The National Outdoor Badge for Hiking celebrates miles on the trail. It recognizes Scouts and Venturers who hike a lot and build strong navigation skills. Every step adds up.
Why it's worth it
One hundred miles is a long way to walk, and every one of those miles happens with your troop or crew on real trails. The National Outdoor Badge for Hiking rewards Scouts and Venturers who keep coming back to the trail and know how to find their way on it. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing count too, so winter becomes part of the adventure instead of the off-season.
Start this week
- Start a mileage log today and add any Scouting hikes your leader can confirm.
- Check that you've finished requirement 1: First Class, Sea Scout Apprentice, or Ranger requirements 1-6.
- Choose between Hiking, Backpacking, or the Ranger Backpacking elective, based on the trips you like best.
- Pick a navigation option, Orienteering, Geocaching, or Ranger Land Navigation, and ask a counselor or your Advisor how to start, with a parent copied on messages.
Plan ahead: Requirement 4 is 100 logged miles in Scouting, which takes many outings. Start your log now and ask your leader whether past Scouting hikes count.
Stay safe
- Hike with your group, carry the essentials and enough water, and leave your route and return time with someone at home.
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).
- Requirement 1
Earn First Class rank or Sea Scout Apprentice rank, or finish Venturing Ranger Award requirements 1–6
Tip: Make sure you've finished First Class, Sea Scout Apprentice, or the listed Ranger requirements first.
- Requirement 2
Finish one of these: Hiking merit badge, Backpacking merit badge, or the Venturing Ranger Backpacking elective
Tip: Choose Hiking, Backpacking, or the Ranger Backpacking elective. Pick the one that matches the trips you love.
For example: Choose based on your trips: Hiking if you love long day hikes, Backpacking if you want overnight trips with everything on your back, or the Ranger Backpacking elective if you're already working on the Ranger Award.
- Requirement 3
Finish one of these: Orienteering merit badge, Geocaching merit badge, or the Venturing Ranger Land Navigation core
Tip: Choose Orienteering, Geocaching, or the Ranger Land Navigation core. All build confidence finding your way.
For example: Orienteering builds map and compass skill on timed courses, Geocaching uses GPS to find hidden caches, and Land Navigation fits if you're working on Ranger. All three make you the person who knows where the group is.
- Requirement 4
Hike, backpack, snowshoe, or cross-country ski a total of 100 miles in Scouting America activities; miles from requirements 2 and 3 count
Tip: Log each Scouting hike or ski trip with the date and miles until you reach 100. Hike with a group and tell someone your route.
For example: Entries like "Oct 12, troop hike, state park ridge loop, 8 miles" and "Jan 18, crew snowshoe trip, 4 miles" add up. A 50-mile trek plus a handful of long day hikes gets you most of the way.
Ask yourself
- What's your favorite trail so far, and what made it special?
- How has your pace or stamina changed since you started logging miles?
- When did your navigation skills matter most on a hike?
- Where would you like your next 100 miles to take you?
Good questions to ask your Scoutmaster or crew Advisor
- Which of my past hikes count toward the 100 miles?
- Which trails near us are good for building up longer distances?
- What should I carry on longer hikes that I might not think of?
Helpful reads
- Venturing: plan your own adventures, How a Venturing crew works, the four ranks from Venturing to Summit, what officers do, how to plan an adventure, and the national high-adventure bases., Youth · Leaders · 5 min read
- Finding service that matters, Service hours count toward your rank, but the best ones are the ones you'd want to do anyway. Here's how to find them, arrange them, and get the most out of them., Youth · Families · 5 min read
For leaders & parents
- Plan regular hikes and help Scouts keep accurate mileage logs.
- Mix in snowshoe or cross-country ski trips in winter to keep miles adding up.
People & places that can help
- American Hiking Society (opens in a new tab) — Trail information and hiking tips.
- National Park Service (opens in a new tab) — Trails and parks to explore.
- Merit badge counselors — Talk with them early; they can explain what's expected.
- National Outdoor Awards (opens in a new tab) — Scouting America's official rules for the National Outdoor Badges and Medal.
- National Trails System (opens in a new tab) — Long-distance scenic and historic trails to add to your plans.
- Orienteering USA (opens in a new tab) — Find orienteering events and clubs to sharpen your navigation.
- USGS Topographic Maps (opens in a new tab) — Free topographic maps for planning hikes and measuring distances.
Pairs well with
Named in these requirements
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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.