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Advanced Hiking Los Angeles

Discover challenging hiking trails with local experts

21ST ANNUAL GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK 2026 - ROUTE TBD

21ST ANNUAL GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK 2026 - ROUTE TBD

Sat, Nov 21, 5:00 PM
From SO CAL EXPLORERS - Field trips for adults
4.9

**CROSS-POSTED WITH HUMANIST HIKERS, LA & OC WEIRDO MUSIC & ART FORUM** **Date:** Saturday Nov. 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM TO WHENEVER THE HECK YOU FINISH! Join us for the 21st edition of the GLAW, and the 6th one with So Cal Explorers! It's a different route every year. **SAVE THE DATE! Starting location, route, and food recommendations will be announced starting in late September.** **End Point** & **After Party**: location TBD **Distance**: usually around 15-16 miles **Event web page:** [https://greatlawalk.blogspot.com](https://greatlawalk.blogspot.com) Attendees will be encouraged to explore the city in a safe way, and follow proper safety protocols. As they walk through Los Angeles, they’ll document what they see and share that experience with others. It’s not a race – attendees are encouraged to take their time, explore, learn about their city and even build community with others. **Sign up for their newsletter detailing the walk:** To join in, just EMAIL US at *[[greatlawalk@mail.com](http://greatlawalk@mail.com/)]([mailto:greatlawalk@mail.com](http://mailto:greatlawalk@mail.com/))* The Great Los Angeles Walk takes place every year **the Saturday before Thanksgiving.** \- Walk across the city of Los Angeles\. See the city from a new perspective\. \- Meet fellow walkers along the way\. \- This is **NOT** a race or competition. \- This is **NOT** a guided tour (but there is a map). \- Walk at your own pace and stop when and where you like\. **The journey itself is its own point.** L.A. journalist and blogger **Michael Schneider** launched the Great Los Angeles Walk in **2006** as a way to celebrate his tenth year in Los Angeles. Inspired by the book “Wilshire Boulevard: Grand Concourse of Los Angeles,” by Kevin Roderick, he decided to walk the street’s entire length. The Great Los Angeles Walk grew from dozens of participants to hundreds, and continues to expand each year – always the Saturday before Thanksgiving -- as more Angelenos join in to explore their city on foot. **Details to come on where we will gather, our food options during the day and more.** If you're not familiar with the Walk, please go read this wonderful feature in the Los Angeles Times, which perfectly encapsulated what we're all about: **[L.A. isn’t a walking city? The man behind Great Los Angeles Walk would like a word](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2024-11-08/great-los-angeles-walk-michael-schneider)** As always, the Walk is **completely free**. It is up to the participants to decide how much or how little of the walk they want to do. More recently, the Walk was included in the book "***The Best Things to Do In Los Angeles: 1001 Ideas***" by Joy Yoo Social media users can follow along all day on the walk's **official Twitter feed, [https://x.com/greatlawalk](https://x.com/greatlawalk)** , as we continually post our location. **All the details are here:** *[http://greatlawalk.blogspot.com/](http://greatlawalk.blogspot.com/)* **Video: Why we walk** *[https://youtu.be/m5DASOc424w](https://youtu.be/m5DASOc424w)* **Facebook page**: *[https://www.facebook.com/greatlawalk](https://www.facebook.com/greatlawalk) /* Join their e-mail list: *[[greatlawalk@mail.com](http://greatlawalk@mail.com/)]([mailto:greatlawalk@mail.com](http://mailto:greatlawalk@mail.com/))* Photos from last year: [ https://www.meetup.com/so-cal-explorers/photos/35710054/](https://www.meetup.com/so-cal-explorers/photos/35710054/)

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13 attendees
Mandeville Trail (7:30 start!)

Mandeville Trail (7:30 start!)

Sun, Oct 4, 2:20 PM
From Temescal Canyon Hiking Group
4.9

Meet at 7:20, leave at 7:30 sharp. Yes, you heard that right. Because the forecast is calling for temperatures at 90 or above, we will start early to beat the heat. The trailhead is at the very end of Westridge Road. About 6 miles. Dog friendly hike. What to bring: Water Solid shoes A good mood

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10 attendees
Doo Dah Parade in Pasadena!

Doo Dah Parade in Pasadena!

