! I love it because you can join groups based on your interests, and then each group has different rooms or discussion groups that narrow down your interests even further. For example, there’s a group called Denver Girls Club where you can join rooms like Food & Drink, Hikers & Campers, Health, Thrifty Gals or Party Room, just to name a few. There truly is something for everyone which is especially important if you’re new to the area and want to connect with people with similar hobbies. You can also connect one-on-one with people if that’s something you prefer.
I would recommend joining the following groups on Bumble BFF:
Social Clubs:
If you’re someone who is looking for more organized events, Denver has that too! One of the first social events I attended was a MTN Kids meet up where the group planned an organized hike in Golden. It’s a great way to meet and talk to a bunch of people in a casual setting all at once. My partner and I both have made some wonderful connections through this group and we can’t wait to join more. The only downside to these clubs is that most of them are not free, like the other groups mentioned in this post, although some are more affordable than others. Still a great opportunity to have fun, stay active, and meet people at the same time.
Check out these clubs in the Denver metro area:
- MTN KDS
Women only clubs:
- Tribe
Run Clubs:
Run clubs have become a popular way to meet people in recent years. Not only will it keep you active, you’ll regularly meet-up people who also value health and fitness. Below are just a few of the popular run clubs in Denver.
*Not an exhaustive list. There are plenty of other clubs in Denver, but these are the most general ones that came to mind.
Meet Up:
The Meet Up app is another great option to try if you’re wanting to meet more people. I’ve joined some Denver Meet Up groups, but I haven’t attended any yet. Although I have attended Meet-Up’s in other cities and they’ve been great! What I like about Meet Up is that they are organized, free activities that usually occur weekly.
Here are some Meet Up groups that maybe of interest to you if you’re new:
- Denver Meet Up (Millennial + Gen Z)
- Mile High Newbies
Volunteer with Jefferson County Parks & Open Space:
Over the summer I did trail volunteer work with Jefferson County Open Space. They run great, organized events and signing up is really easy.
I signed up to do trail maintenance on South Table Mountain after work on their ladies night. Here, I met other like-minded women who frequently use trails in the Denver area and value taking care of them.
View the volunteer calendar, find a date that works for you, and sign up HERE.
Facebook:
I’d also recommend meeting people through Facebook Groups. Yes, people still use Facebook groups. They are actually a great way to find a group for a very specific hobby you enjoy, like trail running or mountain biking. Facebook is a great way to find niche groups like that. I recently joined a Facebook group for finding rock climbing partners at one of the local gyms, which I’ve found is another great way to meet people.
Other Apps for Meeting People:
- Timeleft
- Discord
I hope you found this list helpful and I wish that you find friendships that energize you and allow you to thrive!
