Ontario Hiking Challenges
If you’ve stumbled upon this page, you’re interested in learning more about the Ontario Hiking Challenge. Welcome! Ontario Hiking hosts four challenges a year, one for each season. There is a January Hiking Challenge, an April Hiking Challenge, a July Hiking Challenge, and an October Hiking Challenge.
The challenge is simple: hike or walk anywhere in Ontario five times during the challenge month. Sign up officially for the challenge on our website.
The most recent challenge will be linked on our home page under the image and heading for “Hiking Challenges”. You must do this every time you participate. Complete 5 hikes or walks and you will receive a fun digital badge for bragging rights AND quite possibly a chance to win an amazing prize from our sponsor that month!
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about the challenge:
Where and when do I have to hike?
As long as you’re hiking or walking within Ontario, it counts! It can be at any point that works best with your schedule. Most importantly, you’re getting outdoors and enjoying it.
What constitutes a hike or a walk?
You can hike or walk anywhere! It would be great if you could go hiking on trails, but this might be a really great path you know in your city. As long as you’re getting outdoors, it all counts. The hike can be as long or short as you’d like. We’re happy to work with all skill levels and abilities.
How will you track the hikes?
When you officially sign up for the challenge, you’ll receive an exclusive email with more details. It’s pretty easy: keep track of your list of hikes or walks on your own. We work on the honour system, so it’s up to you to complete your five hikes! ***Please note that you no longer need to send me your list of hikes via email or form)***
Where should I hike?
Feel free to be inspired by any of the posts here on the Ontario Hiking website! I’ll also send out some weekly suggestions for inspiration straight to your inbox.
How much does it cost?
Joining our hiking challenges is 100% FREE! These are always fun and free to join. They’re meant to inspire you to get outdoors more. You can also share your hikes on social media or within the Facebook group, and follow our hashtags to see more hikes (more on that below!). Check out our official Instagram page to see past hikes and digital badges for the challenges.
Running these hiking challenges is quite a bit of work, so if you do want to support me in any way for that, please consider joining my Patreon.
What are the prizes?
First, everyone who completes the 5 hikes will receive a digital badge in their inbox. Feel free to proudly display this on your social media or keep it for yourself! We have hiking challenges quarterly (January, April, July, October) so you’ll have a chance to collect different badges.
When you complete your 5 hikes, you’ll be entered into a giveaway. The prizes change each month and the prize will be listed in the official email you receive when you sign up.
How do I sign up?
The challenge is free to join and it’s a ton of fun. I announce sign-ups for each hiking challenge a few days before the month of the challenge. The signup link will be listed on our homepage. I also send the signup link first to subscribers to our free weekly Ontario Hiking Newsletter, so be sure to signup there if you want to stay in the loop! I also announce it to the Facebook group, too.
How should I share my hikes?
You are welcome to share photos from your hikes on the Ontario Hiking Facebook group as well as your social media. We’d love to see your hikes! Please feel free to use the hashtags:
- #OntarioHiking
- #OntarioHikingChallenge
- And that month’s hashtag: #JanuaryHikingChallenge , #AprilHikingChallenge , #JulyHikingChallenge , or #OctoberHikingChallenge