By 1808Delaware
A familiar walking route can be comforting. This fall, Preservation Parks is offering Delaware County residents a reason to try the next trail, and then another. Its “Step Into Fall: Hike Them All” challenge covers almost 19 miles of nature trails across the park district. The program runs September 1 through November 30 and is open to all ages, according to the district’s challenge page.
A Checklist For The Season
Participation is free. Walkers can register and download a nature-trail checklist to record their progress. An optional $15 purchase includes a hiking stick and custom medallion, with pickup at the Deer Haven Park Visitor Center during its open hours.
The district also directs participants to the OuterSpatial app to join the challenge. With the season stretching into late November, walkers have time to divide the mileage among multiple outings.
Company Along The Way
For people who prefer an organized outing, the district’s group-hike schedule offers several possibilities.
- SourcePoint’s Golden Marathon hikes, for adults 55 and older, include Deer Haven Park on September 14 and Shale Hollow Park on September 28. Both begin at 9:30 AM, and the program page provides a registration link.
- A separate all-ages outing on October 24 starts at 10:00 AM at McCammon Creek Park’s East Area. “Try It: Trek a New Trail” introduces walking with trekking poles, which will be provided. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Those scheduled walks offer company; the broader challenge offers a reason to keep exploring between them. Registration information and the trail checklist are available through Preservation Parks.
