For people who need a little prodding to get outside this fall and aren’t up for climbing New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot mountains, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests has an idea.
The organization has brought back the Five Hikes Challenge for the third year.
The challenge, which runs through Oct. 31, lists 28 scenic walking or hiking destinations on Forest Society conservation land throughout New Hampshire, with options for all abilities. Participants choose five of them, register online, and head out.
Each participant will receive a limited-edition 2022 Forest Society buff, trail maps and directions, hiking tips, and information for your selected hikes in the mail.
Registration is $8 per adult per hike for non-members, which supports stewardship of Forest Society properties. Children under 18 and current Forest Society members are free.
To register, visit forestsociety.org/5hikes.
This year, participants can use the Forest Society free mobile app to track their progress, access digital maps, and post photos from the trail. The Forest Society’s newest reservation, Ammonoosuc River Forest, will also be included as a destination for the first time.
The Forest Society also owns over 190 forest reservations constituting nearly 60,000 acres in 100 New Hampshire communities and holds more than 750 conservation easements statewide.