Sun, Nov 22, 6:30 PM
From Los Angeles Hiking Group
4.8

**UPDATES HERE -check back in NOVEMBER** Howdy Doo-Dah everyone! Are you ready for a fun parade this Fall? Get ready for the return of the historic Doo-Dah parade in Pasadena, CA. Save the date, **Sunday, November 22**. The 44th++ annual DooDah parade is back! Kick off begins at 11:00 am, but as with most parades, you need to arrive early and find a spot. It's easy to get there via Metro, walking, or park in the public parking lots for a fee. Please note that there will be some street closures so check the parade website for parking info/getting there. What is this Doo Dah Parade? Here's the link: [About — Pasadena DooDah Parade](https://www.pasadenadoodahparade.info/about) **Meetup spot** \- on the sidewalk near the Apple Store on Colorado\. **Meetup Time:** Parade starts at 11, but to obtain a good spot for all of us, best to arrive earlier. **Cost:** FREE!!!! **Bring**: **TORTILLAS -**(not kidding, bring them for the tortilla toss), Kazoos if u have any, chairs, or you can stand, or sit on the curb; water, sunblock, dinero $$ **GETTING THERE**: Walk, Metro (Memorial Park Metro Station), whatever you are comfortable with ( see the parade link below) **Parade Website**: https://pasadenadoodahparade.info/ **LUNCH OPTION**: After the parade - option to walk to Congregation Ale House for lunch. **How to find me (Maya)** \- I'll be wearing a Santa Hat \( I'll post a pic in November \) **LASTLY**: Please check back again in November for updates. **LIABILITY**: The organizer/host is an unpaid and untrained volunteer. By joining this event each member and their guest(s) accepts full responsibility for knowing their limits, for any and all injuries, health issues, material losses, assessing all risks and for getting lost. Each member shall make their guests aware of these policies and releases the host from all liability.

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30 attendees
Trail Mates social hike

Trail Mates social hike

Sun, Oct 4, 4:00 PM
From Pasadena Jaycees
4.9

Welcome to Friend of a Friend, a new social series presented by the Pasadena Jaycees to bring singles and friends together through fun, local experiences. Our first event, Trail Mates, is a fall hike for ages 21–40. **RSVP through [Partiful](https://partiful.com/e/546ssJILPNOctqZzsSh0?c=-32Bdjo3)**[ ](https://partiful.com/e/546ssJILPNOctqZzsSh0?c=-32Bdjo3) Join us for a casual 3-mile hike, good conversation, and a chance to see who you vibe with along the way. Whether you’re single and open to something more or simply looking to make new connections, your meet cute starts here. In a relationship but looking for friends? We’ll divide groups accordingly so singles can connect with other singles, while everyone else can focus on making new friends. After the hike, stick around for coffee, donuts, and time to swap numbers with the people you vibed with. No awkward speed dating. No forced introductions. Just a cozy fall morning and good people. Find your people. Meet your match.

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1 attendee
Adams Hill Urban Hike (SW. Glendale and E. Eagle Rock), Level: Moderate+

Adams Hill Urban Hike (SW. Glendale and E. Eagle Rock), Level: Moderate+

Sun, Oct 11, 3:30 PM
From Los Angeles Hiking Group
4.8

Come join us for a great workout, for discovering unique areas of the city and for meeting new people to do an urban hill hike in the beautiful Adams Hill area of Glendale and the most eastern, hilly, part of Eagle Rock! This route will take us in charming residential areas with many winding hill roads and views of different sides of Los Angeles. **LEVEL**: Intermediate Plus for speed and some inclines, otherwise moderate. We are a friendly group that loves to socialize and encourages new-comers, but please note moderate+ level of cardio fitness and walking speed are required. **LENGTH**: 6.4 miles, three staircases up. Elevation gain is 1100ft. +/-2 1/2h. **SPEED**: Brisk, with a quick pause to re-group at the top of the hills. There will be no sweep, bring your phone for navigation just in case you want to leave early. **BRING**: Exercise outfit, workout shoes (no hiking shoes needed), sunscreen and water. **MEETING POINT**: We meet a block NE of Target at 8.30am for introductions and we take off sharply at 8.35am. (If you are just a few minutes late you can skip the first stairs and meet us at the corner of Medlow Ave. and Banbury Pl.) **If driving from south be aware that CicLAvia ( 9am-4pm in DTLA, Chinatown and Echo Park) street closures may add to your drive time!** **RESTROOMS**: at Target (left back corner), please be back by 8.35am. They also have Starbucks coffee. No restrooms along the way. **PARKING**: Free, unlimited street parking in five directions. **PLEASE NO CRASHING!** Urban hikes do not work well with large groups so, unfortunately, space is limited. I "overbook" events in anticipation of some last-minute dropouts, so you cannot assume that those spots will be available. The wait list, if necessary, generally clears in order, but people with good attendance record and a posted picture (LA Hiking Group rule) may get priority. **LIABILITY**: The organizer is an untrained and uncompensated volunteer. By joining this event each member accepts full responsibility for knowing their limits, for all injuries and health issues, assessing all risks, for any material losses and for getting lost. Each member agrees to make their guests aware of these policies, also, and release the host from all liability.

