The 50-Miler Award celebrates a big group adventure: traveling at least 50 miles under your own power over five or more days, and giving back along the way. It takes real planning and teamwork, and the memories last a lifetime.
Why it's worth it
Fifty miles over five days changes how you think about distance. Whether your group hikes a long trail, paddles a river, or rides a bike route, you'll plan every meal and campsite, carry what you need, and leave the places you pass through better with real trail or campsite work. Groups that finish a 50-miler come home knowing they can plan and pull off something big together.
Start this week
- Talk with your patrol about which kind of trek sounds best: hiking, paddling, or biking.
- Ask your Scoutmaster to put the 50-Miler on the next planning meeting agenda, and offer to research two possible routes.
- Look up a long trail or river near you on the National Park Service or Forest Service website and note where groups can camp.
- Start training this month with a longer weekend hike, paddle, or ride than you're used to, and write down how it felt.
Plan ahead: Line up the 10 hours of service in requirement 3 with the land manager while you're planning, not once you're on the trail. Projects need permission, tools, and a supervisor arranged ahead of time.
Stay safe
- Plan with trained adult leaders and follow the Guide to Safe Scouting. Water routes follow Safety Afloat, with life jackets worn at all times on the water.
- Treat all water from streams and lakes before drinking, and plan a bail-out point for each day in case someone gets hurt or the weather turns.
- Use saws and trail tools only with gloves, eye protection, and adult supervision.
Requirements · 4
Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab) (updated 2020).
Note: The whole group earns this together, traveling by boat, canoe, foot, horse, or bicycle with two-deep leadership the entire trip.
- Requirement 1
Make full, satisfactory plans for the trip, including chances for advancement, conservation, leadership, and service
Tip: Plan the route, meals, gear, and service work with your group. Think about how to fit in advancement and conservation along the way.
For example: A planning sheet might cover the route and daily distance (about 10 miles a day), campsites and permits, menus and resupply, gear lists, who leads each day, which advancement you'll work on (like Backpacking or Canoeing), and when the service project happens.
- Requirement 2
Travel a route of at least 50 consecutive miles over at least 5 consecutive days without motors (pack animals are allowed in some areas; motor use for things like leaving port or safety doesn't count toward the 50 miles)
Tip: You can hike, paddle, or bike as long as no motors are used. Train ahead with shorter trips so everyone is ready, and make sure trained adults are along.
For example: Three ways to do it: hike five days on a long-distance trail, paddle a river from campsite to campsite, or bike a long trail over five or six days. Whichever you choose, no motors.
- Requirement 3
While on the trail or waterway, do at least 10 hours of group work to improve the trail, campsite, springs, portage, or surrounding area (if that isn't possible, a similar project near home; no unauthorized cutting of brush or timber)
Tip: Contact the land manager early to find a trail, campsite, or area project that needs help. Bring the right tools and gloves.
For example: Ten hours of group work could be clearing brush from the trail corridor, rebuilding a fire ring, picking up litter around a busy campsite, or helping a trail crew clear a fallen tree. The land manager tells you what's needed most.
- Requirement 4
The unit or tour leader sends the completed application to the local council office
Tip: Keep good records of miles, days, and service hours so your unit leader can complete the application easily.
For example: Help your leader by keeping a trip log each night: miles covered, where you camped, and service hours worked. A photo of the finished trail work helps tell the story.
Places to visit
Ask an adult to set it up, and go with your family, den, patrol, or crew.
A ranger station or visitor center on your route
Rangers know current trail conditions, closures, and which projects need volunteers.
How: Have an adult leader call during planning and ask for the volunteer or trails coordinator. Then stop in as a group on day one to check in.
Ask yourself
- What part of the trip are you most nervous about, and how can your group prepare for it?
- How did your group make decisions when people were tired or disagreed?
- What did the service work show you about who takes care of the places you visit?
- What would you plan differently if you did another long trek?
- What can you do now that you didn't think you could before the trip?
Good questions to ask a ranger or land manager along your route
- What trail or campsite work do you most need help with this season?
- What permits or group-size rules should we plan around?
- Where are the reliable water sources, and do they dry up late in the season?
- What tools should we bring, and what can you provide?
Helpful reads
For leaders & parents
- Start planning months ahead and hold shakedown hikes or paddles to build fitness and test gear.
- Coordinate the service project with the land agency well before the trip.
People & places that can help
- National Park Service (opens in a new tab) — Information on trails, parks, and volunteer projects.
- USDA Forest Service (opens in a new tab) — National forest trails and volunteer opportunities.
- Local council high-adventure committee — Can suggest routes and help with trip planning.
- 50-Miler Award (opens in a new tab) — Scouting America's official rules and application for the award.
- National Trails System (opens in a new tab) — Long-distance national scenic and historic trails that make great 50-mile routes.
- Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab) — Find and reserve campsites and permits on federal lands along your route.
- Northern Tier High Adventure (opens in a new tab) — Scouting's canoe base, where crews paddle multi-day wilderness routes.
Pairs well with
Helps you earn
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Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.