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2026 Army Outdoor Recreation Hiking & Biking Challenge

Join us to explore the outdoors, boost your fitness, and earn rewards! 

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Get Outside. Get Moving. Earn Your Achievement.

The 2026 Army Outdoor Recreation (ODR) Hiking & Biking Challenge is your chance to explore the outdoors, build fitness, and earn exclusive awards—all while representing your garrison in an Army MWR wide event. Whether you ride, hike, or do both, this five‑month challenge is designed for every skill level and every member of the MWR community.

What the Challenge Is

From 1 May – 30 September 2026, eligible MWR patrons can log their outdoor hiking and or cycling/biking distances to earn commemorative medals or patches. All participants receive a custom cycling jersey or a custom hiking T‑shirt just for registering.

How to Join

1. Register with Your Local ODR

Sign up through your garrison’s Outdoor Recreation office using your RecTrac household account. Proof of eligibility is required.

2. Pay the Registration Fee

  • $50 per participant (hiking or biking)
  • Includes one custom jersey or T‑shirt
  • Completion of the challenge is not required to receive your apparel

3. Start Logging Your Miles

You may begin logging distances starting 1 May 2026, or from your actual registration date if you join later. No backdated mileage is allowed.

Challenge Options & Awards

Biking Challenge

Complete cumulative outdoor rides to earn medals:

  • 250 km – Single medal
  • 500 km – Single medal
  • 1000 km – Two‑piece medal. All three connect to form one large commemorative coin.

Hiking Challenge

Complete cumulative outdoor hikes to earn patches:

  • 25 km – Patch
  • 50 km – Patch
  • 100 km – Patch All three combine into a single scenic display.

Eligible Participant with the Highest Mileage Wins a 3-Night Stay at an AFRC in Seoul or Germany!

 

Individual or Family Participation

You choose how to take on the challenge:

Individual

  • Earn your own jersey/T‑shirt and awards
  • Track and submit only your personal distances

Family/Group

  • Combine distances as a team
  • One jersey/T‑shirt and one award set per registration
  • Additional apparel may be purchased for $45 each

Note: You must choose either Individual or Family for the entire challenge period.

Tracking Your Distances

Participants are responsible for their own tracking. Electronic apps are encouraged, including:

  • Strava
  • Map My Ride / Map My Hike
  • Komoot
  • CyclemeterGPS
  • AllTrails

Submit your total kilometers to ODR at least once per month (or as directed by your garrison). Final distances must be submitted by 8 October 2026.

Important Dates

  • Challenge Begins: 1 May 2026
  • Challenge Ends: 30 September 2026
  • Final Distance Submission Deadline: 8 October 2026
  • Garrison Participation Reporting Deadline: 30 October 2026

Equipment & Safety

Participants are responsible for their own gear. Traditional road, mountain, commuter, and e‑bikes are allowed. Only outdoor hikes count toward hiking distances. ODR encourages the use of their checkout center, maintenance services, and guided programs.

Sportsmanship is mandatory—unsafe or disrespectful behavior may result in disqualification.

Why Participate?

  • Earn exclusive medals or patches
  • Receive a custom jersey or T‑shirt
  • Build fitness and explore your local trails
  • Join group rides/hikes and community events
  • Help your garrison compete for the 2026 ODR Challenge Trophy

 

 

2026 Hiking & Biking  Challenge Grand Prize Official Contest Rules

A REGISTRATION FEE IS REQUIRED TO ENTER THE 2026 HIKING & BIKING CHALLENGE AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS CONTEST. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

The information you provide will be used for the administration of this Contest and for prize notification purposes.

1. SPONSOR: The 2026 Hiking & Biking Challenge Grand Prize Contest (the “Contest”) is sponsored by the U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) DFMWR, Family and MWR Programs, 2405 Gun Shed Road, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-1223 (“Sponsor”).

2. CONTEST PERIOD: The Contest begins on 01 May, 2026 and ends on 31 September, 2026 (the “Contest Period”). All mileage for consideration must be accumulated and submitted for verification within this period.

3. ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open to all official registrants of the 2026 Army Hiking & Biking Challenge who have paid the required registration fee, are at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry, and who meet the eligibility requirements to stay at an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC).

The following individuals are not eligible to enter or win the Contest:

MWR Staff at any level or Garrison.

 

Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible to win and redeem the prize, potential winners must be authorized patrons of an AFRC and present a valid ID card upon check-in. Authorized personnel include, but are not limited to: Active Duty members, Retirees, current and retired Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees, and honorably discharged veterans with a 100% service-connected disability. It is the participant’s sole responsibility to confirm their specific eligibility status by consulting the official AFRC websites.

4. HOW TO ENTER: To enter, an eligible participant must complete the following steps:

a) Pay the required registration fee and officially register for the 2026 Hiking & Biking Challenge through their local Garrison ODR program.

b) Track mileage for all completed hiking and biking activities using a GPS-enabled software application (e.g., Strava, Garmin Connect, AllTrails, etc.). Note: Treadmills, stationary bikes or like types of equipment are not permitted for this challenge or eligible for mileage for this contest.

c) Submit verifiable proof of each activity (e.g., a digital screenshot showing date, distance, and activity type) to their designated ODR Program Manager for validation and entry into the official mileage log.

Each verified mile logged for either hiking or biking constitutes an entry for that respective category.

5. PRIZES AND APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE (ARV):

Two (2) Grand Prizes will be awarded.

One (1) Top Hiker Prize: Awarded to the entrant with the highest total of verified hiking miles.

One (1) Top Cyclist Prize: Awarded to the entrant with the highest total of verified cycling/biking miles.

Each Grand Prize consists of a voucher for three (3) consecutive free nights of lodging in a standard room at the winner’s choice of one of two locations: The Dragon Hill Lodge (Sŏl, Korea) or The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort (Garmisch, Germany).

ARV: $450.00 each. The prize is non-transferable, non-substitutable, and has no cash value. All other costs associated with prize acceptance and use are the sole responsibility of the winner, including but not limited to airfare, ground transportation, meals, and any incidental expenses.

6. WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION: The winners will be determined on or about 15 October 2026. The two (2) individuals with the highest total of verified miles in the Hiking and Biking categories, respectively, as audited by IMCOM HQ DFMWR Outdoor Recreation Program Managers, will be deemed the potential winners.

Potential winners will be notified via email and must respond within five (5) business days. Failure to respond or to comply with these Official Rules will result in disqualification, and an alternate winner will be selected.

7. GENERAL CONDITIONS: By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final. Any attempt to tamper with the entry process or falsify mileage will result in disqualification.

8. PUBLICITY: Except where prohibited, acceptance of a prize constitutes the winner’s consent for the Sponsor to use the winner’s name, likeness, and photograph for promotional purposes without further payment or consideration.

9. LIABILITY: By entering, participants agree to release and hold harmless the Contest Entities from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of any prize.

10. GOVERNING LAW: All issues and questions concerning these Official Rules shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States.

11. INQUIRIES: For questions concerning mileage submission, please contact the Outdoor Adventure Center +1 +1 (580)574-4664 and LETRA +1 (580)574-4667

Cost

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Registration Information

Sign up at the Outdoor Adventure Center (2503 Ringgold Road), +1 (580)574-4664 or at LETRA (7463 Deer Creek Canyon Road), +1 (580)574-4667