The American Discovery Trail Challenge
Event Information
On National Trails Day, June 3, 2023, Welcome to the adventure!
The American Discovery Trail (ADT) Challenge is anxiously waiting for you. Let’s go on this great journey together! The 6800 miles of the American Discovery Trail represents a connected system of local and state trails.
Find the ADT and plan your hike or ride
Click the button below to identify the route of the ADT closest to where you are. This web page will help you find a beginning and end point for your trail challenge anywhere along the ADT, near your home or on the other side of the country. You can also use the list of local trails below to get more detailed information on the stretch of trail you selected. Each local trail jurisdiction will have its own set of trail use guidelines.
Trail Tips
- The ADT, like all long distance national trails, will take several more decades to be fully developed. Many stretches are on-road routes and require hiking along road shoulders if and when available. Inexperienced hikers and families should always select a local off-road trail to accomplish your 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 ADT Challenge, the American Discovery Trail Society will report back to the American Hiking Society on the level of participation in the ADT Challenge. National Trails Day (NTD) is an annual event that has been sponsored by the American Hiking Society (AHS) for the past 31 years. Your experience will be added to this years’ overall NTD national participation. Last year, in 2022, over 125,000 people participated in National Trails Day.
- Generally any trail use in the days before or after that date is acceptable both for the American Discovery Trail Challenge, as well as being recognized as a participant in National Trails Day. Don’t let a bad weather day, or your calendar commitments keep you from accomplishing your challenge.
- If you are a first time or inexperienced 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 ADT Challenge website. Congratulate yourself!
Please Note: The American Discovery Trail is composed of many local trail sections, created and maintained by local agencies. This is a sample list of only a limited number of these local trails, which provide detailed information on each one.
- Delaware
- Lewes Georgetown Trail: https://delawaregreenways.org/trail/georgetown-lewes-trail/
- Maryland
- C&O Canal Trail https://www.canaltrust.org/plan/co-canal-towpath/
- Greenbelt Park https://www.nps.gov/gree/planyourvisit/greenbelt-park-trail-system.htm
- Anacostia Tributary Trail https://www.pgparks.com/4602/Anacostia-River-Trail-System
- Washington D.C.
- Anacostia Tributary Trail System https://www.pgparks.com/4602/Anacostia-River-Trail-System
- Valley Trail/Rock Creek Park https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
- C&O Canal Trail https://www.canaltrust.org/plan/things-to-do-co-canal/biking-the-co-canal/
- West Virginia
- Blackbird Knob Trail https://www.hikingupward.com/MNF/BlackbirdKnob/
- Railroad Grade Trail https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/west-virginia/railroad-grade-trail
- North Bend Rail Trail https://wvstateparks.com/park/north-bend-rail-trail/
- Ohio
- Cincinnati Riverfront https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/bikes/bike-maps/city-trail-projects/
- Kentucky
- Devou Park Path (Covington) https://www.exploredevoupark.org/back-trails
- Indiana (South ADT Segment)
- Dearborn Trails https://www.thinklawrenceburg.com/attractions/dearborn-trails/
- Madison Heritage Trail https://www.heritagetrailconservancy.org/hit-the-trail
- Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage https://www.evansvillegov.org/city/topic/index.php?topicid=235
- Illinois (South ADT Segment)
- River to River Trail https://www.rivertorivertrail.net/
- Missouri
- Forest Park Trail (St. Louis) https://www.forestparkforever.org/navigation
- Katy Trail https://katytrailmo.com/
- Rock Island Spur https://mostateparks.com/page/65916/rock-island-spur
- Kansas
- Lawrence River Trail (Lawrence) http://www.kansascyclist.com/trails/LawrenceRiverTrails.html
