By Julie Geiser
As warmer weather approaches, head outside and participate in the Outdoor Nebraska 250-Mile Challenge. The challenge is hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
Enjoy a quiet walk at sunset and listen to the sounds a park makes as it settles in for the night or feel the rush of running, biking or kayaking on a scenic trail. While you’re at it, watch wildlife, take photos, relax and create many lasting memories.
Spending time outside has significant benefits for both physical and mental health. This challenge offers individuals, friends and families the opportunity to get active, reduce stress and connect with our state’s beautiful trails and outdoor spaces. It is an opportunity for each person to take their own journey of discovery and wellness.
This free challenge encourages Nebraskans to complete 250 miles of outdoor activity this year to promote physical and mental well-being through outdoor adventures. Miles can be accumulated from a single activity or a combination of many.
Jesse Petersen, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s recreational trails manager, has been a mountain bike enthusiast since the early 1990s. For him, the challenge is more than logging miles.
“For me, the 250-Mile Challenge is about discovering the recently created natural surface trails in our state parks and state recreation areas. Celebrating America’s 250th birthday from the saddle also means celebrating the planning and hard work put into these bike-optimized dirt trails,” Petersen said.
Those participating can track their progress using their preferred personal fitness tracker or app. Once the 250 milestone is completed, a photo and proof of the miles completed can be submitted at OutdoorNebraska.gov. On the website, search for “250-mile challenge” to access the submission form. A commemorative sticker will be sent to participants, and that person will have their name entered into a random drawing for a chance to win prizes, including an outdoors package donated by sponsors. The package includes a two-night stay at a Nebraska statepark cabin, a Nebraskaland Magazine
one-year subscription and a 2027 state park permit.
More than the chance to win a prize, the challenge is also “about the celebration of trail development and the cooperation with Nebraska Game and Parks that got us here. These 250 miles will show just how far we’ve come since the ’90s,” Petersen said. “Happy Anniversary America — each mile we ride is a true gift.”
Share your progress and adventures throughout the year with Game and Parks by posting photos and tagging Nebraska Game and Parks in your social media posts. Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for “trails” to find scenic areas across the state.