Most recreation areas have timber kiosks near trailheads that include maps with mile markers that you can use to track your hike.

You can also use apps like AllTrails, Gaia GPS, Strava, or Vima to track your hike distance using simple start and stop buttons. Our favorite is app AllTrails since it not only tracks your route but also provides you with the trail’s name and alerts you if you’re about to cross onto private property.

Please note: Hiking Dog Co. is not affiliated with any of these services.

Apps like AllTrails, Hiking Project, and TrailLink are great tools for discovering local trails. You can also uncover hidden gems by checking out Facebook groups, Reddit communities, and hiking blogs for your area.

Please note: Hiking Dog Co. is not affiliated with any of these services.

To stay true to the spirit of this challenge, supporting our public trails, please only count miles that you hiked on recognized trails in recreation areas, public lands, or named paths (especially those with “trail” in the name). If the trail you hiked doesn’t have a formal name, just note the name of the park, recreation area, or public land on your log sheet.

At the end of the challenge, Hiking Dog Co. will make a lump-sum donation to the National Forest Foundation to cover the cost of planting trees based on the challenge tier you complete. For example, if you complete the 70-mile Trailblazer Tier, we’ll donate the money needed to plant seven trees on your behalf.

We’ll post updates about our pledged totals as we receive completed log sheets and will share proof of our donation at the end of the challenge on our social media pages. However because the donation will be made in a lump, we are not able to provide individual confirmation emails.

Hike & Bark Challenge Terms & Conditions

: Open to all participants. No purchase necessary to join the challenge.

: The challenge runs from June 1, 2025 to August 31, 2025. All submissions must be received by 11:59 PM CST on the end date.

: Participants are responsible for accurately tracking their own miles using a method of their choice (GPS app, fitness tracker, etc.).

: To earn rewards or recognition, participants must submit their mileage using the designated form or system provided by Hiking Dog Co. Submissions may require a screenshot or brief description of your hike.

: Hiking Dog Co. will make donations to the National Forest Foundation based on total participant miles logged, following the tiered goals outlined on the challenge page.

: Participants are responsible for their own safety and the safety of their dogs while participating. Please hike responsibly, obey local laws, and respect trail rules.

: All submissions should be honest. Hiking Dog Co. reserves the right to disqualify entries that appear fraudulent or inconsistent with the spirit of the challenge.

: Hiking Dog Co. reserves the right to modify or cancel the challenge or its terms at any time for any reason.

: By participating, you agree that photos, stories, or submissions you share with Hiking Dog Co. may be used for promotional purposes (with credit).