Monroe Lake is challenging you to forget about shopping and holiday stress, and spend your time outside instead – exploring the beauty of the outdoors along their trails during the Holiday Hiking Challenge, which runs from Thursday, Nov. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 29.

The Holiday Hiking Challenge consists of hiking all of Monroe Lake’s trails over the 4-day period, a total distance of about 9.5 miles, and completing specified activities. Each trail will have one or more posted stations; you complete the activity and take a photo to document it.

To participate, you need to download the Challenge trail map to see where the stations are located. The map will be posted for download on Wednesday, Nov. 25 on the Facebook Event page for the Holiday Hiking Challenge, bit.ly/2020MonroeHikingChallenge.

Everyone who completes the challenge and submits their photo set before midnight on Nov. 29 will be entered into the prize drawing. Prizes include a 2021 Indiana State Parks Annual Entrance Pass, a private bald eagle winter hike in January or February 2021 for up to 10 people, and a guided kayak trip on the lake in summer 2021 for up to 8 people (kayaks included).

If you do not have access to Facebook, you can have a copy of the Challenge trail map emailed to you instead. To do so, send a request to [email protected] by no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 25.

Questions should be directed to Jill Vance at 812-837-9967 or [email protected].