13th Annual HARC Hike for Hunger & Hope
Challenge Hike: Saturday, May 17, 2025
20 miles on the Appalachian Trail
4K, 10K and Half Marathon Hikes: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Shepherd’s Spring Outdoor Retreat Center and C&O Canal Towpath
Back again this year! Matching Donation from the God’s Grace Fund!*
* This year’s match TBD
Registration opens in January 2025
4K, 10K and Half Marathon Hike – May 31
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- Choose from 4K, 10K and half marathon hike distances
- $10 Early-bird discount and guaranteed t-shirt if you register by May 11!
- Enjoy Snacks & Drink stops along the way
- All hikes conclude at Shepherd’s Spring Outdoor Retreat Center
- Post-hike lunch and celebration for all hikers at Shepherd’s Spring
- Nature scavenger hunt for the kids! (or fun-loving adults)
- Prizes for top individual fundraiser and top fundraising team
- Prize drawing for ANYONE who does fundraising
Half Marathon (13 miles) – 7:00 am check-in time. Individuals $65; Families $110
10K (6.3 miles) – 8:00 am check-in time. Individuals $55; Families $90
4K (2.5 miles) – 9:00 and 9:45 am check-in options. Individuals $45; Families $70
Check-in location for all hikers: Shepherd’s Spring Outdoor Retreat Center, 16869 Taylor’s Landing Road, Sharpsburg, MD 21782
Start points on the C&O Canal towpath at Dam Number 4, McMahon’s Mill, and Falling Waters Road (you will be shuttled to your start point from Shepherd’s Spring).
Please note that registrations are welcome up through Hike day, but t-shirts in your size are not guaranteed after May 11.
Materials for your use coming soon:
- Hike flyer 2025
- Hike bulletin insert 2025
- 2025 Sponsorship Opportunities
- Hike Manual Registration Form (for those who prefer not to register online
- Individual Fundraising Collection Sheet (or use our online fundraising tool, set up automatically when you register online!)
- HARC Hike 2025 info & Instructions
HARC Hike for Hunger & Hope is a non-competitive fundraising event open to all ages. This fully supported hike on the beautiful C&O Canal towpath features 4 K (2.5 miles), 10 K (6.2 miles), and half marathon (13.1 miles) hikes, to include everyone from casual to serious hikers and runners. Participants can look forward to scenic water views, water & Gatorade refills along the way. All hikes will be along the C&O Canal in Maryland and will end at the beautiful Shepherd’s Spring Retreat Center and our “Celebration” pavilion, where participants can relax and enjoy a delicious lunch and fellowship.
Virtual Event
Can’t make the date? Not comfortable gathering with other people outdoors? You can still help by joining us — virtually! Participants can hike any date of their choice leading up to the event, any time of day that’s convenient.
Registration coming soon
HARC 20-mile Challenge Hike – May 17
Are you a serious hiker or want a serious challenge? Join us for the annual HARC Challenge Hike on Saturday, May 17, 2024. A small group of hardy souls will be hiking mountainous miles (location TBD – coming soon). This is a one-way hike with transportation back to your cars. We’ll have support along the way with water and Gatorade refills and snacks, and a good lunch. Enjoy camaraderie and encouragement on the trail. Registration cost is only $50 if you raise $200 in donations OR bypass fundraising and donate $250 at time of registration.
Check-in Location—coming soon
Registrations are welcome up through May 10, and include a special Challenge Hike t-shirt.
Register by April 27 for a $10 discount.
- Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion with Group photo following the hike.
- Anyone who finishes the Challenge Hike will be listed on our Wall of Fame.
Challenge Hike Info & Instructions 2025 (coming soon)
Visit the HARC Challenge Hike “Wall of Fame” – Pictures and trails from past hikes
The Cause
Proceeds from the Hike for Hunger & Hope will benefit all HARC programs with a significant portion going directly to Micah’s Backpack and a portion to the Refugee Welcome Network. Micah’s Backpack is a collaborative effort between 50 churches and organizations in Washington County, serving more than 1,250 children with weekend meals. The Refugee Welcome Network supports refugees new to the U.S. as they work toward independence and becoming part of our community.
Let’s raise some funds for the cause! We encourage, but do not require, individual and team fundraising. You can use our Individual Fundraising Collection Sheet (above) or use the handy online donation page that can be automatically set up when you register. This year, the God’s Grace Fund will once again be matching fundraising donations (amount TBD) so your donation can have a greater impact for HARC and Micah’s backpack! We will also once again have prizes for the top individual fundraiser and the top fundraising team. Also, ANYONE who does fundraising will be entered into a drawing to win a prize.
Visiting Washington County for the day or weekend? Check out things to do and places to stay on the Visit Hagerstown website:
I want to help, but don’t want to hike
If you don’t want to hike, but want to support the cause, we welcome your donation. Use one of the donation links below or you can mail your check to: HARC, P.O. Box 1158, Hagerstown, Md. 21741-1158. Please write “HARC Hike” in the note section and indicate if you are pledging to support a specific hiker. Any amount will help. Thank you! (Links will be active in January, 2024)
Contact us!
If you have any questions, please contact the HARC office at 301-842-4272 or director@harccoalition.org.
