Trails Challenge 2026

It's time for the third annual Carson City Trails Challenge - Quality of Life 30th Anniversary Edition! Carson City is home to many beautiful Parks, Open Spaces and trails. With views of the Carson River, the surrounding mountain ranges, the vast amounts of wildlife, and more, there is so much of the great outdoors to explore right here in our own backyard. The Carson City Trails Challenge is a free program that was launched by the Carson City on June 1st, 2024, to encourage local individuals and families, of all ages and abilities, t0 explore the many trails here in Carson. This year, the 2026 Trails Challenge is themed to celebrate the 30-Year Anniversary of Carson City's Quality of Life Initiative (QOL) . In 1996, the residents of Carson City voted to implement a 1/4 cent sales tax to provide dedicated funding to acquire open space land and develop and maintain new park and recreation facilities, including trails. Since the inception of the QOL, Carson City has acquired over 7,000 acres of Open Space to protect our floodplains, watershed, and wildlife habitat; preserve our amazing views; and provide abundant recreational opportunities. See the 'QOL Connection' in every trail description to learn how the Quality of Life Initiative has helped to make Carson City such a great place to live, work and play!How to Complete the Challenge1. Sign up yourself and any other participants who will be joining you on your Challenge.2. Download and carefully read through the Trails Challenge Guidebook. This Guidebook contains helpful tips & tricks for out on the trail, the 2026 Trails List, and a Trails Log. Click here to access this year's Trails Challenge Guidebook!3. Hit the trails! Pick trails from the carefully curated Trails List to complete at your leisure over the next few months. You only need to complete 5 trails off of the list by November 1st to be entered into the prize raffle. We recommend trying something new! 4. Get extra raffle tickets! See "Win Prizes" section below for more information on how to get extra raffle tickets throughout your Challenge.5. Log your miles. Be sure to fill out your Trails Log as you complete your trails. You will need to submit at the end of your Challenge.6. Turn in your Trails Log. Once you have completed a minimum of 5 trails from the Trails List, submit your log before November 1st to be entered into the prize raffle!Win Prizes! Trails Challenge prizes are sponsored by local businesses and include items like gift certificates, outdoor gear, and other fun swag! For a chance to win a prize in the Trails Challenge participants must complete a minimum of 5 trails off of the Trails List to earn a raffle ticket, however there are a couple of other ways participants can earn extra raffle tickets throughout their Challenge. Show off your Challenge! Post a picture that you took while out on your Challenge, tag us and use the hashtag #CCTrailsChallenge. When you complete your Challenge, show us that you shared a post and participants will receive one extra raffle ticket. Show off your photography skills! Take pictures while out on the trails and submit them via email to elarsen@carsoncity.gov to be entered into a quarterly photo contest. Winners will be selected by a team of CCPROS staff and will receive one extra raffle ticket. NEW - Hike with the Park Rangers! The Carson City Park Rangers host 1-2 interpretive program per month. Trails Challenge participants who join the park Rangers for one of their programs and send picture proof to elarsen@carsoncity.gov will receive one extra raffle ticket. NEW - Learn while you hike! Carson City trails have a lot of great interpretive signage about local history, geology, flora and fauna, and more! Our Trails List this year highlights where some of these signs are currently located. Take a picture of you or with your hiking group next to one of these indicated signs and receive one extra raffle ticket. Register today and join us at the 2026 Trails Challenge Launch on Saturday March 28th starting at 10:00am, followed by a Park Ranger-Led Hike at Silver Saddle Ranch - which will count as your first trail on your Challenge! For more information on the Trails Challenge click here!