Trail Tips

• The American Discovery Trail has been around for decades and portions of it are still being fully developed. Some stretches are sidewalks or require hiking along road shoulders. Less experienced hikers and families should select a local off-road trail for your hiking challenge. Out from your starting point, and back to your starting point, is a common strategy.

• Research and download route information early on so that you are prepared if you are planning a long distance or multi-day challenge, especially if on-road stretches are involved.

• If you participate in the American Discovery Trail Challenge and report back to us, our Society will share your numbers with the American Hiking Society. National Trails Day is an annual event that has been sponsored by the American Hiking Society for more than three decades. Your experience will be added to this years’ overall numbers for national participation.

• In terms of reporting, any trail use in the days before or after that date is acceptable. Don’t let a bad weather day, or your calendar commitments on that Saturday keep you from accomplishing your personal challenge.

• If you are a first time or less experienced trail user, be prepared. Bring a light backpack, water and snacks. Sunblock and a cap are also recommended.

• Don’t forget to report back to the Society’s Challenge website. Congratulate yourself!

• Accidents, Injuries, etc: Participants in the Trail Challenge acknowledge that outdoor activities involve a risk of accident or injury. The American Discovery Trail Society has no formal or informal role in the outdoor activities that you chose to voluntarily engage in. You are at all times fully and solely responsible for judging your abilities, your safety, and the need for medical or other assistance. You freely acknowledge and assume all risks, inherent or otherwise, inconvenience, harm, injury, loss, disability, or death that may occur to you or any person, or your or any property, arising directly or indirectly from, or related in any way to, at any time, your participating in any way with any activities even if caused by you, other participants, or the negligence of American Discovery Trail Society, its directors, employees, volunteers, contractors, or any persons or entities affiliated with it or acting on its behalf, land owners/managers, municipal or government providers of use permits, or their respective employees, officers, or directors, individually or collectively, as the context may require. As a participant in the Trail Challenge, you freely and voluntarily assume for yourself and for others in your group all risks.