- Flint Hills Nature Trail https://ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Flint-Hills-Trail
- Eastern Colorado/South ADT Segment
- Pueblo River Trail (Pueblo) https://www.pueblo.us/DocumentCenter/View/669/Pueblo-Multi-Use-Trail-System-Map?bidId=
- Sinton Trail (Colorado Springs) http://www.cospringstrails.com/hikes/sinton.html
- New Santa Fe Regional Trail (Palmer Lk) https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/parks-and-recreation/new-santa-fe-regional-trail/
- Mary Carter Greenway Trail (Littleton) https://trails.colorado.gov/trails/mary-carter-greenway-20384
- Indiana – North ADT Segment
- Erie Lackawanna Trail https://www.traillink.com/trail/erie-lackawanna-trail/
- North Judson Erie Trail https://www.prairietrailsclub.org/about
- Nickle Plate Trail http://www.nickelplatetrail.org/
- Sweetser Switch Trail https://www.indianatrails.com/sweetser-switch-trail
- Cardinal Greenway https://cardinalgreenways.org/
- Illinois – North ADT Segment
- Great River Trail/Quad Cities https://www.qctrails.org/trails/trail/great-river-trail
- Hennepin Canal Parkway Trail https://bikehennepin.com/
- Illinois & Michigan Canal Trail https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.imcanal.html
- Old Plank Road Trail (South suburbs) https://oprt.org/
- Thorn Creek Trail (South suburbs) https://fpdcc.com/places/trails/thorn-creek-trail-system/
- Iowa
- Wabash Trace Nature Trail (Malvern) https://www.wabashtrace.org/
- Clive Greenbelt Trail (Clive) https://www.cityofclive.com/parkandrecreation/greenbelt/trail/index.php
- Heart of Iowa Trail (Maxwell/Slater) https://www.mycountyparks.com/county/story/park/heart-of-iowa-nature-trail.aspx
- Pioneer Trail (Reinbeck) http://www.iowabytrail.com/find-a-trail/132/pioneer-trail/
- Riverfront Trail (Davenport) https://www.qctrails.org/trails/trail/mississippi-riverfront-trail-davenport-section
- Cedar Valley Nature Trail https://www.linncountyiowa.gov/967/Cedar-Valley-Nature-Trail
- Nebraska
- West Papio Trail (Omaha) https://www.papionrd.org/recreation-wildlife/parks-and-trails/metro-omaha-trails/
- Mopac Trail (Wabash/Lincoln) https://www.lpsnrd.org/mopac-east-trail
- Billy Wolff Trail (Lincoln) https://www.gptn.org/the_trails/billywolff-billy_wolff_trail.html
- Oak Creek Trail (Valparaiso/Brainard) https://www.lpsnrd.org/oak-creek-trail
- Eastern Colorado/North ADT Segment
- South Platte River Trail (Commerce City) https://www.traillink.com/trail/platte-river-trail-(co)/
- Eastern Colorado/South ADT Segment
- Pueblo River Trail (Pueblo) https://www.pueblo.us/DocumentCenter/View/669/Pueblo-Multi-Use-Trail-System-Map?bidId=
- Sinton Trail (Colorado Springs) http://www.cospringstrails.com/hikes/sinton.html
- New Santa Fe Regional Trail (Palmer Lk) https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/parks-and-recreation/new-santa-fe-regional-trail/
- Mary Carter Greenway Trail (Littleton) https://trails.colorado.gov/trails/mary-carter-greenway-20384
- Western Colorado
- Bear Creek Trail (Lakewood) https://trails.colorado.gov/trails/bear-creek-11621
- Colorado Trail (Twin Lakes Reservoir) https://coloradotrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Seg11.jpg
- Utah
- Lockhart Basin Trail https://bearsearspartnership.org/visit/explore/lockhart-basin-road
- http://www.whileoutriding.com/usa/utah/lockhart-basin-road
- Great Western Trail/Dixie Nat’l Forest https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/great-western-trail-dixie-national-forest
- Nevada
- Tahoe Rim Trail https://tahoerimtrail.org/
- Mt. Rose Trail https://tahoetrailguide.com/hiking-mount-rose/
- Hobart Reservoir Trail https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/nevada/hobart-creek-reservoir-trail-via-carson-city
- California
- Briones to Mount Diablo Regional Trail https://www.ebparks.org/trails/interpark/briones-mt-diablo
- SCA Trail (Golden Gate) https://www.parksconservancy.org/trails/sca-trail https://www.nps.gov/places/000/sca-trailhead.htm
- Coast Trail (Pt. Reyes) https://www.nps.gov/places/point-reyes-coast-trailhead.htm
- Tahoe Rim Trail https://tahoerimtrail.org/
- Forest Hill Divide Loop Trail https://www.visitplacer.com/discover/foresthill-divide-loop-trail/