Credit: Montgomery County.
Montgomery County officials have announced that registration for the 10th Annual Montco Trail Challenge is now open. This family-friendly program encourages participants to track their visits to select Montgomery County trails from April 26 to December 1, 2025. Visitors can earn awards for completing visits to five, 10, or 15 participating trails.
The official 2025 Montco Trail Challenge kick-off event will take place on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Central Perkiomen Valley Park, 1 Plank Road, Schwenksville, PA 19473. The event will feature bike safety resources, healthy snacks, and free bike helmets for children while supplies last. Interested attendees can RSVP online here.
“Now in its tenth year, this year’s Montco Trail Challenge is our biggest yet. Montgomery County recently completed its 100th mile of trails so there’s more to explore, walk, and ride than ever before,” said Neil K. Makhija, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “We are incredibly proud that Montco has one of the best trail networks in the country, visited by millions of people every year. The Montco Trail Challenge is a fun, free way for residents and visitors to experience our well-maintained trails and parks, connect with nature, and improve their health.”
In 2024, the Montco Trail Challenge drew participants from the surrounding region and attracted over 1,400 participants from a few months old to 86-years-old.
“People who join the Montco Trail Challenge consistently tell us that taking part improves their mental health and their physical health,” said Jamila H. Winder, Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “Participants get outside more, walk more, and bike more when they’re motivated by the challenge. Montgomery County’s extensive trails are a great equalizer—they are free and easy to access, no matter where you live. For 2025, we encourage more people to get out and enjoy our County’s beautiful open spaces.”
The 2024 Montco Trail Challenge survey showed that 92% of respondents visited a new park or trail, and 67% learned something new about their community. The Trail Challenge also inspired participants to get active, with 72% of survey takers saying they walked more, 17% biked more, and 13% ran more. Overall, 62% of survey respondents said they improved their physical health, and 73% improved their mental health.
“Montgomery County’s trails cover every corner of the County, from Valley Forge to Green Lane and from Philadelphia to Pottstown and beyond,” said Tom DiBello, Montgomery County Commissioner. “The Trail Challenge is the perfect excuse to find a new place to discover, as well as to revisit family-favorite spots. And many of the trails connect to our popular parks, where you can experience all kinds of activities and events all year round."
A new addition to this year's Montco Trail Challenge is Twining Valley Park, located in Upper Dublin. Challenge participants will get to enjoy Twining Valley Park’s 7 miles of trails and walking paths, spots to fish, a dog park, beautiful scenery, and much more!
How to Participate in the Montco Trail Challenge
Register online.
Visit as many parks and trails as you can between April 26 and December 1. A full list of trails and a map for the 2025 Montco Trail Challenge is available here.
Record the trail symbol as “proof” of being there. Each participating trail has a unique animal symbol.
Submit entries online or drop the completed card at the five drop box locations in the county. All entries must be received by December 5, 2025.
Participants will get prizes depending on the number of trails they complete. Awards will be mailed in December after the end of the 2025 Trail Challenge.
Participants are encouraged to use social media to post pictures and encourage friends to participate using the hashtag #MontcoTrailChallenge.
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 Transportation (PennDOT) Community Traffic Safety Project (CTSP) Grant.