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31 attendees
Halloween 2026 Night Hike #2 (Oct/17)

Halloween 2026 Night Hike #2 (Oct/17)

Sun, Oct 18, 12:00 AM
From SoCal Science Hikes
4.7

Note: We have three Halloween night hikes on the calendar this year. Locations are different, but the content I present will be more or less the same. If the attendance list is full for your preferred night, please join the wait-list. I'm almost always able to accommodate everyone as the weekend approaches. **Overview:** Spooky season is upon us so let's celebrate all of the creepy-crawlies and things that go bump in the night with an hike in Whittier Narrows Recreation Park. This event will be part hiking and part "ghost stories". The hike will start while it's still a bit light, giving us the opportunity to see the diurnal animals settle down for the evening, and the nocturnal animals begin to stir. We'll pay special attention to any silhouettes in the treetops, and listening for call from owls, coyotes, frogs, and insects. After returning to our meeting spot, we'll sit around a faux campfire and share tales of spookiness we've encountered while out hiking. Please bring a blanket or chair in case we don't have enough picnic tables. Feel free to bring refreshments, and if you brink enough to share, even better! And if you like, please come in costume as long as it doesn't interfere with easy hiking. I'm classifying this hike as beginner. Total distance is about three miles, with little elevation gain. Here are a few of the topics we'll be learning about: \- Natural history of the area \- Lunar cycle \- Evolution of fear \- Adaptations of nocturnal animals \- Why a lot of humans are scared of the dark \- Why sounds seem different at night \- Ghost stories and hauntings of the area I've capped attendance for this event, so, if full, please join the waitlist and I'll try to accommodate as the event gets closer. **Location:** Whittier Narrows Recreation Park in South El Monte, CA **Starting point:** Parking Lot of Area D. Look for the SoCal Sciences Hikes banner, and the guy with long hair, beard, and cowboy hat. **Distance:** Approximately 3 miles **Duration:** About 3 hours **Elevation gain:** minimal **Terrain:** Dirt trails, rocky washes **Difficulty:** Advanced Beginner **Age:** 18 and older. Contact me to discuss exceptions. **Pets:** No pets allowed **Recommended gear:** \- Footwear suitable for dirt paths and rocky washes \- Clothing suitable for the weather \- Water \- Snacks \(if desired\) \- Binoculars\, monocular\, or spotting scope \- Journal or notebook if you're into that sort of thing \- Sun protection \- Headlamp or flashlight **Cost:** This event is free, but if you enjoy your time and learn something, tips/donations are graciously accepted in person or at buymeacoffee.com/codycolborn **No Show Policy:** In order to host as many people as possible, we keep track of no shows. After two no shows, you will be placed on the waitlist when signing up for a new event, and moved to the "going" list if space is available the night before the event. **Questions:** If you have any questions, please message me through Meetup or text 424-244-0334.

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14 attendees
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Frequently asked questions

Meetup helps people find and connect through local groups. It offers a platform to join events based on shared interests, like advanced hiking.

Search Meetup for advanced hiking groups in Los Angeles. You can use filters to find specific hiking activities and join communities that match your interests.

Yes, Los Angeles features numerous advanced hiking trails. Through Meetup, you can join groups that focus on tackling these more challenging hikes.

For advanced hikes, sturdy boots, a backpack with water, snacks, a map, or GPS are recommended. Always check the group's event page for specific requirements.

Log in to Meetup, search for hiking events in LA, and RSVP to join. Review the event details and connect with other participants if needed.

While anyone can join, advanced hikes are best suited for experienced hikers. Make sure to assess your skill level before attending an event.

Many events are free, but some may have costs for permits or guides. Check event details for pricing information.

Local group hosts manage events on Meetup. They plan the location and itinerary. Communication about specific event details is usually in the event description.

Absolutely, attending events solo is common. It's a great way to meet new hiking friends who share your passion for advanced trails.

While Meetup facilitates connections, making friends depends on your participation and engagement in groups and events.

Hiking in Los Angeles is generally year-round, but summer can be hot. Most advanced hikers enjoy winter and spring for cooler, more agreeable conditions.

Yes, advanced hiking groups often target challenging terrains to provide a rigorous experience for participants seeking more demanding trails.

Not always. Events are organized by enthusiasts or guides. Some might have professional leaders, but check event details for this info.

Yes! Meetup allows you to start your own group. You can organize events and gather like-minded hikers for advanced trails around LA.

Not every trail is covered. The availability of hikes depends on group interests and organization. If there's no group for a specific trail, you might start your own.