National Parks Apple Watch Activity Challenge Launching on August 27

Apple's annual National Parks activity challenge is set to take place on Saturday, August 27th, in celebration of national parks worldwide.

national parks 2022
Apple will ask Apple Watch owners to complete a hike, walk, run, or wheelchair workout of a mile to earn a special National Parks award.

Let's celebrate the beauty of national parks everywhere. On August 27, earn this award by recording a hike, walk, run, or wheelchair workout of a mile (1.6K) or more with any app that adds workouts to Health.

Like all Activity Challenges, the award will be accompanied by animated stickers that can be used in the Messages app.

national parks 2022 3

national parks 2022 2

national parks 2022 4

national parks 2022 1
Apple always celebrates national parks in August, typically introducing an Apple Pay donation program, Apple TV+ content, Apple Music songs, books, podcasts, and more focused on national parks.

Popular Stories

Apple Shopping Event 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Black Friday Event, Here's What You Can Get

Thursday November 20, 2025 6:28 am PST by
Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and others. During the shopping event, customers can get an Apple gift card with...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These New Features to Your iPhone

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:50 am PST by
iOS 26.2 is currently in beta testing. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics for Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date. Keep reading...
hikawa phone grip stand apple%402x

Apple Launches Second Limited-Edition iPhone Accessory in a Month

Friday November 21, 2025 3:53 am PST by
Apple has begun selling the Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand, a new limited-edition iPhone accessory designed with accessibility in mind. Designed by LA-based Bailey Hikawa to celebrate the 40th anniversary of accessibility at Apple, the grip uses magnets to securely snap onto any iPhone with MagSafe. Apple says it can be removed with ease, and doubles as a stand with two different viewing...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday November 19, 2025 4:00 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

iPad Mini 8: Four Major New Features to Expect

Wednesday November 19, 2025 7:50 am PST by
Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini is highly likely to arrive next year, offering a significant refresh of the device with at least four major new features. OLED Display The next-generation version of the iPad mini could feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, ...
ipad black friday 2025

The Best Early Black Friday iPad Deals

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:20 am PST by
Black Friday is just over a week away, and iPad deals have finally started to flood in at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Below we're tracking discounts on every current generation iPad, including lowest-ever prices on M3 iPad Air and M5 iPad Pro, plus steep markdowns on iPad and iPad mini. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a ...
watchos 26 workout app

Apple Watch Users Claim Workout App Is Now Worse in Every Way

Thursday November 20, 2025 7:01 am PST by
Apple Watch owners have been voicing their frustration online over changes to the Workout app that Apple introduced in watchOS 26, with many finding the redesigned interface makes starting exercises difficult and exasperating. When Apple launched watchOS 26 in September, the Workout app went from large, easily tapped workout tiles to a scrolling, corner-button interface. Instead of tapping a ...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Brings New AppleCare+ Options to India

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:42 am PST by
Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time. Options for monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Two More U.S. States Commit to Offering iPhone Driver's Licenses in Apple Wallet App

Thursday November 20, 2025 8:21 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Earlier this week, Illinois became the 13th state in the U.S. to offer the feature. Subsequently, we shared a list of additional states that are committed...

Top Rated Comments

nutmac Avatar
43 months ago

GeoLocation would be better... National Park Challenge should be in a national park, not around your neighborhood. ?‍?
Unfortunately, that would exclude 20 US states:
[LIST=1]
* Alabama
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Georgia
* Illinois
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Louisiana
* Maryland
* Massachuesetts
* Mississippi
* Nebraska
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New York
* Oklahoma
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* Vermont
* Wisconsin

And I am not sure encouraging folks to drive or fly out (increasing carbon footprint) is in the spirit of this challenge.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
steve09090 Avatar
43 months ago

Not all states have national parks
Considering that America has an obesity problem, it's not bad though not much of a workout.
A little incentive helps motivate people.
The 1 mile min. limit would at least get some lazy people to just go outside to do something which is better than nothing.

Anything that motivates people to get moving.
Exactly. The whole point is to get people moving. If this inspires a single person to put one foot in front of the other about 2,000 times in one workout, that’s a great thing. For fit people who think it’s weak, they can 100 times that if they want. People can be so judgemental


At least make it mandatory that the workout has to be outdoor type for this one. Just changing the number of minutes/distance isn’t a good differentiator between different badges.
Maybe those people who think it should be mandatory to do this or that should have a challenge where they walk in somebody else’s shoes.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BJMRamage Avatar
43 months ago

At least make it mandatory that the workout has to be outdoor type for this one. Just changing the number of minutes/distance isn’t a good differentiator between different badges.
I suppose for any disabled or elderly folks who may not as easily get OUTDOORS, this is merely incentive to get active.

What they could do is have a FREE National Park Workout for the Apple Fitness app where it could be a pre-defined park or some other Indoor activity that at least has the idea of being at a park.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
43 months ago
Love that Apple does these challenges to keep people engaged.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sayewhat Avatar
43 months ago
GeoLocation would be better... National Park Challenge should be in a national park, not around your neighborhood. ?‍?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Dubs_ Avatar
43 months ago

Wait, I didn't know about fitness stickers available in the Messages app. Where do I find this?


Attachment Image
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)