National Trails Day is coming up on June 5th, and to celebrate it, the Paint Creek Trailways Commission is offering you an opportunity to join in a weeklong virtual scavenger hunt. The Scavenger Hunt begins on May 30 and finishes on June 5th along the Paint Creek Trail. Because of the situation we are still in, the typical celebration for National Trails Day is all virtual.
To participate in the scavenger hunt, you will need to download the free GooseChase app. After creating an account, you will need to join the game by entering “National Trails Day” in the search box. Once you do this, you can create a team, join an existing team, or play as an individual. Throughout the week, scavenger hunt participants will be able to complete family-friendly interactive challenges along the Pint Creek Trail. These multi-media challenges will give you the chance to win the grand prize, which is a basket of goodies from the sponsors: Cookies & Cream, Bitter Tom’s, Fork n’ Pint, Oat Soda and Wine Social.
Each challenge could range from filming videos to taking photos. Most of these will be GPS location-based or trivia-based, and they will be launched on the app starting Sunday, May 30. The scores on the scavenger hunt will be determined by the total points earned, so players will be encouraged to play as much as they can throughout the week to earn more points.
The final mission, which will happen on National Trails Day, June 5th, invites scavenger hunt players to visit the Paint Creek Trail booth outside Cookies & Cream in downtown Lake Orion between noon and 3 p.m. This is where you will be able to check-in and pick up your complimentary bike bell. The team with the highest scavenger hunt score will get a basket of prizes.
National Trails Day is the only nationally coordinated event designed to unite all outdoor trail activities, including hiking, biking, walking, running, birding, wildlife photography, fitness programs and more. This day helps bring attention to the importance of these trails in communities in connecting more people to trails and making them aware of what is right in their backyard. Because of COVID, the Paint Creek Trail has seen an unprecedented number of people enjoying and using the trail. Being on the Paint Creek Trail plays a significant role in people’s physical and mental well-being.
This 8.9-mile crushed limestone rails to trails pathway go through Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Orion Township, and the village of Lake Orion. During this scavenger Hunt, it might help to try to enter the trail at different points throughout the week, unless you plan to do the whole trail at once. My favorite starting points is by the Rochester Municipal Park and at Kern Road. These are lovely entries into the path but are not the only ones.
So, as the weather gets better this week, grab your family and hop on your bikes, or take a walk along the Paint Creek Trail. Don’t forget your phones, and make sure to download the app before you head out in the sunshine. Good Luck on the Scavenger Hunt for National Trails Day on Paint Creek Trail. May the best team or person win!