Hike-a-Thon Toolkit
Spend time outside. Share your hiking stories. Raise money for trails.
Anyone who loves trails and the outdoors can participate in Hike-a-Thon! This page will provide you with the information and resources you need to become a Hike-a-Thon superstar.
In addition to the resources below, once you register, we'll send you a Hike-a-Thon starter kit in the mail. This starter kit will include a BINGO board, a Miles the Marmot photo (so you can take Miles hiking with you!), this year's Hike-a-Thon sticker and a guide to help get you started.
Social Media Toolkit
The social media toolkit includes Hike-a-Thon graphics and sample social media posts to help you spread the word about your Hike-a-Thon efforts.
customize your fundraising page & URL
After registering for Hike-a-Thon, log into your fundraising page and customize your profile picture and message. Let others know why you're hiking and raising money for trails. Pro tip: personalized pages outperform standard pages! Use your fundraising page to track donations, update your supporters on your progress toward you hiking goals and share photos of your favorite hikes.
You also have the option to customize your fundraising page URL. Log into your fundraising page and click "Edit Your Page." Use the provided text box to create your desired URL, pressing enter to confirm availability. You can now copy your URL to send to friends and family.
SHARE YOUR HIKE-A-THON PAGE
Share your fundraising page far and wide, starting with family and friends (or anyone who cares about YOU).
You'll find pre-made email templates that can be sent from the Hike-a-Thon fundraising platform, but we recommend personalizing your messages. Personalized messages that explain why hiking and WTA are important to you, will help motivate your community to support your fundraiser.
You can also share your Hike-a-Thon fundraiser on social media using the sharing links on the Hike-a-Thon fundraising platform. You can use the pre-written text, but we recommend customizing your social posts. Use #hikeathon to tag your photos when you upload your hiking adventures to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!
Check out our Four Tips for Effective Fundraising for more ideas on how to have a successful Hike-a-Thon.
LOG YOUR MILES
Visit the online mileage log to submit your Hike-a-Thon miles starting August 1. All hikes, named and unnamed, count as Hike-a-Thon miles — including those logged outside of Washington and in your own neighborhood.
To log your miles offline, download the offline mileage log form. At the end of August, mail the mile log to the address on the form. Mileage logs must be received at the WTA office by September 7.
COLLECT OFFLINE DONATIONS
To submit offline donations, such as checks, download the offline pledge form. Mail all offline pledges to the address on the form at the end of August. Offline pledges must be received at the WTA office by September 7.
SPORT YOUR HIKE-A-THON SHIRT
Hike-a-Thon registrants who raise $25 or more will receive the 2023 Hike-a-Thon t-shirt. Wear your shirt on the trail and around your neighborhood. It’s a great conversation starter and fun way to gain support for your fundraising efforts.
PLAY HIKE-A-THON BINGO
In August, download the 2023 Hike-a-Thon BINGO card. Once you’ve completed a BINGO, email a photo of your BINGO board to miles@wta.org and we’ll enter you name into the drawing for a WTA/outdoor gear prize pack.
CONNECT WITH OTHER HIKE-A-THON ENTHUSIASTS
Once you've registered for Hike-a-Thon, join the Hike-a-Thon Facebook page. You’ll find lots of fellow hiking enthusiasts sharing their trail adventures!
TAKE MILES THE MARMOT WITH YOU
In August, download Miles the Marmot! Cut him out, attach him to a trekking pole or popsicle stick, and help him see the four corners of Washington. Snap photos of him and share them in your trip reports, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (use the hashtags #washingtontrails or #hikeathon).
SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS
Email your Hike-a-Thon photos to miles@wta.org by September 7. All photos should be of hikers in action — either on trail or with scenic surroundings. Bonus points if you capture hikers in this year’s Hike-a-Thon shirt! We’ll be selecting a favorite photo, with the help of the Hike-a-Thon Facebook community, to decide the winner of the Best Hike-a-Thon Photo prize category.
SUBMIT A TRIP REPORT
After going on a hike or attending a work party, submit a Trip Report. Trip Reports help other hikers know what to expect on trail and inform WTA about what trails need maintenance. Remember to link your trip reports when submitting your mileage log. You could win a prize for Most Trip Reports or your trip report might be featured in our weekly Hike-a-Thon emails!
WIN PRIZES
Prizes are awarded to leaders in different categories — such as number of miles hiked, amount of money raised, and number of trips reported on WTA’s Hiking Guide. Check out this year's prize categories and prizes.
FAQ
Not finding what you need? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions or send a message to miles@wta.org with any questions about Hike-a-Thon. We’re happy to help.