News Flash

NORRISTOWN, PA – During their regularly scheduled meeting, the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners today announced the Montco Trail Challenge would return for its sixth year from May 1, 2021 to December 1, 2021. This annual family-friendly program allows participants to track their visits to select Montgomery County trails and earn an award for completing visits to five, ten, or fifteen participating trails. 

Last year, the Montco Trail Challenge saw more than 1,600 participants ranging in age from 2 months old to 79 years old. The program draws people from the surrounding region representing Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, Chester, Philadelphia, and Delaware Counties. 

“We are thrilled to see the Montco Trail Challenge back for another season,” said Dr. Valerie A. Arkoosh, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “This program gives families something fun, healthy, and free to do right in their community.”

The Trail Challenge survey showed that 94% of respondents visited a new park or trail, and 89% learned something new about their community. The Trail Challenge also encouraged participants to get active, with 89% of survey takers said they walked more, 33% biked more, and 15% ran more. Overall, 88% of survey respondents said they improved their physical health, and 96% improved their mental health.

“Participating in the trail challenge allows our residents and visitors a fun and interactive way to rediscover Montco parks and trails,” said Kenneth E. Lawrence, Jr., Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Commissioners. “Getting outdoors is vital to our physical and mental health, which is why we encourage everyone to visit these natural resources right here in Montgomery County. I plan to register and complete the Trail Challenge for the fifth consecutive year. Every year I appreciate our parks and trails more.”

The fifteen Trail Challenge will include a few new features this year. Perkiomen Creek will debut as the first water trail. Norristown Farm Park will have a new interactive educational feature, StoryWalk®, which places a children’s story along the trail inside the park. Also, the Schuylkill River East Trail is a new trail added to the Trail Challenge for 2021. Find a full list of trails for the 2021 Trail Challenge here and trails maps here.

To participate, people can track their progress on a trail card and submit their entries online or drop their completed card at the five dropbox locations in the county. Participant awards will be mailed in December after the 2021 Trail Challenge. All entries must be received by December 10, 2021.

The Montco Trail Challenge is a partnership between the Montgomery County Office of Public Health, Planning Commission, Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites, and the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. It is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant.

Montgomery County Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites offer wonderful opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy various natural resources, participate in educational and recreational opportunities, and appreciate our historic past. Whether you are a bike enthusiast, a lover of antiques, or just want a quiet space for a family picnic, there is something for you throughout our facilities. 

Montgomery County owns and/or manages more than 6,000 acres of public open space which includes nine parks, five historic sites, and over sixty miles of regional trails. These areas include over 125 historic and non-historic structures, playgrounds, a fish ladder, a working historic canal lock, a wildlife center, and an archives/artifact collection of over 53,000 pieces. Our parks, trails, and historic sites combined are enjoyed by over 2 million visitors each year. Park lands include fishing opportunities, environmental education programs, hiking, boat rentals, pavilions, and more. To learn more visit https://www.montcopa.org/31/Parks-Trails-Historic-Sites.