Frequently Asked Questions

Volkswalking (from the German "Volksmarch," meaning "people's walk") is organized, non-competitive walking. You walk a pre-measured route — typically 10 kilometers (about 6.2 miles) — through scenic, historic, or interesting areas at your own pace. There's no racing, no timing, and no fitness requirement. It's walking for the joy of exploring new places, and anyone can do it.

The Low Desert Roadrunners are a Volkswalking club based in Southern California's Inland Empire region. Founded in 1984, we're affiliated with the American Volkssport Association (AVA Club #0157) and the California Volkssport Association (CA5). We organize monthly group walks across Southern California — from Temecula wine country to Catalina Island — and maintain year-round self-guided walking routes.

No! Our group walks are open to everyone. You can show up at any event and walk with us — no membership required. Membership ($15/year) gives you access to the Trail Passport system where you can track your walks, earn digital stamps, and unlock milestones. But you're welcome to try a walk first and join later.

Comfortable walking shoes, water, and sun protection (hat, sunscreen). That's it. Our walks are on mostly paved trails and sidewalks, so you don't need hiking gear. Some members bring snacks, walking poles, or a small backpack, but none of that is required. We recommend wearing layers since Southern California mornings can be cool.

Most of our walks are 10 kilometers (about 6.2 miles), which is the standard Volkswalking distance. This typically takes 2 to 3 hours at a comfortable pace. Some events offer shorter options. You can always turn around early if needed — there's no requirement to complete the full distance.

Absolutely not. Volkswalking is non-competitive — you walk at whatever pace feels comfortable. Some of our members are brisk walkers, others take it slow and enjoy the scenery. There's no clock, no ranking, and no one judging your speed. Walk your walk.

Many of our routes are on paved paths and sidewalks that are wheelchair and mobility-aid accessible. We welcome walkers of all abilities. Check the specific event or route details for terrain information — routes rated "A" in our trail rating system are almost entirely on pavement. Feel free to contact us if you have questions about a particular walk.

We hold group walks once a month, typically on a Saturday morning. Locations change each month — we walk all across Southern California, from Temecula and Murrieta to Laguna Beach, San Clemente, Palm Springs, Big Bear, Carlsbad, and beyond. Check our Events page for the full schedule with dates, times, and locations.

Year-Round Events are self-guided walking routes that you can do any time, on your own schedule. Unlike our monthly group walks, YREs don't have a set date — just pick a route, go to the start location, and follow the directions. We maintain multiple YRE routes across Southern California. You'll find them on our Routes page.

Traditional Events are our scheduled group walks — the monthly walks that appear on our Events page. They take place on a specific date, at a specific location, with other club members. These are the most social way to experience Volkswalking.

Our walks cover a wide range of Southern California locations including Temecula, Murrieta, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, Huntington Beach, Dana Point, Carlsbad, Palm Springs, Big Bear, Catalina Island, Long Beach, and more. Each city offers a different terrain and experience — coastal paths, desert trails, mountain pine forests, urban boardwalks, and wine country strolls.

A start card is a small form you fill out at the beginning of a Volkswalking event. It records your participation and is used for AVA credit tracking. You can fill one out on paper at the event or through our digital check-in system. The start card is how your walk gets officially counted toward your achievements.

We walk in most conditions — Southern California weather is generally cooperative. However, events may be modified or cancelled in cases of extreme heat, heavy rain, or dangerous conditions. If there's a question about a specific event, check our Events page or our Facebook group for updates. Mountain walks (like Big Bear) are weather-dependent.

The Trail Passport is your personal walking profile on our platform. It tracks every walk you complete, displays the digital stamps you've earned for each route, shows your milestone achievements, and lets you share your walking journey with friends and family. Think of it as a digital version of the traditional AVA walking book — but with collectible artwork and progress tracking.

