The Big Parade -- Downtown to Silver Lake

An annual event, approximately 33 miles and more than 100 public stairways, hosted by Dan Koeppel with assistance from Bob Inman, over the course of two days.

Saturday's hike starts Downtown and ends in Silver Lake.

Sunday's hike starts in Silver Lake and ends in Hollywood.

There are multiple hiking "loops" each day where it is possible to join the group for segments of several miles that loop back to where you joined.

Details will be posted about a week before the event. For more information, here's a link to the Big Parade website: http://www.bigparadela.com/

UPDATE (May 12): Dan Koeppel hopes to have final route details and timetables posted at http://www.bigparadela.com within 48 hours. Check that website Tuesday or Wednesday.

IMPORTANT. You need to figure out how to get back to where you join the Big Parade (Dan has information about bus routes and metroline stations on the website) or make arrangements for someone to pick you up where and when you stop. I am not hiking Saturday, but based on prior experience, I will recommend a morning segment or an afternoon segment that will enable you to return to where you start.

Angel's Flight to Lincoln Heights (8 am to noon) -- A circuitous route through downtown and then east to the LA River. From the junction of San Fernando Road and Figueroa Avenue, continue two blocks east (under the Golden State Fwy), turn right onto Avenue 26 and proceed (under the Pasadena Fwy) one block south to the Lincoln Heights Goldline Metro Station. Take the Goldline to Union Station ($1.50) and then the Redline to Pershing Square (another $1.50) and exit on Hill Street, less than a block from Angel's Flight.

Echo Park and Elysian Heights (3 pm to 6 pm) -- This segment starts at Fix Coffee, 2100 Echo Park Avenue and Baxter Street and includes some of the best stairways and most interesting neighborhoods along the Big Parade route. The 3 pm departure time is approximate, but you can hang out at the coffee shop while you wait for the hikers to arrive. You will loop back to within a few blocks of the coffee shop about three hours later before the stalwarts continue toward Angelino Heights.

Joining this hike is entirely voluntary and participants assume all associated risks. It is each hiker's responsibility to ensure that s/he is in sufficient fitness and health to participate, with appropriate provisions and equipment. The Los Angeles Hiking Meetup group and the Big Parade organizer make no warranties about the safety or supervision of these activities.