GAMES · STORY NOTES

A Short Hike

A Short Hike is a 2019 adventure video game created by Canadian indie game designer Adam Robinson-Yu. Set in the fictional Hawk Peak Provincial Park, the open-world exploration game follows Claire, a young bird tasked with reaching the summit of a mountain to get a phone signal.

Description adapted from Wikipedia contributors, A Short Hike · CC BY-SA 4.0. Text adapted for this entry.

FULL SPOILERS AHEAD

The story, including the ending.

These write-ups discuss major events and outcomes for this listed work. Each source and its coverage are identified below.

Source plot synopsis — includes the ending

Claire, a young bird, decides to spend her days off by travelling to Hawk Peak Provincial Park, where her Aunt May works as a ranger. Claire's mother drives her to a ferry that will take her to the park for the summer. When Claire arrives, her aunt informs her that there is no cell phone reception except at Hawk Peak, the tallest point in the park. May also asks Claire to help with various tasks around the park. Claire has never hiked the Hawk Peak Trail before, but is expecting an important call, so she decides to hike to the summit. Along the way, Claire encounters several animals who ask her to perform various tasks, including finding lost objects, delivering items, and participating in recreational activities. Claire also obtains golden feathers that allow her to reach higher areas of the mountain. It is then up to the player whether Claire wants to explore other parts of the island or head straight for Hawk Peak. A sign at the mountain's base warns it is a strenuous hike and other characters remark that the trail is too difficult for them.
When Claire reaches the peak, she congratulates herself for making it and stands in front of an aurora. Soon, her cell phone rings, revealing that the caller is her mother. She acknowledges that she had surgery after sending Claire away. Claire is upset she was not there for her, but her mother says she is proud of Claire for climbing Hawk Peak. The call is interrupted when an updraft emerges from the mountain. It makes Claire nervous, but her mother urges her to ride it before it disappears. Claire rides the updraft, soaring over the park. She then returns to her aunt and tells her about all her side activities during the hike. Afterwards, she goes to sleep.
Sources and content license

Source and revision history ↗ · Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, A Short Hike. Section headings and formatting adjusted. · Content license