Connecticut Hikers and Walkers: Win a Hand-Carved Walking Staff

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has just announced a fun new walking and hiking challenge for residents, and the payoff for a select few will be a new, hand-carved hiking staff. Who says you get nothing out of a walk in the woods, right?

The CT DEEP has just announced the 2024 Sky's the Limit Hiking and Walking Challenge, and the purpose of the campaign is to get you outside to enjoy hikes at half of Connecticut's 33 state forests. Participants who walk or hike 10 of the 15 forest trails will receive a 2024 Sky's the Limit Hiking Medallion, and a certificate for your accomplishment. But if you go full-hiker, and visit all 15 locations, 50 names will be drawn out of all the participants, and the winners will receive a hand-carved hiking staff made at the CT DEEP sawmill, or from the Connecticut Woodcarvers Association. How will they know that you've truly walked or hiked each designated trail? The rules say you must take designated photos along the way and send them in.

Where are the 15 designated trails in Connecticut?

Cocaponset State Forest in Chester and Haddam
Massacoe State Forest in Simsbury
Mattatuck State Forest
Nassahegon State Forest in Burlington
Natchuag State Forest in Chaplain
Naugatuck State Forest
Nehantic State Forest in Lyme
Nipmuck State Forest in Union
Pachaug State Forest
Paugussett State Forest in Newtown
Peoples State Forest in Barkhamsted
Pootatuck State Forest in New Fairfield
Salmon River State Forest in Colchester
Shenipsit State Forest in Stafford
Topsmead State Forest in Litchfield

You must get your entries in before December 6, 2024, and the winners will be drawn on January 1, 2025.

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