Champlain Area Trails (CATS) has announced the Northern Pathways Challenge. Participants can register on the CATS Website. Hike three of the five trails described on the website, and earn a limited-edition commemorative patch.

“I’m looking forward to this challenge,” said Derek Rogers, CATS Development Director, “It will give our supporters a chance to explore some wonderful Clinton County trails.”

The Northern Pathways Challenge will be Clinton County-based, and participants will have to complete three out of the five trails to be awarded a patch. It runs from National Trails Day, June 5^th, 2021 until December 31^st, 2021. Registration is $5 per hiker.

In a region full of trails, it’s hard to know what to choose. CATS chose five trail options in Clinton County: Mud Pond Trail, Ausable Marsh Trail, Lyon Mountain Trail, Peru’s Little Ausable Trail, and Point au Roche’s Long Point Trail.

“We were eager to do this challenge,” said Chris Maron, CATS Executive Director, “All you need to do is hike 3/5 trails to earn a patch. Most are relatively easy, fun, and family-friendly. Clinton County has some hidden gem trails, and we’re excited to have people explore and discover them.”

Last fall, CATS launched the Grand Challenge, in place of their annual Grand Hike – a 14-mile long community hike and fundraising event that goes from hamlet to hamlet, combining CATS trails and some scenic backroads. Due to COVID-19, the plans had to be altered for safety concerns. The Grand Challenge offered a self-managed hiking route to earn a patch. With so much success, CATS decided to run the Northern Pathways Challenge.

To learn more about this challenge or if you’d like to register, visit www.champlainareatrails.com, email info@champlainareatails.com, or call the office at (518) 962-2287.