America’s Walking Club Hosts Community Walk in Downtown Las Cruces

Adults, children and seniors are invited to join walkers from more than 30 states on May 3 for guided community walks that showcase the best of downtown Las Cruces and the Historic Mesquite Street District.

The walks start at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 3, at Visit Las Cruces, 336 S. Main St.

Walkers can choose to participate in a 3K walk (1.8 miles) or 5K walk (3.1 miles). Participants will discover the benefits of walking with America’s Walking Club, the largest walking club in the nation.

There is a $4 fee for adults. Children 12 and under walk for free and will receive a sticker upon finishing.

The walk is the finale of a 5-day walking festival, with about 300 walkers from around the United States gathering in Las Cruces, N.M. April 29 – May 3, 2025, for the 23^rd AVA: America’s Walking Club Biennial Convention and Walking Festival.

Daily walks in various areas of southern New Mexico will take place as people discover the beauty and diversity of the area. All events are non-competitive and completed at the participant’s individual pace. Participants may start an event individually or in a group at any time during a specified time window and are allowed more than enough time to finish the various distance options. Special provisions also allow for the physically challenged to participate in most events. Participation is open to the public for all walks.

One of the more exciting events during the festival will be the international journey from El Paso to Juarez and back. People will walk across the International bridge and be welcomed by members of the Municipality of Juarez, Ah Chihuahua, and Visit El Paso for a guided 5K (3 mile) walk through the beauty of the city, including the Cathedral, by the market, and the location of the first margarita. Participants must register in advance for this event to ensure an easy return to the U.S., and for bus transportation from Las Cruces to El Paso.

There are several other walks that will be experienced by visitors including White Sands National Park, Mesilla Valley State Park, Dripping Springs in the Organ Mountains, and a walk around and through New Mexico State University’s Las Cruces campus. America’s Walking Club has also mapped out walks at City of Rocks State Park, Deming, Truth or Consequences, and several other locations within 100 miles, for walkers who want to experience the different landscapes and attractions of southern New Mexico. There are also bike events on mapped trails, and swim events at the NMSU Aquatic Center. Visitors will also have a meet and greet at New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum, plus have opportunities to hear local historians at various workshops.

The center for all events and meetings for the festival is the Las Cruces Convention Center. The community is invited for all walks but must pre-register and pay the $10 fee for each walk April 29 through May 2. The Community Walk in downtown Las Cruces on May 3 is reduced to $4 with children walking for free. Anyone wanting more information should stop by the Convention Center to learn about events, walking clubs and the enjoyment of AVA: America’s Walking Club.

America’s Walking Club – formerly known as the American Volkssport Association is the largest walking club in the United States, A nonprofit organization founded in 1976, America’s Walking Club is dedicated to promoting personal physical fitness and good health by providing fun-filled, safe exercise in a stress-free environment through non-competitive walks and hikes, bike rides, swims, and in some regions cross-country skiing and snow shoeing. Its nationwide, grassroots network of almost 200 active clubs host more than 2,500 events annually across the country. Most of its walking events offer a pre-marked 10-kilometer trail with an option to walk 5 kilometers or less. Many people keep track of their walks with logbooks that they then receive awards for their distance and event achievements. Go to ava.org to learn more about AVA: America’s Walking Club.

Visit the America’s Walking Club website for more information.