Photo Credit: Cameron Gillie, Harrison Hills Segment.

Mammoth Hike Challenge 2022

Hike 42 miles on the Ice Age Trail AND visit 3 Trail Communities.

Earn a limited-edition patch and certificate!

Congratulations! You Did It.

Please fill out the completion form!

Congratulations on completing your Mammoth Hike Challenge!

We’re delighted you chose challenge yourself to hike 42 miles during the month of October and dive into a deeper experience of Wisconsin!  

Please fill out the Completion form. You’ll be able to upload up to seven of your favorite photos, too! (Thank you for sharing the beauty you enjoyed with us.) Completion forms need to be submitted no later than November 15, 2022. 

NOTE: Before you upload photos, please rename them with the name of the segment or Trail Community and name of the photographer. Example: Cross Plains Segment-John Doe or Delafield Segment-Jane Doe.

We will send you a certificate and commemorative patch. You earned it! 

Allow 7-9 weeks for processing and delivery from November 1. Our team of volunteers who help us organize/create/mail certificates will not be in place until the beginning of November. We appreciate your patience.

Fall colors in all their glory - a breathtaking view along the Parrish Hills Segment in Langlade County-Photo by Kris Van Handel.
Fall colors in all their glory - a breathtaking view along the Parrish Hills Segment in Langlade County-Photo by Kris Van Handel.

Play our welcome video to learn more about the Mammoth Hike Challenge!

Earn this patch! We’re excited about this year’s design.

Take on the Challenge!

Hike, walk, run, or backpack 42 miles on the Ice Age Trail during the month of October 2022 and visit 3 of our Trail Communities to earn a hiking certificate and a limited-edition patch.

Log your miles over days, weekends, weeks, or one big adventure. You have the entire month of October to do it!

Challenge yourself to:

  • Explore new-to-you segments.
  • Enjoy vibrant fall colors (see our Fall Colors map!)
  • Spend family-time on the Trail.
  • Slow down, unplug, and tune in.
  • Listen more and talk less.
  • Stop at every bench to rest and reflect.
  • Laugh, sing, and seek joy.
  • Watch a sunrise or sunset while on the Trail.
  • Find one or two new ways to enjoy the Trail on your quest toward 42 miles.

Registration for the Challenge is FREE. All abilities. All ages. All welcome.

All smiles along the Devil's Lake Segment. Photo by Jonna Dosado.
All smiles along the Devil's Lake Segment. Photo by Jonna Dosado.

New for 2022!

Did life get busy again?

Not sure you can hike 42 miles this year?

Earn bonus miles instead:

*Visit an additional Trail Community = 10 bonus miles
*Attend a Mammoth Hike Challenge event = 10 bonus miles

If the event is posted on our October calendar and hosted by the IATA and our volunteer chapters, it is a Challenge Event!

You will be able to share if bonus miles were used on the completion form.

Join the Mammoth Hike Challenge!

All ages. All abilities. All welcome!

Sign up as an individual, a couple, a family or even a team. 

When you register, you’ll receive:

  • Mammoth Hike Challenge itineraries highlighting Ice Age Trail Communities, their local businesses and attractions, and nearby Ice Age Trail segments to explore.  
  • Access to the StriveON app , which you can use to find restaurants, accommodations, attractions, and learn about fascinating glacial features through engagements points along the Trail. See the FAQ for more details about StriveON. 

Answers to Your FAQs!

Click on the + to reveal the answer.

Why Do I Need to Register?

Registration provides you with special Challenge communications, exclusive access to the StriveON app and Trail Community itineraries (see list below). Plus, to receive your Challenge patch and certificate, you’ll need to fill out the Completion form when finished and registration numbers will help us plan for ordering patches.

Your registration also helps us track the popularity of the Challenge, which provides valuable feedback to our Trail Community partners and supporting businesses.

Registration for the Challenge is free, although donations to the Ice Age Trail Alliance are accepted and appreciated.








Do My 42 Miles Have To Be Unique?

No! Simply make sure the miles you hike (or run, or walk, or backpack) add up to 42. If you hike out and back on a stretch of trail, feel free to count your miles both ways. You may also include mileage from any white-blazed loop trails you find along the way. Miles from suggested connecting road routes count as well. If you’re part of a team, you can combine your mileage.

Did life get busy again?

Not sure if you can hike 42 miles this year?

You can earn bonus miles instead:

*Visit an addition Trail Community = 10 bonus miles
*Attend a Mammoth Hike Challenge event = 10 bonus miles








How Can I Track My Miles?

