The 52 Hike Challenge‘s goal is to help you get outdoors at least once a week for a year. The rules are very straight forward: complete 52 hikes (at least 1 mile walking outdoors) within one year of signing up, and you can qualify as a “finisher.”
The beauty of this challenge is that you can personalize it however you like. So, walks in your neighborhood, local park, as well as actual hiking trails all count. You can complete repeat hikes, or use the challenge as an excuse to explore new areas and find new favorite outdoor trails. If you’ve already done the basic 52 Hike Challenge, you can up the difficulty by selecting the Adventure or Explorer Series from the Challenge List, which come with their own set of more difficult objectives.
The challenge has been around since 2015, but has gained momentum with the increase in female-led hiking groups, which focus on building community and support for women in the outdoors. I learned of the challenge by joining my local Women Who Hike and Girls Who Hike Pennsylvania chapters and hiking with other women who were already signed up for the challenge. Having friends to celebrate and share your achievements with is fun, so it didn’t take me long to join them!
Below is a list of hikes I’ve completed so far in 2019, mostly by hiking in Pennsylvania. I’ve provided links in case you’d like to learn more about the trails, such as difficulty rating, mileage, maps, and photos.
(Note: Each difficulty rating system is different. To learn more about how I gauge trails, please visit the Find a Trail Near You page. )
Hiking Trails List
| No. | Trail Name | Miles | Total |
| 1. | Wissahickon Creek | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| 2. | Kelly’s Run Loop | 5.5 | 7.6 |
| 3. | Indian Cove Natural Trail (CA) | 1.0 | 8.6 |
| 4. | Skull Rock Trail (CA) | 1.7 | 10.3 |
| 5. | Ryan Mountain Trail (CA) | 3.0 | 13.3 |
| 6. | Johnny Reb Trail | 4.8 | 18.1 |
| 7. | Clarence Schock to Dinosaur Rock | 6.8 | 24.9 |
| 8. | Six Penny Trail | 5.2 | 30.1 |
| 9. | Appalachian Trail – 501 Shelter to Swatara Gap | 12.5 | 42.6 |
| 10. | Swatara State Park Rail Trail | 4.9 | 47.5 |
| 11. | Middle Creek Loop Trail | 4.0 | 51.5 |
| 12. | Loyalsock Trail (small section) | 3.1 | 54.6 |
| 13. | Victoria Loop | 6.5 | 61.1 |
| 14. | Loyalsock Trail (Sections 4 & 5) | 24.3 | 85.4 |
| 15. | Falling Branch to Kilgore Falls (MD) | 1.5 | 86.9 |
| 16. | Junction and Breakwater Trail (DE) | 3.5 | 90.4 |
| 17. | Pinchot Lakeside Loop Trail | 11.0 | 101.4 |
| 18. | Chickie’s Rock Overlook Trail | 1.7 | 103.1 |
| 19. | Kelly’s Run Loop Trail (Repeat) | 5.5 | 108.6 |
| 20. | Shades of Death Trail at Hickory Run State Park | 2.9 | 111.5 |
| 21. | Kelly’s Run Loop Trail (Repeat) | 5.5 | 117 |
| 22. | River of Rocks Trail (Hawk Mountain) | 4.0 | 121 |
| 23. | Golden Eagle Connector Trails (Hawk Mountain) | 1.1 | 122.1 |
| 24 | Skyline Trail (Hawk Mountain) | 1.2 | 123.3 |
| 25. | Lookout Trail (Hawk Mountain) | 1.0 | 124.3 |
| 26. | Pole Steeple Trail (Pine Grove Furnace) | 1.7 | 126 |
| 27. | Appalachian Trail (Pole Steeple to Mt. Creek) | 1.5 | 127.5 |
| 28. | Mountain Creek Trail (Pine Grove Furnace) | 2 | 129.5 |
Hike PA 