Governor’s 100 Missouri Mile Challenge hits 5 million mile mark

Missourians have logged more than 5 million miles through the Governor’s 100 Missouri Miles Challenge, Gov. Jay Nixon announced today. The 100 Missouri Miles Challenge was launched by Gov. Nixon in 2013 after Missouri was named the Best Trails State by American Trails, a national, nonprofit organization working on behalf of the nation’s hiking, biking and riding trails.

“This is a tremendous achievement of the more than 26,800 Missourians have signed up to participate in this challenge and are enjoying our nationally recognized trails and natural resources,” Gov. Nixon said. “I greatly appreciate the hard work of Missouri State Parks and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for making this initiative a fun activity enjoyed by tens of thousands of Missourians throughout the state.”

Missouri State Parks offers almost 1,000 miles of managed trails and the state claims more than 500 miles of National Recreation Trails designated by the U.S. Department of Interior.  The state lives up to its reputation as “Gateway to the West” with significant trails including the Lewis and Clark, Trail of Tears, Santa Fe National Historic Trails passing through the state and the Pony Express, California, and Oregon National Historic Trails beginning on the western border.  Missouri is also the home of the Katy Trail, the longest developed rail-trail in the nation.

For more information and to take the Challenge, visit MO.gov. Participants can share adventures, post photos and learn about upcoming events by connecting with 100 Missouri Miles on Facebook and Twitter using #100MoMiles.