Pennsylvania Highlands Trail Challenge

Explore the Highlands Trail, challenge yourself, and win fun prizes! Anyone can enroll in the Highlands Hiking Challenge. Between May 1st, 2025, and December 31st, 2025, complete as many miles of the Highlands Trail segments as possible. Hit the following mileage benchmarks and receive a patch and certification of completion: 10, 25, 50, or 100+ miles.

Miles can be unique or repetitive. Prizes will be sent after the challenge ends December 31st, 2025. Please abide by the honor system when submitting your mileage; we won’t ask for 3rd party tracking data (like Strava).

How It Works

  1. Upon completion, participants who have hiked 10-25 miles will receive:
    1. One (1) Highlands Trail Passport Patch.
    2. One (1) Completion Certification
  2. Upon completion, participants who have hiked 50-100 miles will receive:
    1. One (1) Highlands Trail Passport Patch.
    2. One (1) Highlands/AMC Water bottle
    3. One (1) Completion Certification
  3. Download and read the challenge guidelines: PA Highlands Trail Guidelines.
  4. Look at the online map materials to start planning your hike.
  5. Submit your miles via the form below by midnight on January 5th, 2026. Be sure to submit a photo or story with your completion so that we can highlight it on our website!
  6. Share your photos on social media displaying the Highlands Trail Placard! Use the hashtag #HighlandsTrailChallenge and mention us @HighlandsTrailNetworkinPA on Facebook. If you don’t use social media but want to share your photos, please email it to pmcguire@outdoors.org.

Submitting Your Mileage

Use the form below to submit your miles. Miles can be unique or repetitive. You can submit your miles all at once, or fill out a form each time you take a trip along the Pennsylvania Highlands Trail. Please note: the challenge officially ends December 31st, 2025. No prizes will be sent out until after the challenge ends. The form will remain open until January 5th, 2026.

Submit Miles Here!