GOAT program celebrates record-breaking year, prepares for 2026

Georgetown County’s Outdoor Adventure Trails program, better known as GOAT, closed out its second year with strong participation and mileage totals. Parks and Recreation staff said the program’s second full year brought major growth, new events and an increasing level of enthusiasm among residents exploring the county’s trails on foot, bike and water.

“We had a really good year,” said TL Staub, the program’s coordinator. “The numbers show huge growth, but more than that, people are really getting into it. They’re hiking, biking, paddling and pushing themselves in ways they didn’t think they could.”

The program encourages participants to log outdoor miles of all types, with milestone recognitions for Fit GOATs and Iron GOATs. In 2025, participants logged a combined 46,966 miles, including  30,430 miles of hiking, walking and running; 15,715 miles of biking; and 821 miles of paddling. Participation increased significantly this year. A total of 153 people registered for the program, and 100 actively logged mileage. That represents a 43 percent increase over 2024’s 70 participants. Forty-one percent of this year’s group were first-time participants, while 59 percent returned from previous years. Women made up 67 percent of participants, compared to near-even gender distribution last year. Seventy-three percent of participants lived in Georgetown County, 15 percent lived elsewhere in South Carolina and 11 percent were from out of state.

A record number of participants earned GOAT mileage recognitions in 2025. Thirty-three people reached Iron GOAT status by logging more than 500 miles. That includes eight Iron GOAT-Elite finishers with more than 1,500 miles, two Iron GOAT-Pro participants with 1,000 to
1,499 miles, and 23 Iron GOATs with 500 to 999 miles. Another 54 people earned Fit GOAT recognition by logging 100 to 499 miles, including 16 Fit GOAT-Pro finishers. Altogether, 87 percent of all participants reached either Fit GOAT or Iron GOAT status.

“Some of the elite hikers logged more than 1,500 miles,” Staub said. “That’s like walking from here to New York and back.”

To continue improving the program, the department plans to introduce a new digital tracking platform called Challenge Hound when the 2026 GOAT season begins Jan. 1. The app will allow participants to log miles manually or through their phones, compare progress on a live
dashboard and participate in multiple challenges at once.

Staub said staff are currently testing the system. “It’ll give people a visual of where they stand and help them stay motivated,” he said. “We think it’s going to take the program to the next level.”

The county’s goals for the coming year include growing participation, expanding paddling and hiking opportunities, strengthening partnerships and potentially finding ways to connect GOAT to the county’s employee health initiative.

Staub said the program is quickly becoming part of the county’s culture of outdoor recreation and community wellness. “It’s only going to grow from here,” he said. “The more people get outside, explore and challenge themselves, the better it is for our whole community.”