Ranchos Walk 2026

Participants who are signed up for the full 9-mile hike will start at Rancho Los Cerritos and walk to Willow Springs Park, Reservoir Hill, and then to the celebration at Rancho Los Alamitos.  A more detailed map with turn-by-turn directions will be provided at each start location.

At the end of the walk, shuttle services will return participants from Rancho Los Alamitos to each start location.

Parking

• 3-Mile Reservoir Hill: Street parking is available along Reservoir Drive.

• 6-Mile Willow Springs Park: Parking is available in the lot at 2745 Orange Avenue. 
  

• 9-Mile Rancho Los Cerritos: Limited parking is available at Rancho Los Cerritos on a first-come, first-served basis. 

  • CSULB Shuttle: A shuttle will transport walkers from CSULB to the 9-mile start point at Rancho Los Cerritos. Limited street parking is available at CSULB on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is available in Lot E6 with a $10/day permit.

Yes, participation in this event is free! It is free to register, and we recommend signing up early. There will be limited day-of registration at each starting location.

Yes, this is an all-ages, family-friendly event! Youth under the age of 18 must have signed parental consent to participate and must be accompanied by an adult. We recommend that families with younger children who want to bring wagons or strollers consider choosing the shorter 3- or 6-mile hike options. There will be fun programming, games, and activities for kids at the post-walk celebration.

Yes. However, while most of the route is paved, there are short sections of grass, gravel, and dirt roads. There is also a steep hill along the route between Reservoir Hill and Willow Springs.

Although most of the route is accessible to dogs, only service animals will be permitted at the post-walk celebration. As a working ranch with live animals, Rancho Los Alamitos may limit access to certain areas of the barnyard when livestock or other animals are present, particularly in situations where those animals may become agitated, stressed, or behave unpredictably in the presence of a dog or miniature horse. For more information about Rancho Los Alamitos’ service animal policy, please visit their website. 

The route and pace of this event are designed for walkers, so biking and running are not recommended. Participants will not have access to the celebration until 10:30 am. Bike accessibility/parking is not guaranteed throughout the route.

Yes, there will be water refill stations and restrooms at all three start locations (Rancho Los Cerritos, Reservoir Hill, and Willow Springs Park) and the post-walk celebration at Rancho Los Alamitos.

Please prepare for the hike by wearing proper sun protection (e.g., a hat and sunscreen), comfortable clothes, and walking shoes. Remember to bring your refillable water bottle and snacks if you’d like. There will be water refill stations at each stop, and food and beverages will be available for purchase at the celebration.  

Food and beverages will be available for purchase at Rancho Los Alamitos. More details to be announced.

Most of the walk takes place on sidewalks with a few crosswalks in between. Some portions of the walk are along grass, gravel paths, or dirt roads. These sections can be avoided by using sidewalks on either side of the route.  There is also a steep hill along the route between Reservoir Hill and Willow Springs Park.

Download the IZI Travel app at izi.travel/app. The direct link to the tour will be shared with registered participants before the event. The link will also be shared at each start location.