Welcome to the Hike-A-Thon!
The Lake George Land Conservancy’s annual Lake George Hike-A-Thon is a one-day event held each July 5th, created to showcase LGLC’s parks and preserves as free public resources, and to promote an appreciation for the outdoors and protecting the land that protects the lake.
Hikes and paddles take place simultaneously at locations around Lake George, culminating with aerial photography of each group by helicopter.
The event is free – we want everyone to be able to participate, regardless of financial means. Donations are gratefully accepted, however, and are used to run the event; any extra is put towards stewardship costs associated with the maintenance and enhancement of these properties.
During the early-bird registration period in March, all registered participants are offered a free event t-shirt to wear for the hike and/or photo op.
The Hike-A-Thon remains a hybrid event, with group, in-person hikes and paddles, as well as a virtual option for those who are not at the lake or who aren’t able to join group activities yet because of safety or other concerns. It’s the best of both!
Questions? Check out our FAQ’s below for answers.
Sites
Every site that is included in the Hike-A-Thon was protected and/or managed by the LGLC, or is responsibly managed by partners. The variety of difficulty levels, trail length and locations provides lots of choices for all abilities.
Choose your site
After Party
The After Party is a great way for all participants, their families, and community members to gather together, and enjoy refreshments, activities, and entertainment. The After Party is held at the Bolton Community Center.
Learn more about the After Party
Aerial Photographs
Aerial photographs of all groups are taken by renowned photographer Carl Heilman, II, from a helicopter piloted by Bruce Mowery. Photos are available for purchase—see our Photo Gallery page for details.
View our photo gallery
VOLUNTEER
We rely on a wonderful volunteer crew to help lead hikes and keep things running smoothly on the ground, and we can always use more! Please see our volunteer page for more information on how you can be part of this invaluable team!
Learn more about volunteering
FAQ
The Hike-A-Thon is a one-day event, held the morning of July 5th. You choose ONE of the hikes or paddles you wish to join, based on the information provided on our map – this includes length of trail/paddle, difficulty, and location. Then use our online registration form to sign up. Early-bird registration for 2024 will open at 8 a.m. EST on Monday, March 4, 2024. Some sites fill up fast, so be sure to decide ahead of time where you want to go and register as soon as possible.
Virtual participants must also register so that we can keep track of how many people are participating in total.
If you aren’t able or don’t want to join a guided group hike or paddle, you can still participate – virtually!
How to participate:
- Register as a virtual hiker/paddler on the main registration form.
- On July 5th or any day during that week, enjoy an outing on your own. This may be in your own backyard, a local park, or other favorite hike or paddle. If social distancing protocols are still in place, please continue to be safe and choose a destination that is local to you, and avoid crowds. Have a “plan B” ready in case your first choice is already crowded when you arrive.
- Show your Hike-A-Thon pride! Wear a t-shirt or other swag from a past Hike-A-Thon or this year’s. Don’t have any? No problem! Wear whatever makes you happy and comfortable.
- Share a selfie or two on Facebook or Instagram, with the hashtags #LGHikeAThon2024 and #HikeLakeGeorge, and tag us @HikeLakeGeorge and @LakeGeorgeHikeAThon so we can see your awesome pics! Be sure to let us know where you are and who you’re with. Not on social media? No problem! Email pictures to shoffman@lglc.org.
No! The Hike-A-Thon is free for all participants, thanks to generous support from our sponsors. However, donations are greatly appreciated and may be made at the time of registration to help support this and other LGLC events. In addition to the free shirt provided with Early-Bird Registrations, there is other event merchandise that may be purchased through the LGLC online store.
You can register as many people as you have in your group (so long as spots are available), but will need to provide names for all. As the registrar, you will be the primary contact for everyone you include. If someone in your group would prefer to receive information directly, they should register themselves.
Each site has limited space. If the form doesn’t allow you to register the number of people you’d like, it means there aren’t enough spots available at that site. Please choose another site to fit your full group, or you could choose to split up into several groups.
If the site you wanted is full, please choose a different site. If all sites are full, you can register for the waiting list on the main registration form. Please list your site of choice in the comments box.
Yes! Participating in the Hike-A-Thon is a great way to introduce yourself to hiking. Our experienced volunteers will lead you and make sure you have an enjoyable experience. If you are concerned about the physical demands of hiking, we offer several low-impact options great for beginners. Our Sites map uses Easy, Moderate, Moderate/Challenging, and Challenging categories so that you can easily find the level you’re looking for.
Yes, dogs are permitted at MOST* sites, however they must be kept on a leash at all times. Please only bring your dog if you know they do well with crowds, other dogs, and the noise of the helicopter.
*Dogs are NOT allowed at these partner sites: Up Yonda Farm, Camp Chingachgook, and DEC’s Prospect Mountain.
The event organizers will be in touch with all primary contacts (see question #3) in the days leading up to July 5th. The event will only be cancelled in the case of severe weather, threat of thunderstorms and lightening. If it is lightly raining, the event will go on!
Updates will also be posted on our News and Updates page, and on Facebook.
Note that weather in different locations vary; if it’s raining in your home town, it may be sunny in Lake George, so be sure to check this website or our Facebook page. Don’t assume the event is cancelled just because your area has iffy weather!
Yes! The After Party will be outside on the grounds of the Bolton Community Center, so there is lots of space for participants and their guests.
Please email Sarah at shoffman@lglc.org, or call 518-644-9673 as soon as you know you need to cancel. We appreciate your notice, since there may be someone on a waiting list eager to fill your spot!
Please visit our Hike-A-Thon Safety page for safety protocols, including for COVID-19 and general safety.
THE LAKE GEORGE LAND CONSERVANCY
Since 1988, the Lake George Land Conservancy has protected the land that protects the lake, and the natural, scenic, historic and recreational resources of the Lake George region.
An accredited, not-for-profit land trust, the Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) is dedicated to working with willing landowners and other partners to protect the world-renowned water quality of Lake George and to permanently preserve the natural, scenic, historical and recreational resources of the Lake George region of the Adirondack Park.
We use proven, nationally-recognized methods to protect the land that protects the lake, forever. Thanks to experienced and passionate staff, strong leadership from a dedicated Board, guidance from our national network, our local partners, and a diverse group of financial supporters, the LGLC is able to do its job by focusing on one of the most cost-effective and efficient methods of protecting the lake: land conservation.
Read more about what we do, and past accomplishments. Copies of the LGLC’s Annual Reports and newsletters can be found on our News page. To view the LGLC’s most recent financial documents, including audited financial statements and IRS Forms 990, see our Financials page. New York State’s CHAR annual report can also be obtained by writing to the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.