Lifestyle
Walk on, L.A.! Why you should absolutely explore the city by foot — and how to do it
When it comes to “walkability,” L.A. gets a bad rap. To the weekend visitor, our city can seem like a maze of twisting freeways and roads built for cars, walled off to pedestrians. But those who really know L.A. can tell you it’s a pleasure to stroll through, replete with blooming bougainvillea, rich history and street vendors and shops. You just have to know where to look.
Lucky for you, we’ve put together a guide for exactly that. Discover the essential walking paths that will show you the best of L.A. Get to know local groups and leaders who are fusing community and exercise. Learn about the vast stretch of culture contained on one 27.4-mile boulevard. And connect with personal stories about the power of a good walk.
We’ll be publishing new stories on walking L.A. all week. C’mon, it’s time to get moving.
— Alyssa Bereznak, Wellness Editor
From the Venice Boardwalk to Rodeo Drive and Boyle Heights’ Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard, these walks allow you to experience L.A.’s streets and sidewalks by foot.
Michael Schneider founded the Great Los Angeles Walk in 2006. Now in its 19th year, it’s still going strong.
Do you have a favorite neighborhood, trail or secret pathway to walk in Los Angeles? The Times wants to hear from you.
How walkable is your L.A. neighborhood? Consult our admittedly biased, wholly unscientific ranking that goes way beyond the numbers.
Washington Boulevard runs from Whittier to Venice and is filled with every type of Angeleno. Walking it provided me with a genuine slice of life in L.A., a city I love.
These exercise-based social clubs cater to every interest and skill level — from stairclimbing to slow walking — and almost all them are free.
This solo hike has helped me process life’s hardest moments and become a staple of my life in L.A. After walking it over and over again, I feel more connected to nature — and myself.
Plan your next walk around L.A.’s many Little Free Libraries, outposts found everywhere from Studio City to Pasadena that allow you to take a book and/or leave a book.
Comedian Allan McLeod hosts “Walkin’ About,” a podcast that celebrates the “complex and profound” act of traveling by foot in and around Los Angeles.
Want to explore L.A. foot but don’t know where to go? Here’s our complete collection of city walking guides