It’s Scout’s honor when it comes to reporting your mileage. So track your miles any way you want (via paper, using a fitness tracking app, etc.).

Feel free to use the official Mammoth Hike Challenge Hiking Log for tracking the segments and distances you’ve hiked, plus Trail Communities you’ve visited.

The Hiking Log is for you; it does NOT need to be submitted for completion of the Challenge. The Hiking Log is NOT required.








How Many Trail Communities Do I Need to Visit?

You’re encouraged to visit and support three Trail Communities (there are now 17). Tour local museums, book overnight lodging in a hotel or Airbnb, browse charming shops, and savor a meal at a local restaurant. We challenge you to experience these gems – the communities and people shaped by the glacial terrain and surrounding landscape.








Are There Itineraries For Each Trail Community?

Yes! Itineraries are available each Ice Age Trail Community to help you experience the best of what each community has to offer. Itineraries showcase exceptional restaurants, attractions, historical landmarks, and Ice Age Trail segments. In 2022, there are 17 Trail Communities; let’s show them some love. (See the complete list below the FAQ!)

The itineraries were updated for 2022!








What if I Hike 42 Miles, But Don't Visit Any Trail Communities?

It’s okay to just want to hike! If that’s the case, you’ll receive a certificate for completing the 42-mile requirement (however, you will not receive a patch).








May We Sign Up As A Team?

Yes! Please, do. If you enjoy hiking with a partner, appreciate the accountability, or want to encourage your family, then signing up as a team is for you.

You can register multiple participants under one registration—and your miles and Trail Community visits can be cumulative. Unfortunately, we cannot edit an existing registration, so if you want to add team members, please complete another registration form for them.

Upon completion, you will indicate how many certificates and patches are needed for your team members.

Someone in your group needs to be designated the Team Captain. The Captain is responsible for filling out the completion form and will be sent the certificates and patches to distribute accordingly.








Tell Me About the StriveON app!

Seek, Discover, Explore!

StriveON is a mobile phone application that helps you interact with the people, places, and things around you. It uses location-based software to share stories and content about the Ice Age Trail segments and Trail Communities you come across while you explore.

Use it to find restaurants, accommodations, attractions, and Ice Age Trail segments in Our Trail Communities during the Mammoth Hike Challenge!

We’ll post lots of updates and host exclusive giveaways for our StriveON users. To be in the loop and enjoy the interactive features of the app, here are some tips and tricks to get you started:

To download the app, scan this QR code using your phone:

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, StriveOn, StriveOn QR Code

Instructions for how to scan a QR code with either an iphone or Android phone are found here.








What Does the Mammoth Hike Challenge Patch Look Like?

We think you’ll love the patch – it’s destined to be a collector’s item!

 

 

 

 

 

 








Can Children Earn Certificates and Patches?

Yes! Absolutely. If your household signs up as a “team” you will be able to indicate how many certificates and patches are desired when filling out the completion form.








Do You have Some Ideas On How To Get Kids Excited About Hiking?

We get it, some kid’s enthusiasm for hiking doesn’t match their parents. This is one of the reasons we created Ice Age Trail Explorer Backpacks. They contain everything you need to keep your kids engaged and excited while hiking the Ice Age Trail. Backpacks are available for FREE checkout at public libraries in our Trail Communities.

You could also try ColdCaching. It’s fun activity that combines treasure hunting with navigation and ice age history.

For additional kid-friendly activities and resources – for example, Ice Age Trail Bingo, Engage the Senses, Forest Bath, Hiker Lingo – check out our website.

And for the stuffed animal lovers out there, perhaps a little incentive like Monty the Mammoth will do the trick.








Can I Get More Patches If I Hike More Than 42 Miles?

Your overachieving spirit is impressive. But, there’s only one patch to earn per person with the Mammoth Hike Challenge.

However, a number of our chapters offer a patch if you hike all of the segments within their area. Learn more here.








How Can I Maximize My Wisconsin Fall Color Experience?

To immerse yourself in fall’s brilliant colors during the Mammoth Hike Challenge, look no further than the Ice Age Trail Fall Color Experience Map!

This map combines Travel Wisconsin’s Fall Color Report with a comprehensive list of local attractions, dining, lodging, and shopping along the Trail.








May I Send Some of My Ice Age Trail Hiking Photos to You?

Yes, please! We love seeing photos of people’s Ice Age Trail adventures. You will have the opportunity to upload up to seven of your best photos when you fill out the Completion form.

Your photos may be used on social media, in Mammoth Tales, or other publications. We’ll be sure to give you credit if they’re used.








What Should I Be Aware of As a Hiker During the Hunting Season?

