Get active with your dog this new year with this fun Vancouver hiking challenge

This interactive challenge encourages dog owners to get outdoors and explore B.C hikes with a chance to win a prize worth over $1700.

If one of your 2021 resolutions was to get more active with your dog, then this challenge couldn't come at a better time.

Starting on Thursday January 7, 2021, PawSwap is launching a brand new Hikes & Trails Challenge, inviting locals to kick off 2021 on the right foot… or paw, by exploring the best dog-friendly hikes around Vancouver with a chance to win a huge prize.

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The exciting, limited-time challenge runs until January 31, and will make including dogs in any 2021 fitness goals easy for locals, as the more hikes they complete, the more Points they will receive, with the overall winner taking home an Outdoor Adventure Pack worth over $1700.

With many struggling to stay active due to gym closures and COVID restrictions on group fitness classes, this Hikes & Trails challenge is designed to give participants a fun and safe way to keep fit with the added bonus of having their dog involved.

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee, locals can join PawSwap Premium, get involved in the Hikes & Trails Challenge and be in with a chance of winning prizes including a 2 night staycation in at award-winning Nita Lake Lodge, Whistler’s only lakeside hotel and a haven for wellness in the heart of the mountains.

Also included are products essential for any active human and pup team from Arc'teryx, The K9 Guard, Wirth Hats, Kafka’s Organic, Justgo Smoothie, Walton Wood Farm and Hardbite.

A safe way to stay active

A 2020 report by Statistics Canada states, ‘Public health officials have noted the important role of healthy active living to counteract the negative effects of prolonged isolation on physical and mental health.'

If lockdown measures have impacted your motivation to stay active, getting outdoors and exploring the natural beauty in our province is an exciting and safe way to keep fit in 2021.

"The start of a new year is always a popular time to make fitness resolutions for yourself. We wanted to make sure your dog was also included with a fun challenge to not only stay active, but also to explore beautiful B.C." said Carly Geill, Marketing Manager at PawSwap.

“After being stuck indoors for so long and with travel restrictions still in place, we think this is the perfect time to highlight the outdoor adventures available on our doorsteps that we can enjoy responsibly and safely - and give even more incentive to get active with an exciting prize for the winner.”

How to get involved

PawSwap Premium members can sign up for the challenge through the website from January 6, 2021, and collect Points for every hike they complete.

Triple Points will be available for 3 hikes or trails highlighted on the PawSwap map every week, giving locals a chance to get ahead of the competition, and get the opportunity to discover new hikes nearby.

Visit as many hikes and trails as you can throughout the challenge, collecting Points when you complete them, and the pup and human with the most Points at the end of the challenge will take home the Outdoor Adventure Prize Pack. A leaderboard will be displayed on the Hikes & Trails website each week to see how participants compare with fellow dog owners, making it easy to keep track of how close you are to winning the prize.

To unlock the challenge, locals must download the PawSwap App and upgrade to PawSwap Premium for as little as $1.99/month to unlock access to all the hikes and trails in their area, along with dog-friendly details including if there are swimming areas, or dogs can roam partially or fully off-leash.

The challenge begins on January 7 and runs until January 31, 2021, but participants can join in anytime throughout the month.

For those who don’t win, all Points collected can be kept and redeemed for some awesome Rewards on the PawSwap app.

Where to sign up

Partcipants can join the challenge by signing up through the Hikes & Trails website today.

Be sure to follow PawSwap on Instagram for more details in the coming days.

Challenge Details

When: January 7 - January 31, 2021 Where: Throughout B.C.

How to get involved: Download PawSwap app and join PawSwap Premium for $1.99

Outdoor Adventure Prize Pack:

- 2-night dog-friendly stay at Whistler's Nita Lake Lodge

- Protective Dog Jacket from The K9 Guard

- Brize 25 Backpack from Arc'teryx

- ‘The Foghorn’ toque and ‘Woodsy & Me’ cap from Wirth Hats

- 15 Signature fresh dog meals from Kafka’s Organic

- 30 day supply of smoothies courtesy of Justgo Smoothie

- 6 piece ‘Pet’s Don't Stink’ grooming set from Walton Wood Farm

- 10 bag customized variety pack with your favourites from Hardbite