But it stayed in the back of my head. I just wasn't comfortable hiking alone at the time, even with a canine companion, and truthfully, I didn't know what I was doing. By the time I found a (human) hiking partner, and learned how to navigate trails, my dog had become too old to join in most activities. Perhaps a future pup will have a chance...
Eventually I did hike the Belknap Range, and earned the patch for myself. And once I got going, I quickly discovered more and more fun hiking challenges & patch programs. They appealed to my lightly competitive side, and even more so provided me with a focus. Some challenges simply gave me a goal to reach for, while others had checklists that offered new trails to explore. I've found so many gems that I wouldn't have hiked if not for these patches I chase. Of course, I've also hiked some trails I never want to repeat, but that's inevitable. 😉
These scraps of embroidery provide so much motivation for a lot of people. They symbolize goal setting and achievement, exploration, and dedication to healthy movement in nature. Below is a list of hiking challenges (several of which I have accomplished, am chasing now, or may consider in the future). There are a wide variety of programs and difficulty levels, offering something for everyone! For easier perusal, I've organized the list by local challenges around New Hampshire, state-wide and regional programs, and national/worldwide challenges.
Happy hiking!
local challenges
- Alton Trail Chaser
- my original hiking challenge!
- hike all of the official trails in town
- info & patch
- Belknap Range
- Belknap 12 peaks patch - ✔️completed 2019
- the patch
- Belknap trails Redlining patch - ✔️completed 2023
- info & patch link
- The Grid: hike every peak in every month - ✔️completed 2025
- grid info & patch
- Ossipee Range
- Castle in the Clouds redlining patch (see LRCT below)
- Ossipee 10 all season patch - ✔️completed 2020
- Ossipee 10 in Winter - ✔️completed 2021
- Ossipee 10 Fall Foliage patch
- peaks list
- patches
- Lakes Region Conservation Trust (LRCT)
- Hiker Achievement patch (CITC redlining) - ✔️completed 2020
- Explorer patch - ✔️completed 2021
- patches
- Squam Range
- redlining patch - in progress
- patch program
- Our Towns "Take a Hike" Challenge
- a local hiking challenge that took place one spring - ✔️completed 2021
- trails list
- Alton Trails All Star
- another seasonal local challenge from Parks & Rec - ✔️completed 2023
- we did them all in one day!
- Seacoast Hikes
- explore trails around the NH & southern ME seacoast area
- book & patch
- Barrington Trail Trekker Program
- hike 30+ miles of public trails across town
- the program
- Pawtuckaway Redliner
- hike all of the trails in the park
- info & patch
- Nottingham Town 10 Trail Challenge
- hike Parks & Rec's list of ten local trails
- info & patch
- TCC Hiking Herons
- hike all of the Tamworth Conservation Commission's trails
- the challenge
- New London Trail Hiking Program
- hike a list of trails in the greater Kearsarge area
- the program
- Pelham Hike Challenge
- hike all 20+ mi. of town land
- info & patch
NH regional & state-wide challenges
- Forest Society
- 5 Hikes Challenge (every autumn) - ✔️completed 2020, 2021, 2022
- Forest Reservation Challenge
- NH Fire Tower Quest
- hike to a selection of state fire towers - ✔️completed 2020
- patch
- NH Rocks That Rock
- discover 25 cool rock formations in our state
- info & patch quest
- NH Rail Trails Challenge
- explore the rail trail systems across the state
- patch
- Monadnock Sunapee Greenway
- 48 mile trail for backpacking or section hiking in western NH - in progress
- website (patch is on the store page)
- Wantastiquet-Monadnock Trail
- currently no patch offered, but sounds similarly interesting as the MSG
- check it out for fun
- Wapack Trail
- 21.5 mile trail in SW NH, crossing the MA border
- website with more info (patch on store page)
- Cohos Trail
- 170 mile trail spanning Coos County into Quebec
- website (patch on store merch page)
- 52 With a View
- popular hiking list for scenic NH peaks
- official list & patch
- more trail info
- Terrifying 25
- the scariest trails in NH
- trail info & links to patch
- NH 48
- classic list for hard core hikers: 48 4,000 ft. peaks
- the list & link to patch
ME/VT/New England
- Royal River 400-Footer Club
- complete a list of hikes in the Royal River Watershed in ME
- the challenge
- Moosehead Pinnacle Pursuit
- hiking challenges in Maine's Moosehead Lake region
- patch programs
- Go North 9er Challenge
- hike 9 peaks in the Great North Woods of NH & VT
- info & patch
- Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge
- annual challenge; hike 6 iconic New England mts. in one year
- the challenge
national challenges
- 52 Hike Challenge
- Original series: 52 hikes in one year - ✔️completed 2020
- Adventure series: 52 hikes + objectives checklist - ✔️completed 2021
- Explorer series: 52 unique trails in one year - ✔️completed 2022
- other challenges available too
- patches
- My Adventure Challenge
- Hiker's 365 Challenge: hike 365 miles in one year - ✔️completed 2024
- Spring Fling: hike 75 miles Mar-May - ✔️completed 2022
- Blazin' Summer: hike 65 miles Jun-Aug - ✔️completed 2023
- Fall 50: hike 50 miles Sep-Oct or Oct-Nov - ✔️completed 2022
- Winter 100: hike 100 miles Nov-Feb - ✔️completed 2025
- "Ultimate Adventurer": complete the 365 + all 4 seasons✔️completed 2025
- Waterfall Chaser - ✔️completed 2022
- other patches available too
- patches
- 365 Mile Challenge
- walk/run/hike/swim/bike/paddle/ski/snowshoe to 365+ miles
- offers mini-challenges throughout year for motivation
- the program
- Hiker Babes
- women's hiking group & challenges, nat'l & local chapters
- main website
- Ultimate Hiking Challenge
- a unique points-based hiking challenge
- info
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