The Man Who’s Walked Every Street in Longmont

Twice—Well, Almost

Photo by Adam Steininger

For Justin Robbins, YouTuber behind Justin Hikes, walking isn’t just about getting from point A to point B—it’s a lifestyle, a mental reset, and, with the help of his mapmaking app tracker, a treasure hunt for liter.

It’s not around the world in 80 days, but through, across, and beside every Longmont street in approximately 90. Robbins has already walked every street in town once and is well on his way to doing it all over again, but this time with fistfuls of small liquor bottles.

Robbins is hard to miss. Towering over most, his scruffy gray beard gives him the look of a wise yet wildly adventurous woodsman, though his boundless energy is anything but grizzled. He practically vibrates enthusiastically, bouncing lightly on his toes as if the crosswalk pedestrian signal can’t contain his zest for life. Clutching a loud, bright orange-yellow trash bag like it’s the world’s greatest treasure bag, he smiles at the world with a joy so infectious it makes strangers want to follow—a modern-day, prophetic Forrest Gump.

“Walking is good for my health, and I enjoy spending time outdoors,” Justin explained. “I’ve always loved hiking and being in nature, but I can’t always get to the mountains. Weather doesn’t always cooperate, you know? Over time, I realized I get almost as much enjoyment walking city streets as I do hiking.”

His journey started with a pandemic-era conundrum: How many times can I walk the same boring route before I lose my mind? Answer: Not many. So, like any active thinker stuck in an unprecedented global situation, he decided to mix it up, undertaking the task of walking every single street in Longmont. That’s right—all 368 miles of pavement.

“It was winter, and I was working full-time, so almost all my walks were at night. I was the only one out. I was by myself. So, you know, that was cool, and it was a great experience because the whole thing became a goal to work towards… three months, I was doing every day, sometimes twice a day, for 90 minutes or more, or less.”

Armed with an app called CityStrides and a sense of determination, Robbins got moving. Over the course of approximately three months in late 2020, he tackled every road, cul-de-sac, and thoroughfare, logging 587 miles in the process. But this wasn’t just a one-time thing. He’s 84 percent through his second trek, having walked 542 miles so far, but his laissez-faire approach to route planning means he sometimes backtracks.  

“Back in 2020, there were 1,084 streets in Longmont,” Robbins explained. “Now there are 1,113—that’s 19 new streets to explore… I’ll miss a cul-de-sac and have to loop back. It’s not an exact science, but that’s part of the fun.”

Fast forward four years, and Robbins is at it again, only this time, he’s walking during daylight hours, deliberately chipping away at it over the span of a year—and seeing Longmont in a whole new way.

“I’ve noticed a lot more litter,” Robbins said. “At first, it really bummed me out. I don’t understand why people litter. It’s just foreign to me. I was frustrated, and it started to distract from the joy I normally get from walking.”

After venting to a friend, Justin got a surprising suggestion: pick up the litter. His initial reaction? “Why would I pick up other people’s trash? They’re the ones who littered!” But after some reflection, Robbins gave it a try—and found it unexpectedly rewarding.

“It surprised me how much I actually enjoy picking up litter. It makes a small difference, maybe temporarily, but it feels good. And it’s a mindset shift, too. Now, I like to think of every small liquor bottle as a treasure. Every walk becomes a treasure hunt,” Robbins said.

For Robbins, the benefits of walking extend far beyond physical fitness. He was adamant about its positive impact on mental health and encouraged others to start small, take manageable steps, and build up gradually. Walking, he believes, is accessible to almost everyone and can bring transformative positive mental benefits simply by getting outside and moving. This philosophy shines through on his YouTube channel, where he chronicles his ambitious hikes and walks.

“Rewalking the city this time, I see more of the details—the good and the bad. But now, instead of being frustrated by the litter, I find joy in making a little positive impact every day,” Robbins said.

Robbins is strolling down memory lane—literally and litter-ally—picking up trash as he goes. Walking the same streets twice brings a sense of déjà vu, but not in the way you might expect. While he admits it’s a little sad to see so much litter, Robbins has turned his walks into mini-cleanup missions.

“You wouldn’t believe the patterns,” Robbins chuckled. “In one neighborhood, it’s nothing but Fireball bottles. In another, it’s all Smirnoff. It’s almost like each block has its own signature trash… I figure if I pick it up, maybe someone will see me and think twice about littering.”

Robbins doesn’t sugarcoat the litter problem, but he’s not here to trash-talk Longmont or to wag a finger.

“I think the amount of litter here is pretty representative of most cities this size,” he said. “It’s not that Longmont’s worse—it’s just, unfortunately, an American thing. But hey, I can pick it up.”

While his first journey took three months of nightly walks, this round has been more relaxed. He hopes to finish his second round of walking every street by mid-December, marking a year-long adventure.

It’s also not his first rambling rodeo. Last autumn, he tackled every street in his much smaller hometown of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey.

“It’s much smaller than Longmont. It was still a challenge. I mean, it was every day, several times, or twice a day. It was probably 10 miles a day for the better part of a week, but it was a fun challenge,” Robbins said.

While Justin briefly toyed with the idea of hitting the streets of nearby towns like Boulder or Loveland, he quickly nixed it.

“Too much driving,” Robbins said. “I’m all about keeping it local… I love spotting classic cars.” He often snaps photos of his favorites to send to friends back in Jersey. “There’s such a strong car culture out here.”

As he wraps up his second tour throughout the city, Robbins’ love for Longmont shines through. Whether it’s the health benefits, the cool cars, or just the satisfaction of a cleaner city, his passion for walking every street is downright contagious.

So, if you see a tall, grizzled man striding purposefully down your block, trash bag in hand, take a second to wave. That’s Justin Robbins, turning Longmont’s streets into his personally crafted treasure map—one step, and one Fireball bottle, at a time.