North Carolina State Parks challenges all residents and visitors to join the 100-Mile Challenge, a health and wellness program that encourages citizens to complete 100 miles of hiking, biking, walking, running, paddling, skating, rolling their wheelchairs or riding their horses within the state.

The program, first launched in fall 2016, aims to showcase the state’s naturally wonderful trails and waterways, including nearly 1,500 miles of hiking trails across the state, including over 660 established miles of the Mountains to Sea State Trail.

So far, nearly 5,000 people have signed up for the challenge. Recreational activities on state trails and in state parks range from common pastimes like hiking, paddling and biking to horseback riding, swimming and birding. The 100-Mile Challenge offers a new way to set goals for exercise outdoors for a broad range of activities.

Outdoor enthusiasts and beginners alike are encouraged to sign up for the program at nc100miles.org. Users can keep track of their miles as they progress toward the 100-mile goal and earn digital badges along the way as they explore state parks, participate in events and reach mileage targets. Participants can also earn prizes at 100, 200 and 1,000 miles logged.

More information of the challenge is available at nc100miles.org.

– submitted by Katie Hall/NC State Parks