Pennsylvania Highlands Trail Challenge

Explore the Highlands Trail, challenge yourself, and win fun prizes! Anyone can enroll in the Highlands Hiking Challenge. Between April 1st, 2025, and October 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. At the end of the 7-month challenge, the top 3 individuals with the most cumulative miles will also get a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize. Miles can be unique or repetitive. Prizes will be sent after the challenge ends in November 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 will receive:
    1. One (1) Highlands Trail Passport Patch.
    2. One (1) Highlands/AMC Water bottle
    3. One (1) Completion Certification
  2. Download and read the challenge guidelines: PA Highlands Trail Guidelines.
  3. Look at the online map materials to start planning your hike.
  4. Submit your completion of miles in the appropriate category below by midnight on January, 1st 2026. Be sure to submit a photo or story with your completion so that we can highlight it on our website!
  5. 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 ldouglas@outdoors.org.
  1. Each month from May 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, the Appalachian Mountain Club will hold a monthly lottery drawing from the enrollment form. There will be one (1) random winner per month that will receive a  Highlands Trail branded water bottle!
  2. Monthly leaderboard updates will be posted on our Facebook page, Highlands Trail Network in PA.

Submitting Your Mileage

Use the form below to submit your miles. Miles can be unique or repetitive. Please note: the challenge does not officially end until December 31st, 2025 and we encourage you to fill out this form at that time. No prizes will be sent out until after the challenge ends. Each form will remain open until January 9th, 2026.

Important: Please only submit one form for the category that you are aiming for.

  1. 10 Miles Completion Form
  2. 25 Miles Completion Form
  3. 50 Miles Completion Form
  4. 100 Miles Completion Form