Each walking route has a unique digital stamp with custom artwork representing that city and trail. When you check in at an event using our digital check-in system, you automatically earn the stamp for that route. Stamps are permanent — they stay in your passport forever and show the date you earned them. It's like collecting passport stamps from different countries, but for Southern California walks.

At each event, the walk leader will share a check-in code. Open our website on your phone, go to the Check In page, and enter the code. That's it — your walk is recorded, your stats update, and if you walked a new route, you'll earn its stamp. If you don't have a phone or prefer not to use the digital system, an officer can check you in manually.

Milestones are achievement badges you unlock as you reach walking goals. Complete your first walk and earn "First Steps." Hit 10 walks for "Trailblazer." Reach 25 for "Explorer," 50 for "Road Warrior," and 100 for "Century Walker." There are also distance milestones (100K Club, 500K Club) and stamp collection milestones. They appear on your passport as badges of honor.

Based on your total walks, you progress through five tiers: Trail Starter (0-4 walks), Bronze Walker (5-14), Silver Explorer (15-29), Gold Pathfinder (30-49), and Desert Legend (50+). Your tier appears on your passport and reflects your dedication to walking Southern California.

Yes! Every member has a public passport page that shows your stats, stamps, and milestones. You can share the link on Facebook, text it to friends, or post it anywhere. It's a great way to show your walking journey and inspire others to join.

Membership is $15 per year for individuals or families. That's less than $1.25 per month. This price has been kept intentionally accessible since the club's founding — everyone should be able to walk with us regardless of budget.

Your $15 annual membership includes: access to all monthly group walks, year-round self-guided walking routes, the Trail Passport with digital stamps and milestones, the Beep Beep monthly newsletter, voting rights at the annual meeting, and the camaraderie of a walking community that's been exploring Southern California since 1984.

Passport+ is our enhanced membership tier at $39/year. It includes everything in the standard membership, plus premium features: the Journey Map showing everywhere you've walked across SoCal, timeline replay of your walking history, a stats dashboard, shareable achievement cards, and access to limited-edition event stamps. Standard membership will always remain available — Passport+ simply adds more ways to track and celebrate your walks.

You can sign up online through our Membership page. Create your account, and you'll have immediate access to the Trail Passport, event registration, and the digital check-in system. You can also sign up in person at any of our monthly group walks — just talk to one of the officers.

Yes — our $15 annual membership covers individuals or families. Family members living in the same household can all participate under one membership. Each family member can create their own Trail Passport account to track their individual walks and stamps.

Membership renews annually. You'll receive a reminder through the Beep Beep newsletter and via email before your membership expires. You can renew online through your account or at any monthly walk.

The AVA is the national governing body for Volkswalking in the United States. Founded in 1976, it represents about 200 walking clubs across all 50 states. The AVA sanctions events, maintains a national achievement program, and connects clubs with each other. The Low Desert Roadrunners are AVA Club #0157.

The CVA is the state-level organization that coordinates Volkswalking clubs across California. It hosts an annual convention (which rotates between member clubs), maintains a state event calendar, and fosters collaboration between California's walking clubs. LDRR is designated CA5 within the CVA.

Yes. Walks completed with the Low Desert Roadrunners count toward your national AVA walking record. If you maintain an AVA Starting Point book, your walks are credited there. Our digital Trail Passport system tracks your achievements separately but complements the national program.

Absolutely. One of the great things about Volkswalking is that you can participate in any AVA-sanctioned event anywhere in the country. Many of our members walk with multiple clubs, especially when traveling. Your AVA record follows you across all clubs.

Every route uses the American Volkssport Association's two-part rating system. The first number (1-5) rates incline: 1 means very flat, 5 means steep hills. The second letter (A-E) rates terrain: A is almost entirely paved, B is well-groomed trails, C includes rocky paths or soft sand, D and E indicate difficult terrain. For example, our Temecula walk is rated 1A (flat and paved), while Big Bear is 2B (moderate hills on groomed trails). Check each route's detail page on our Routes page for its specific rating and visual difficulty breakdown.

