Registration NOW Open for ‘Hike-a-Thon’ 2026 Supporting Tennessee Conservation!
TENNESSEE (March 1, 2026) — Registration is now open for the sixth annual Hike-a-Thon! This month-long event is unlike any other in the Southeast, encouraging participants to get outdoors and enjoy nature from anywhere—all while raising funds, winning prizes, and building awareness of ways to protect the lands they love alongside TennGreen Land Conservancy.
The Hike-a-Thon includes many individual and team competitions for hikers, paddlers, trail runners, climbers, off-road bikers, nature photographers, and more. The event is open to everyone, including experienced outdoor adventurers and those simply looking for a fun way to spend more time outside this spring.
All proceeds from Hike-a-Thon benefit TennGreen Land Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit and the oldest accredited statewide land conservancy in Tennessee. TennGreen Land Conservancy has protected over 56,000 acres of critical nature—including expanding Fall Creek Falls State Park by more than 2,000 acres; supporting critical conservation along the Duck and Hatchie Rivers; working with partners to protect Lockeland Springs Park in East Nashville; and securing key lands along the Cumberland Trail. Many of our new state parks, including Fiery Gizzard, Savage Gulf, and Head of the Crow, were also aided by TennGreen’s decades-long commitment to safeguarding Tennessee’s natural resources.
Register for Hike-a-Thon Now!
“Protecting this state’s natural brilliance is TennGreen’s unwavering mission,” offered Alice Hudson Pell, TennGreen’s Executive Director. “We’re beyond thrilled with how deeply the Hike-a-Thon has been embraced. As our largest fundraiser, Hike-a-Thon participants and sponsors directly impact how much land and water we’re able to conserve. Every single dollar raised goes directly toward safeguarding these irreplaceable resources and natural treasures.”
Last year (April 2025), over 1,100 adventurers participated in Hike-a-Thon. Throughout the month-long competition, Hike-a-Thoners raised more than $259,000 and hiked, paddled, climbed, ran, and biked more than 15,000 miles everywhere from local parks to the Isle of Skye in Scotland, Iceland, Spain, Hawaii, Yosemite National Park, and Alberta, Canada.
Fantastic prizes are up for grabs this year, too. Thanks to generous conservation partners, Hike-a-Thoners can win big—an Eddyline Kayak, a year of Bongo Java coffee, plus hiking gear and gift cards and more. Participants will also have chances to win unforgettable outdoor experiences, from guided fly fishing with Hellbender Outfitters to a tri-toon boat rental at Wildwood Resort & Marina, or adventure passes to Cumberland Caverns, Foggy Bottom Canoe & Kayak, or the Tennessee Aquarium. To view a full list of Competitions & Prizes, click here.
April’s Competitions
Individual competitions include Most Money Raised, Most Miles Hiked, Most Miles Hiked (Senior), Most Miles Hiked by a Hiker Experiencing a Disability, Most Miles Trail Run, Most Miles Paddled, Most Miles Biked Off-Road, Most Feet (Vertically) Climbed, Most Overall Adventures, and Most Unique Donors.
Team competitions include Best Team Name, Most Money Raised, Most Miles Hiked, Most Team Donors, and Most Unique Adventures.
Prizes will also be awarded in three photography competitions, including Best Photo, Best Team/Group Photo, and Best Selfie.
Participants may compete in as many competitions as they’d like, and ”pop-up” prizes will be up for grabs throughout the month of April. Participants can also win prizes by completing ten of sixteen Hike-a-Thon “challenges” (e.g., visit a State Park) as part of a Tennessee Treasure Hunt.
“TennGreen’s Hike-a-Thon has been a life-changing event for me. And it is all for a great cause!” Susan Hager, an annual Hike-a-Thon participant, testified. “The Hike-a-Thon gave me the motivation to lengthen my daily hike and explore new trails. I found that, the more time I dedicated to hiking, the better I felt. My energy levels increased, my stress decreased, my general mood improved, and I was more focused and productive at work.”
TennGreen Land Conservancy is beyond grateful for annual participants like Hager, and the generosity of this year’s lead Hike-a-Thon sponsors: Atmos Energy, Bailey Equipment & Intralogistics, Bearded Iris Brewing, Cumberland Kayak & Adventure Company, the Sandra Schatten Foundation, and SphereCommerce alongside McClanahan Law and The Parent Company.
Register for the Hike-a-Thon now at hikeathon.info!
“With the funds we raise through Hike-a-Thon, we’ll continue to create and expand our beloved parks and natural areas, help more landowners protect their forests and farmland, and further encourage all to love and defend nature,” adds Hudson Pell. “We hope to see you all outside in April!”
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Geoffrey Parker, TennGreen Land Conservancy’s Director of Development, at hikeathon@tenngreen.org or (615) 329-4441 ext. 110.
Donations to the Hike-a-Thon can be made through the Hike-a-Thon website.
About TennGreen Land Conservancy TennGreen Land Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit and the oldest accredited statewide land conservancy in Tennessee. TennGreen’s mission is to conserve land where people and nature can thrive. Through sound science and partnerships, TennGreen identifies and conserves land across Tennessee for wildlife corridors, critical habitat, and public benefit. TennGreen protects, cares for, and connects people with Tennessee’s natural world by providing meaningful outdoor experiences, establishing conservation easements, supporting restoration efforts, and acquiring (or assisting in the acquisition of) privately held land. To learn more, visit tenngreen.org.
