CRAWFORD – The Northwest Nebraska Trails Association and several other partners will bring the fourth annual Northwest Nebraska Volksmarch to Crawford this spring.

The event will take place May 17, with 5K and 10K walking options available on the White River Trail.

Volksmarches, a non-competitive form of fitness walks, became popular in Europe in the 1960s.

“Northwest Nebraska is excited to continue its volksmarch tradition and invites people to use the opportunity to explore the White River Trail, which connects the City of Crawford to Fort Robinson State Park,” said Kerri Rempp, director of Discover Northwest Nebraska. “Participants interested in the 5K walk will start their trip in the beautiful Crawford City Park, while 10K walkers will report to the Fort Robinson trailhead for a round-trip adventure along the entire trail.”

The Friends of the White River Trail, along with Chadron Community Hospital, Fort Robinson and Panhandle Public Health District join the NNTA this year in sponsoring the walk.

The White River Trail is one of three sanctioned volksmarch trails and walkers can sign up and walk any of them at their convenience. The trails at Agate Fossil Beds are sanctioned as a seasonal volksmarch, while volksmarches at Chadron State College and along the White River Trail are sanctioned with year-round availability. Walkers can complete the walks and get their stamps through an online process at ava.org or by stopping at the Chadron Chamber of Commerce and asking for the volksmarch start box.

Pre-registration for the Northwest Nebraska Volksmarch May 17 is not required but is open at https://bit.ly/3vugnOb. Enter Crawford as the starting city to navigate to the Northwest Nebraska Volksmarch page. The first 38 pre-registrations will receive a free t-shirt. Registration will also be available the day of the walk. The cost to walk is $4/person; children in strollers are free. Participants can begin their volksmarch anytime between 8-11 a.m. and must report back in by 2 p.m.