Tourism Prince George has launched a new program designed to encourage locals to explore more than 100 kilometres of trails in the region.
The new initiative, called the Hit the Trails Challenge, rewards residents and visitors for enjoying the forests, parks and green spaces that surround the city.
Participants use the Passport Trail mobile app to check in at trailheads and become eligible for rewards:
- The first 50 participants to visit five trails will each receive a Local Sustainable Prize, redeemable at the Tourism Visitor Information Centre.
- The first 13 participants to complete 15 trails will receive a planting recognition. In spring 2026, a shrub will be planted in their name in the expansion garden by the David Douglas Botanical Garden Society.
These achievers will also be featured in a post on Tourism Prince George’s social media platforms.
Interim CEO Carmen Herman spoke to The Citizen about the origins of the program.
“Honestly, it was just in the office talking about how we could highlight some of our amazing trails,” said Herman. “We have a program that this passport trail is on. It’s called Banwego, and we can map the trails on it. So the idea came from, ‘Hey, why don’t we build a trail system highlighting our amazing parks?’”
Herman said the program aims to benefit not only the fitness of locals and visitors, but also support the garden society.
“We had a fun little challenge for residents to finish at least 15 trails and check into them. They can give back to the awesome David Douglas Botanical Garden Society,” she said. “Each year, we get to see the garden grow, and it’s not just from our two partnerships — it’s from community and visitor involvement.”
Herman also recommended several trails for those interested in joining the challenge.
“We’ve got some amazing ones at the easy level — Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park loop, the David Douglas Botanical Garden, and the two trails near the university,” she said. “Ginter’s Meadow is a big favourite for many. For those wanting to go further out, Eskers Provincial Park and Tabor Mountain Recreation are great places to explore.”
To learn more or sign up for the Hit the Trails Challenge, visit: https://tourismpg.com/media-resources/passport-trail/