Safety is our top priority when designing routes. We follow AVA Trailmaster guidelines for route selection, which means we consider road shoulders, crosswalk availability, path width, and overall terrain conditions. Every route has checkpoints approximately every 5 kilometers with water available. Walk leaders carry emergency contact information and first aid supplies. We avoid routes with unsafe road crossings or hazardous conditions.

Yes. Following AVA standards, our 10km routes include a checkpoint approximately halfway (between 4km and 6km). Checkpoints provide water, a chance to confirm you're on the right path, and a stamp for your start card. At group walks, the checkpoint is staffed by a volunteer. For year-round self-guided walks, checkpoints may be self-service or use a checkpoint question system.

A start card is a small form you fill out at the beginning of a walk. It records your participation, includes a safety waiver, and has spaces for checkpoint stamps. At group walks, you fill one out at the start table. Our digital check-in system serves the same purpose — when you enter a check-in code on your phone, it's the digital equivalent of a stamped start card.

No special equipment is needed for most of our walks. Comfortable walking shoes, water, sun protection, and weather-appropriate clothing are all you need. Routes rated A or B are on paved surfaces or well-maintained trails — regular walking shoes are fine. For routes rated C or higher (like some mountain trails), trail shoes with good traction are recommended. Every route page shows its rating and what to expect.

Every walk route is designed with restroom access in mind. Water is provided at the start/finish and at checkpoints during group walks. For year-round self-guided walks, we note restroom locations in the route directions. Our route pages show restroom and water availability icons so you can plan ahead. We always recommend bringing your own water bottle regardless.

Yes — the Low Desert Roadrunners are based in the Temecula/Murrieta area of Southern California's Inland Empire. We organize monthly group walks and maintain year-round walking routes throughout the region. Whether you live in Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Wildomar, or anywhere in Southwest Riverside County, you're welcome to join us.

Our routes span the entire SoCal region: coastal paths in San Clemente, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, and Dana Point; desert trails in Palm Springs; mountain walks in Big Bear; wine country strolls in Temecula; island adventures on Catalina; boardwalks in Long Beach and Carlsbad; and urban explorations in Murrieta and beyond. Check our Routes page for the full list with terrain details, AVA ratings, and difficulty breakdowns.

Volkswalking is different from hiking. Our routes are typically on paved paths, sidewalks, and well-maintained trails — not rugged backcountry terrain. You don't need hiking boots or technical gear. The focus is on enjoying the scenery and community. That said, some routes (like Big Bear, rated 2B) have moderate elevation and unpaved sections.

We're walkers, not runners. There's no pace requirement, no speed training, and no competitive element. Running clubs are great for people who want athletic performance — we're for people who want to explore beautiful places at a comfortable pace. Many of our members are 50+ and looking for enjoyable, low-impact outdoor activity with a social community.

Dogs are welcome on most of our walks as long as they're leashed and well-behaved. Some venues or trails may have restrictions. Our route pages display a "Dog Friendly" badge when dogs are welcome, so check the specific route before heading out with your pup.

Yes — the Low Desert Roadrunners serve the entire Southwest Riverside County area including Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Wildomar, and Canyon Lake. Our monthly walks rotate across Southern California, but our home base is the Inland Empire region.

Subscribe to the Beep Beep, our monthly newsletter. You'll get walk announcements, route previews, member stories, and club news delivered to your inbox. You can also follow us on Facebook ("Low Desert Roadrunners" and "Walkee Talkees" groups) for real-time updates and event photos.

You can reach us through the Contact page on our website, or email us directly at lowdesertroadrunners@gmail.com. You can also connect with us at any monthly walk — our officers are always happy to chat.

Absolutely! We're always looking for members who want to help. Whether it's scouting new routes, leading group walks, helping with event logistics, or contributing to the newsletter, there are many ways to get involved. Talk to any officer at a walk or contact us through the website.