NORWICH – The Chenango County Planning Department has reached the half-way mark of a months-long campaign to promote the area’s best hiking trails.

With the aim of encouraging locals to see what Chenango has to offer, the planning department, together with the Chenango Health Department, launched the Explore Chenango Outdoor Challenge in April. The invite features 14 hiking locations across the county and a fun way to explore different areas, increase physical activity, and improve mental health by moving more and seeing nature.

“The goal is to get people out there in parts of the county where they have never been,” said Chenango County Planner Matt Gladstone. “We have a lot of trails in the area. Every hiker has their go-to, but there’s a lot more in Chenango than people think. Someone who lives in Afton or Bainbridge, for example, they might not know that there’s a state forest in South Otselic that has hiking trails.”

Takers of the Explore Chenango Outdoor Challenge must walk or hike 10 of the 14 locations with family, in a group, or on their own, then submit a completed individual trail log by Sept. 3 in order to receive a free bumper sticker and eligibility for raffle prizes such as water bottles, a backpack cooler, and other hiking gear.