Summer Hike-a-thon Scavenger Hunt 2025
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July 1 - 31, 2025
Get ready for MHLC's Summer Hike-a-thon Scavenger Hunt!
This year the beloved MHLC Gnomes are back! These whimsical hand painted cutouts will be hidden at all 22 preserves. (Our 23rd preserve should be added mid-month!) We're teaming with Art on the Rail Trail again this year, so be sure to check out the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail for Gnomes & Fairies! Thanks to our event sponsor, Stewart's Shops, participants will receive FREE ice cream!
This year we added new challenges categories for a chance to win more prizes:
Challenge 1 - Find 10 or more GNOMES for entry into the prize raffle for a chance to win a $100 gitft card to WildPlay Thacher and have your name listed on our website leader board!
Challenge 2 - Find the GOLDEN GNOME for entry into the prize raffle for a chance to win 2 tickets to Six Flags Great Escape and have your name listed on our website leader board!
Challenge 3 - TWIN GNOMES at Noonan Preserve (located off the Rail Trail)! Find both gnomes to be entered in the prize drawing for a chance to win an embroidered MHLC logo hat AND an Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail hat. Plus your name will be listed on our website leader board!
Let the fun begin! Follow the steps below to get started:
- Use the form below to register for the event. Clues are posted below.
- Visit an MHLC Preserve or Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail to search for hidden gnomes & fairies.
The scavenger hunt creations will remain in the the preserves and on the Rail Trail all through the month of July. - Take a selfie with it! We love group photos; each person in the photo who is registered gets a card for a free scoop at Stewart's Shops and entry into the raffle for a 5 Wits gift card. (You only need to find one gnome to earn the ice cream card.)
- Send your selfies to connect@mohawkhudson.org before the August 4th deadline to get a gift card for a free Stewart's Shops ice cream cone. Please include the preserve name and your full name with the photo so it can be matched to your registration. (Ice cream card will be mailed later in August.)
As part of our registration process, we require that all event participants agree to our Event Release and Waiver of Liability. A photography release is included in this waiver.
Read the full waiver here
