Why be a part of the Hike-a-Thon?
To enjoy the outdoors in April while raising funds and awareness to protect the lands that you love.
Who can participate in the Hike-a-Thon?
Anyone can participate in the Hike-a-Thon! Registration is free, and you can adventure outdoors wherever you are.
The spirit of Hike-a-Thon is to adventure outdoors, in nature. When you’re moving outdoors where trees, rivers, streams, or wildlife are the main attraction, that’s a Hike-a-Thon adventure!
Think local, state, or national parks, nature walks, birding, paddling a waterway, or biking on a trail. Pace doesn’t matter, so stop often to smell flowers and enjoy the view.
For more information on adventures that count towards individual competition prizes, view the Competition and Prizes page and the competition questions in this FAQ.
How do I register for the Hike-a-Thon?
Simply click here and follow the steps after selecting how you’d like to participate (as an individual, on a team, or on a sponsor team). Once you register, you’ll receive a Hike-a-Thon T-shirt to wear on your adventures!
Who can compete for prizes?
Anyone can register online for free, go outdoors, in nature, and log their adventures as part of Hike-a-Thon.
Every registered participant will receive a free Hike-a-Thon t-shirt and be eligible for prizes in the photo competition, Tennessee Treasure Hunt, and pop-up prizes throughout the month.
For even more competition and fun, Hike-a-Thon includes individual and team competitions. To be eligible for prizes in these activity-based competitions (ex. most miles hiked, trail run, paddled, off-road biked, overall adventures, or most feet climbed), participants must meet two requirements:
- Donate or fundraise at least $100 for an individual and $250 for a team. This requirement is satisfied for all members of Sponsor Teams.
- Each adventure logged must include an uploaded map from your favorite activity app, a photo from the trail, or other sign of your completed adventure.
What activities qualify for Hike-a-Thon adventures?
The spirit of Hike-a-Thon is to adventure outdoors, in nature. When you’re moving outdoors where trees, rivers, streams, or wildlife are the main attraction, that’s a Hike-a-Thon adventure!
To be eligible for the activity-based individual or team prizes (most miles hiked, trail run, paddled, off-road biked, overall adventures, or most feet climbed) there are three additional requirements:
- Must be on a Sponsor Team or meet fundraising amounts ($100 for individual competitions and $250 for teams)
- Each adventure logged must include an upload that shows your adventure. This could be a screenshot or map from your favorite activity app, a photo from the trail, or other sign of your completed adventure.
- Each adventure logged should follow guidelines for the activity category:
- HIKING: Hiking adventures are outdoors, in nature. Walking for any distance counts towards your adventure, including stops to enjoy wildflowers, birds, or other views of our natural treasures. Hiking multiple trails in the same park or general area as part of one outing should be counted together as a single adventure.
- PADDLING: Paddling is outdoors, on water, in nature, with a human-powered paddle board, kayak, canoe, or raft. Miles as a passenger (while taking a break from paddling in a raft or canoe) also count towards your total miles for the adventure.
- OFF-ROAD BIKING: Biking adventures are outdoors, in nature, on human-powered bicycles. Rides on E-bikes, mopeds, or other motorized bicycles are not eligible for activity-based prizes. These adventures are generally not on paved surfaces, though short periods on pavement at trailheads, over bridges, or other minor portions of the ride are okay.
- TRAIL RUNNING: Trail running adventures are outdoors, in nature. Jogging or running any distance during your adventure qualifies it as a trail run, even if you stop or walk for portions to enjoy an overlook or cool down by a stream.
- CLIMBING: Climbing adventures may be outdoors or at an indoor climbing facility. To be eligible for activity-based prizes, only vertical feet climbed are recorded with each adventure.
Do I have to fundraise to participate?
No, anyone can participate in Hike-a-Thon! We’ll even send you a free Hike-a-Thon t-shirt!
That said, the dollars you donate or raise will go far to protect natural spaces like the places you visit during Hike-a-Thon. Click here for some helpful fundraising tips!
To be eligible for activity-based competition prizes, we ask that you donate or raise a little money to support our conservation work:
- All members of sponsor team meet this requirement
- To be eligible for individual activity-based competition prizes, $100. Personal donations and donations from others to the participant’s Hike-a-Thon page qualify.
- To be eligible for team activity-based competition prizes, the team must raise a total of $250. Personal donations and donations from others to either the team page or individual participant pages qualify.
Do I need to show proof of my adventures?
For most adventures and most participants, no. Hike-a-Thon does not require any proof to participate. To be eligible for activity-based prizes, we require an upload with each adventure recorded: This could be a screenshot or map from your favorite activity app, a photo from the trail, or other proof of your completed adventure.
Do my adventures have to be in Tennessee?
Nope! This event is managed virtually, meaning you can participate from any location in the world. Whether you’re hiking the Grand Canyon, kayaking the Cumberland River, or climbing in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, simply log your adventures online and keep moving!
What do you mean "log my adventures"?
After EACH of your adventures, please be sure to log your completed miles (or feet for climbing comp.) by filling out and submitting the Adventure Log form. Please be as detailed as possible when filling out the Adventure Log, and submit a completed Adventure Log after EVERY adventure. To ensure our leaderboards reflect participants' standings more accurately and to keep the competitions as fair and transparent as possible, please try to log your adventures within 48 hours of activity completion. Please submit a separate log form for each adventure.
Team members should log their completed miles or feet INDIVIDUALLY. For example, if four team members complete five miles each in one day, each person will submit a completed Adventure Log form for five completed miles. They will not submit one form for 20 completed miles.
Should I take photos during my adventures?
Yes! One of our favorite things is to see all the fun you’re having out in nature—especially when you’re wearing your Hike-a-Thon T-shirts! If you post adventure photos on social media, please tag us @tenngreenlc and use the hashtag #Hikeathon25. Doing so will enable TennGreen to share them and encourage others to join in on the fun! To enter in this year's Hike-a-Thon photo competitions, submit your entries via this form.
How can I communicate with my team using the Hike-a-Thon event software?
You easily send an email to your whole team through your fundraising dashboard!
- Log in to your fundraising dashboard
- Click "Share My Page" (left-hand column on desktop; "My Fundraising Tools" banner on mobile)
- Select I Want To "Email Team Members"
- Write and send your email!
Can my employer match my gifts?
Absolutely! All donations to TennGreen’s Hike-a-Thon are fully tax-deductible, so check with your Human Resources department if your company matches gifts or gifts of time.
Can my company sponsor the Hike-a-Thon?
The deadline for this year's Hike-a-Thon sponsorship pledges has passed, but there are still plenty of ways we can work together! Click here for information on corporate partnership opportunities.