Broadly stated, hunting seasons in Wisconsin range from September through May. For this reason, you are encouraged to wear “Blaze Orange” or other brightly colored clothing when you (or your pet) head out for a hike during these months. This includes during October and the  Mammoth Hike Challenge.

Hunting seasons differ depending region of the state and what is being hunted. So, it’s good to know the types of hunting allowed where you’re planning to hike and season dates. Check out our Hunting Season and the Ice Age Trail page for more information!

Some seasons require hikers to exercise more caution than others. For example, it’s safer to hike during archery and crossbow season than during gun deer season. A bullet travels farther than an arrow.

The good news is this: During October, just about all segments of the Ice Age Trail that cross public lands remain open for hiking during the hunting seasons of various game species, including the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, state and county forests, and state parks.

As a general rule, hikers can feel pretty safe on the Trail; however, it’s good to follow these suggestions:

1. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Hunting Season Dates set by the Wisconsin DNR; Closures along the Ice Age Trail, during gun deer season, where the Trail crosses private land; and Ice Age Trail Alliance properties where hunting is allowed. You may want to purchase the Ice Age Trail Guidebook. Its segment-by-segment information also highlights which sections or segments are closed for hunting season.

2. WEAR “BLAZE ORANGE” or other highly visible clothing.

3. IF YOU HIKE WITH A DOG, it should wear a blaze orange vest and be on a leash at all times.

4.USE EXTRA CAUTION AT DAWN and DUSK. Hunting activity may increase at dawn and dusk when animals are feeding. Please wear reflective vests if you hike during these times of low visibility. Using a headlamp is a good idea, too.

5. AVOID HUNTER INTERFERENCE. It is prohibited by Wisconsin law to interfere with people engaged in lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping (WI Statutes 29.083).

6. BE HEARD. Make sure you are heard, by whistling, singing, or talking while you hike.

 








Ice Age Trail, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Trail Communities, Ice Age Trail Community logo

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail traverses Wisconsin and showcases its natural beauty and glacial landscapes. The Trail winds its way through 142 communities; 17 of them have chosen to become official Ice Age Trail Communities. It’s a way for them to show their support for the Trail and to recognize Trail users as important players in their local economies. Trail Communities range from small roadside stops to bustling metropolises. They are a vibrant aspect of the Ice Age Trail hiking experience. Come explore them!

Itineraries are available to help you explore the exceptional restaurants, attractions, and historical landmarks in each Trail Community, as well as nearby Trail segments.

Exploring our Trail Communities is an excellent way to dive deep into the Wisconsin experience of supper clubs and the tall tales told at the local watering holes. Grab a coffee and a sweet treat from a local bakery. Or, check out one-of-a-kind treasures only found in small-town shops!

Please mention you are a user of the Trail when you shop or stay overnight. Help confirm the connection between your hike along the Trail and the dollars you spend in a Trail Community.

Itineraries: Plan Your Challenge

Communities are listed from West to East along the Trail.

Download an adventure, today!

The Get Off the Couch crew explores the Bohn Lake Segment.
The Get Off the Couch crew explores the Bohn Lake Segment.

Seek, Discover, Explore!

StriveON is a mobile phone application that helps you interact with the people, places, and things around you. It uses location-based software to share stories and content about the Ice Age Trail segments and Trail Communities you come across while you explore. (Wifi is needed to use StriveON.)

Use it to find restaurants, accommodations, attractions, and Ice Age Trail segments in Our Trail Communities during the Mammoth Hike Challenge!

We’ll post lots of updates and host exclusive giveaways for our StriveON users. To be in the loop and enjoy the interactive features of the app, here are some tips and tricks to get you started:

To download the app, scan this QR code using your phone:

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, StriveOn, StriveOn QR Code

Instructions for how to scan a QR code with either an iphone or Android phone are found here.

Ice Age Trail Alliance, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Ice Age Trail, Mammoth Hike Challenge, Kris Van Handel, Hiking Award Programs
A backpack adorned with patches from hiking award programs offered by the chapters of the IATA. Photo by Kris Van Handel.

An Easy Way to Accumulate 42 Miles

...and a few more patches!

A number of the Ice Age Trail Alliance chapters have their own hiking award programs.

It’s a fun way to focus your time and energy as you explore Ice Age Trail segments within a particular county. Once you’ve hiked all the segments and submitted your paperwork to the chapter, you’ll get a patch ( some exceptions may apply).

Note: The miles of Ice Age Trail within a chapter’s hiking award program may exceed 42 miles.

Thanks to AKHG, the principal apparel sponsor of the Mammoth Hike Challenge.