The Grandma Gatewood (Virtual) Challenge

5 Miles -> 5 Hikes -> 5 Parks -> 5 Weeks The 5-week challenge enourages you to hike on-your-own at any 76 of Ohio's beautiful state parks! Weekly emails will be sent during the challenge with tips and information about group hikes at various park locations. Everyone that participates gets a finisher's patch and an official t-shirt is a $10 add-on. Who is Grandma Gatewood? Grandma Emma Gatewood was from Gallia, Ohio and helped found the Buckeye Trail . She hiked the Appalachian National Scenic Trail three times, becoming the first woman to hike it solo. She also hiked the Oregon Trail and sections of the Buckeye Trail. She started her hiking career at the age of 67! To Learn More: Ohio’s Most Famous Hiker––Emma “Grandma” Gatewood - Ohio History Connection Registration fee: Price: $35 includes finisher's patch Official t-shirt - special $10 add-on Plan Your Hikes Make sure you have a plan to complete the challenge, whether that be hiking once a week for 5 weeks, or more often. Need help planning which parks and which trails to hike? Check out these downloadable maps of all state parks and campgrounds. You can access online maps through the Ohio Trails Community on OuterSpatial . Trails for All The Ohio State Parks Foundation funds projects that make our state parks more welcoming to all. ADA trails are listed here . We encourage people of all abilities to participate in this challenge! Track your Miles There are several ways you can track your mileage. Many parks have signs that include mileage information at trailheads and along trails. You can also use a GPS tracking program on a smartphone such as AllTrails , or a personal fitness wearable, like Fitbit or Apple Watch . Who Should Participate? This challenge is for anyone that likes to spend time at Ohio State Parks. Whether you enjoy hiking or moving at a leisurely pace, this challenge will encourage you to do more of what you enjoy. It's the perfect reason to plan a trip to a favorite or n