Explore the Outdoors with the 2020 Michigan Trails Week Challenge

lschultz • September 17, 2020

Do you enjoy exploring Michigan’s great outdoors? If so, take part in the 2020 Michigan Trails Week Challenge that runs from Sunday, Sept. 20- Sunday, Sept. 27. This fun challenge is open to those who enjoy the outdoors in a variety of ways, and participants can get involved by running, hiking, biking or paddling Michigan’s public land and water trails.

As Michigan boasts more than 13,000 miles of state-managed trails and thousands of more miles of trails managed at the federal, county and local levels, Trails Week is a great opportunity to get outdoors and celebrate your favorite trails. Trails week runs eight days and is hosted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance. This year they hope to log an impressive total of 100,000 miles traveled by participants during the week.

All you need to do to participate is register and self-report your adventures on the waters and nonmotorized trails within the state, federal, county or locally-managed land you are recreating in. By reporting the miles achieved through your land and water trips, you can earn badges for different milestones. The first badge is earned when you register for the event and log at least one mile, and additional badges can be achieved when you:

  • Walk, run or hike for five miles.
  • Bike for 10 miles.
  • Horseback ride for five miles.
  • Paddle for two miles.

This is a great way to enjoy the final days of Michigan’s summer and the early days of fall while finding adventures on land and water trails new and old. If you do participate in the 2020 Trails Week Challenge, please respect fellow recreationists and your natural resources while on public land and follow state and federal public health and safety guidelines regarding COVID-19.

Register for the 2020 Michigan Trails Week Challenge HERE .

Stay safe and enjoy your public land!

Recent Posts

By Olivia Triltsch May 21, 2026
On Friday, May 15, 2026, high school students who are part of the Reese High Outdoors Club joined MUCC’s On the Ground Junior program and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at the Denmark Township Mini State Game Area. Students completed a wildlife habitat improvement project by clearing a grassland habitat of invasive woody growth maintained for pheasants. Using the cut vegetation from the area, students constructed several large brush piles throughout the site to benefit small mammals and other wildlife in the area. Maintaining open grassland habitat is important for supporting species that rely on early successional cover for cover or feeding. Due to suppression of natural disturbances, active management helps to control woody vegetation from gradually overtaking the areas and reducing habitat quality for species that rely on the grassland. The project area is near fields planted by the DNR to provide both habitat and food sources for wildlife, making these improvements part of a larger habitat management effort on the property. In total, students directly improved 10 acres of wildlife habitat through this project. Beyond the on-the-ground impact, the event also allowed students to try a hands-on conservation experience and the ability to contribute to habitat management and public land stewardship in Michigan. Projects like this continue to demonstrate the value of engaging the next generation in Michigan's outdoor heritage and wildlife conservation efforts.
By Olivia Triltsch May 7, 2026
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, a group of dedicated volunteers joined Kirtland's Warbler Alliance, Huron Pines, Saginaw Children’s Zoo, and MUCC's OTG program in planting approximately 4,800 jack pine saplings within the Grayling Forest Management Unit in Crawford County. Jack pines are a critical nesting habitat feature for the once-threatened Kirtland’s warbler. In total, volunteers directly impacted about 7 acres of land were prepared by the Michigan DNR for this planting to allow volunteers to maximize their efforts across the land. This is one of our annual events that is perfect for helpers of all ages and interests.
May 4, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) announces its decision to dissolve after nearly 90 years of conservation advocacy, citing ongoing financial challenges and outlining next steps in an orderly wind-down process.
More Posts