If you like your hiking mixed with a bit of urban exploration, civic pride, and the occasional rest stop at a cafe, then you might be interested to know that the Fourth Annual Great Los Angeles Walk is on-schedule to take place this Saturday, November 21st.

The annual event takes hikers on a long-distance urban hike through the streets of Los Angeles, usually singling out one main thoroughfare to explore. It’s a great way to see what’s in our city, as Angelenos spend so much more time whizzing past neighborhood storefronts than actually exploring them on foot. In the past, they’ve done Wilshire, Pico, and Santa Monica Boulevards, and this year they’ll be exploring the West Adams Neighborhood on their way to the ocean.

The 13.5 mile route runs from the Shrine Auditorium to Venice Beach, via Washington and Adams Boulevards, and is a leisurely affair, with plenty of side-routes and exploration heavily encouraged.

It costs nothing to participate (unless you stop for drinks or food along the way). Meet up on the Jefferson side of the Shrine Auditorium at 9AM sharp on Saturday, and plan to spend the rest of the day enjoying your city with a group of like-minded urban hikers. For more information, head to the Great Los Angeles Walk web site, and be sure to email the webmaster to get on their mailing list to find out where the post-hike party is going to be in Venice. If you don’t think you can do the whole route, keep track of the pack on Twitter and join up when they start heading toward your neck of the concrete woods!

Tags: 2009, adams, great los angeles walk, Hiking, urban hiking, washington, west adams