Pokagon State Park’s 8-mile Hell’s Point Challenge has tested hikers’ endurance and dedication since it opened in 2017, guiding participants along a mapped route that covers most of the park’s trail system. To complete the challenge, hikers photograph designated waypoints and submit their images to park staff, earning a free finisher’s sticker, bragging rights, and a place in the park’s records.
Since 2020, more than 100,000 finishers from across the country have completed the challenge.
Among them is Steve Weaver, a 75-year-old Fort Wayne native and Purdue University alumnus, who completed the Hell’s Point Challenge for the 125th time on Dec. 12.
Weaver, a retired computer programmer, has logged impressive mileage on Pokagon’s trails. Since the start of 2025, he has hiked more than 1,000 miles at the park alone. He typically completes the Hell’s Point Challenge about three times per week, not including additional runs he often completes in a single day.
His dedication intensified as he trained for the London 2 Brighton Ultra Challenge, a 100-kilometer race he successfully completed over Memorial Day weekend. During training, Weaver frequently ran the Hell’s Point route three or four times a day.
Weaver credits his continued motivation to Pokagon’s ever-changing landscape.
“I love to watch the park’s habitats change through the seasons,” Weaver said. One of his favorite locations is the marsh near the saddle barn in late winter. “One day it’s pretty quiet, and the next, the cacophony of emerging frogs calling is almost deafening.”
According to Aimee Wentworth, Pokagon State Park’s interpretive naturalist, the people Weaver meets along the trails are another source of inspiration.
“He has been known to help hikers find their way and has even hiked with many,” Wentworth said.
Beyond Pokagon, Weaver has completed similar trail challenges at Indiana Dunes, Turkey Run, Shades, Clifty Falls, Spring Mill, Charlestown, and Ouabache state parks. In 2025 alone, he has hiked more than 2,600 miles.
Looking ahead, Weaver has set his sights on another milestone: completing the trail challenge at Brown County State Park, continuing a journey defined by endurance, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for Indiana’s natural landscapes.
For more information on any challenge mentioned, see on.IN.gov/parks-challenges, where you can download maps and plan your visit.