The Company Step Challenge That Teams Actually Finish
Forget generic step counters. With Walk The Distance, your team races along real hiking trails — from the Appalachian Trail to the Camino de Santiago — with leaderboards, milestones, and a shared goal that keeps everyone moving.
Not Just Another Step Counter
Most office step challenges start strong and fizzle out within a week. People hit their 10,000 steps, check the box, and move on. There's no story, no destination, and no reason to keep going.
Walk The Distance is different. Instead of just counting steps, your company walks a real trail together. Every step that every team member takes moves your group's avatar along an actual hiking route. You can see exactly where you are on the trail, what landmarks you've passed, and how far you still have to go. It turns a workplace walking competition into an adventure.
That's why our challenges have completion rates that blow traditional step challenges away — people don't want to quit when they can see they're halfway through Virginia on the Appalachian Trail.
Choose Your Trail
Pick the perfect trail for your team's size and timeline. We'll help you match the right distance to your group so the challenge feels achievable but meaningful.
Appalachian Trail
~2,200 miles
Georgia to Maine through 14 states. Our most popular corporate challenge.
Best for: 20-100 people over 3-6 months
Pacific Crest Trail
~2,650 miles
Mexico to Canada along the West Coast. A bigger challenge for ambitious teams.
Best for: 30-150 people over 4-8 months
Camino de Santiago
~500 miles
The classic Spanish pilgrimage. Perfect for shorter challenges or smaller teams.
Best for: 5-30 people over 1-3 months
Plus the Continental Divide Trail, Shenandoah, and many more. We can also suggest the right trail based on your team size and timeline.
How the Challenge Works
From signup to finish line, here's what a company step challenge looks like with Walk The Distance.
We Create Your Private Group
Tell us your team size and preferred trail. We set up a private group with your company name, a dedicated leaderboard, and an admin dashboard — usually within 24 hours.
Employees Join With a Link or QR Code
Share a simple join link via email, Slack, or intranet. Employees download the free Walk The Distance app, scan the QR code, and they're in. No accounts to create, no complicated onboarding.
Steps Sync Automatically
The app pulls steps from whatever device employees already use — iPhone, Android, Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watch, Samsung watch. No manual logging. Steps are converted into trail miles and update the group's position on the map throughout the day.
Teams Compete on the Leaderboard
Create sub-teams by department, office, or however you like. Teams see each other on the trail and compete for the top spot. Individual leaderboards show who's putting in the most miles. The friendly competition keeps people engaged week after week.
Celebrate Milestones Along the Way
As your group passes real landmarks and trail checkpoints, everyone gets notified. These milestones keep momentum high and give you natural moments to celebrate progress in team meetings, newsletters, or Slack channels.
Walk The Distance vs. Generic Step Challenges
| Walk The Distance | Generic Step Tracker | |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge format | Virtual hike on a real trail with a map | Daily step count goal |
| Shared goal | Team walks a trail together toward a finish line | Individual step targets |
| Engagement over time | Milestones and checkpoints keep it interesting | Novelty fades after week 1 |
| Sub-teams | Departments compete on the same trail | Limited or no team support |
| Setup | We handle it — ready in 24 hours | Self-service, figure it out yourself |
| Support | Direct access to a real person | Help center / chatbot |
| App cost for employees | Free | Often requires paid subscription |
Real Results From Real Companies
$28,000
Raised for local communities by Country Bank during their walking challenge
60+
Organizations across industries — from defense contractors to credit unions — have run challenges
$17,500+
Raised for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy through Walk The Distance partnerships
“Walk the Distance allowed us to stay connected and motivated right from our phones. John was extremely easy to work with and communicated everything very well.”
— Jodie Gerulaitis, VP Community Relations, Country Bank
Who Runs Step Challenges With Walk The Distance?
Companies
HR teams looking for an easy-to-run wellness activity that employees actually enjoy
Banks & Credit Unions
Community-focused institutions combining wellness with charitable fundraising
Energy & Utilities
Connecting field workers and office staff across dispersed locations
Nonprofits & Foundations
Engaging members and supporters while promoting healthy habits
Start Your Company's Walking Challenge
Tell us your team size and we'll recommend the perfect trail. Setup takes less than 24 hours and your team can start walking immediately.
Want to learn more about the wellness and engagement benefits? See our Employee Wellness page