2026 Hiking Challenge

There will be one year-long hiking challenge on the app in 2026, but stay tuned for additional ‘special’ challenges announced throughout the year!

• Download the free OuterSpatial app to your mobile device and create an account in the app to participate.
• Check in to a trail and earn a digital badge for each completed trail. Note: All badges are digital; no physical items will be mailed.
• Participants can begin the challenge at any time during the year!
• Check-ins will be allowed all year long, subject to seasonal, weather-related, or emergency closures.
• Multiple check-ins per day (on different trails) are allowed. Hike one or as many as you can each time your enjoying the outdoors!
• Check-in can occur anywhere on a participating trail.
• Only location-verified check-ins will qualify for prizes. Phone GPS (location services) must be on.
• No check-ins other than through the app will be accepted.
• Participating trails may be added throughout the year.
• Participating trails will vary in distance, type of path, and difficulty. No special signage will be provided on the trails indicating that it is a participating trail. Only the app will indicate participating trails. Trails may not be stroller friendly. Please refer to online information, app information, park maps, or inquire with park employees for questions on trail conditions or difficulty.
• Leashed pets are welcome on our trails, but please clean up after them! 

Additional Information

There is no cost to participate in the yearly hiking challenge. However, entering any state park by vehicle requires the display of a North Dakota Parks & Recreation annual permit or a vehicle day pass. These permits are available to purchase at any state park visitor center/office (hours of operation may vary) or will be available for purchase online. 

The entire family is encouraged to participate in the seasonal challenges. However, only individuals who download and check-in through the app will qualify for prizes. Trail activities don’t necessarily need to be hiking. Biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or other trail activities can also be done. However, each trail has limitations on the usage of that trail. Refer to trail information online or in print for allowed usage. 

How do I participate in the 2026 Hikes Challenge?

• Download the OuterSpatial App, create an account and click the Challenge section to select the current seasonal challenge. Click Participate, get out to a trail, check-in and start hiking! Note: you must have your GPS (location services) turned on for the app to function correctly.

Where do I find a qualifying trail to hike?   

• All trails listed under the To-Do section of the challenge qualify. Please note that once you have checked into a trail for the season, it will move to the Done tab and you will not be able to hike that trail again for credit for the duration of that seasonal challenge.

Can I do my hike any time during the season?

• Yes. The trails are open all season long! However, be aware that some parks are only open seasonally and other areas may close due to weather-related events or emergency situations. If you have questions, call ahead to confirm the trail/park is open.

Can I do more than one hike a month or day?

• Yes! Get out and hike as much as you can. You can only check in to a trail once per season, but hiking multiple different trails per day or season qualifies.

What are the participating locations?

• Participating locations include Beaver Lake, Fort Abraham Lincoln, Icelandic, Fort Ransom, Turtle River, Lake Metigoshe, Lake Sakakawea, Grahams Island, Lewis & Clark, Cross Ranch, Rough Rider, Pembina Gorge, and Fort Stevenson state parks. Additional locations throughout the state may be added throughout the challenge and will be posted when active.

Can I participate with other people?

• You can participate as an individual, a couple, with friends, or with your family. However, to be eligible for the prize drawing they must have an account set up through the OuterSpatial App and check-in separately.

Can members of the same household participate separately?

• Yes, but each participant must have a separate account through OuterSpatial App to track individual progress.

Is there an age requirement?

• All ages are welcome to participate in the hiking challenge!

Can the same account be utilized by multiple people?

• Participants are only eligible for prizes if they have their own account through OuterSpatial.

Do I have to do the trails in any particular order?

• No, you can choose to hike any listed trail in any order.

What if I didn’t find out about the challenge until after it started?

• No problem! Jump in at any time during a seasonal challenge. However, once each “season” is over, you cannot join a closed challenge.

Do I have to register?

• There is not a separate registration; however, you do need to download the OuterSpatial App and create an account to participate in this challenge.

Are there any fees affiliated with the 2026 Hiking Challenge?

• Although there is no cost affiliated with the 2026 Hiking Challenge itself, fees may include state park entrance fees, camping fees and associated reservation fees.

Can I check in if I don't have cellular service?

• Once you've started participating in a challenge, the rest of the challenge functionality will work even when you're using the OuterSpatial app in low network or no network situations. You can respond to challenge tasks while offline, but, if/when you do so, you must submit your challenge task responses when you get back into network service. To submit challenge task responses that were saved while offline, come back to the challenge screen, tap on the "More" button in the upper, right-hand corner, and select "Submit Pending Responses". This will submit the challenge task responses that were saved while offline.

Your mobile field guide to North Dakota State Parks and trails!

North Dakota State Parks visitors can access information about parks and trails easily from their mobile devices. Using the OuterSpatial platform, North Dakota State Parks' mobile application is free and available for both iPhone and Android devices. The app includes offline mapping and navigation — and access continues even without a cell phone signal.

Using the App for the First Time:

You will need to create an account in the app.

• Click the icon in the lower right corner. There you will a button to Log In. To create your account for the first time, click “Sign up now.”
• Enter your email address and follow the on screen prompts. It may ask for your name.
  • Note. The app does not use passwords. You will need access to  your email to get a verification code to log into the app.
  • Enter the verification code from your email and you are now logged into the app.
• Be sure you have your phone’s GPS or Location Services on. This is required to the app to function correctly.
• App may ask you to select a community. You want to select North Dakota as the community.
• Once this is completed you should be on the home screen of the app.

Joining a challenge:

• About half way down the home page you will find information on Open & Upcoming Challenges. If you click “view all” you can see all the current and upcoming challenges
• Click on the challenges to view details. Details of each challenge are found by clicking the 3 open dots in the upper right corner of each challenge screen.
• Click the green participate button near the top of any challenge that is open to participate. You cannot join a challenge that has not started yet. Click agree to the terms and conditions of each challenge you wish to join.

Logging (completing) a trail for a challenge:

• The easiest way to log a trail is to click on the explore button (second to the left on the bottom of the screen).
• This will take you to a map view. Assuming your phone GPS/location services is on, you should see your location on the map as a blue/turquoise colored circle.
• Note: you can scroll the map to see all the trails in the state and find out information about them.
• Assuming you’re in a state park, click on the trail on the map you are going to complete. Then click on the name of the trail to bring up additional trail information. Then click the plus sign. Then click “check In”. This will take you to the check-in page. Here you will see the trail name at the top, then your name.
  • If you only want to check-in to the trail, click submit in the upper right.
  • If you want to add comments, type them in the box below your name.
  • If you want to add a photo of your hike or to fulfill challenge requirements, click add a photo. Decide if you want to “take a photo” or “choose a photo” you have already taken. Clicking “choose a photo” will bring you to your photo gallery. Click the picture you want to upload. Then click submit.
• If you’re on the trail you will earn the trail badge!
  • However, if you’re not on the trail you will have to click a pop up box which states “I think I’m here! Check in Anyway”. Once you do that another confirmation will appear stating organization staff will validate your check-in. Click “Confirm Check In”. Then click ok and your trail has been logged.
  • Be aware that overuse of the GPS/location service override is a red flag and is looked to prevent widespread cheating