diff --git a/src/app/(app)/explore/page.tsx b/src/app/(app)/explore/page.tsx
index c445894..145c1eb 100644
--- a/src/app/(app)/explore/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(app)/explore/page.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,18 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { useState } from "react";
+import Link from "next/link";
 import { useInfiniteQuery, useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
-import { Loader2 } from "lucide-react";
+import { Loader2, TrendingUp } from "lucide-react";
 import { useTRPC } from "@/trpc/client";
 import { useActivePet } from "@/context/ActivePetContext";
 import { ExploreCard } from "@/components/explore/ExploreCard";
 import { Tabs, TabsList, TabsTrigger } from "@/components/ui/tabs";
+import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
+import { Dialog, DialogContent } from "@/components/ui/dialog";
+import { PostCard } from "@/components/feed/PostCard";
+import { getMediaUrl } from "@/lib/media-url";
+import type { PostCardPost } from "@/components/feed/PostCard";
 import {
   Select,
   SelectContent,
@@ -20,8 +26,13 @@ export default function ExplorePage() {
   const trpc = useTRPC();
   const { activePetId } = useActivePet();
 
-  const [activeSpeciesId, setActiveSpeciesId] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [activeTab, setActiveTab] = useState<string>("trending");
   const [activeBreedId, setActiveBreedId] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [selectedPost, setSelectedPost] = useState<PostCardPost | null>(null);
+
+  const isTrending = activeTab === "trending";
+  const activeSpeciesId =
+    activeTab === "trending" || activeTab === "all" ? null : activeTab;
 
   const { data: speciesList, isLoading: loadingSpecies } = useQuery(
     trpc.pets.listSpecies.queryOptions()
@@ -35,12 +46,16 @@ export default function ExplorePage() {
   );
   const breeds = breedData ?? [];
 
+  const { data: trendingData, isLoading: loadingTrending } = useQuery(
+    trpc.explore.getTrending.queryOptions(undefined, { enabled: isTrending })
+  );
+
   const {
     data,
     fetchNextPage,
     hasNextPage,
     isFetchingNextPage,
-    isLoading,
+    isLoading: loadingPets,
   } = useInfiniteQuery(
     trpc.explore.listPets.infiniteQueryOptions(
       {
@@ -51,15 +66,16 @@ export default function ExplorePage() {
       {
         getNextPageParam: (lastPage) => lastPage.nextCursor,
         initialCursor: undefined,
+        enabled: !isTrending,
       }
     )
   );
 
   const pets = data?.pages.flatMap((p) => p.pets) ?? [];
 
-  function handleSpeciesChange(speciesId: string | null) {
-    setActiveSpeciesId(speciesId);
-    setActiveBreedId(null); // reset breed when switching species
+  function handleTabChange(tab: string) {
+    setActiveTab(tab);
+    setActiveBreedId(null);
   }
 
   if (loadingSpecies) {
@@ -74,13 +90,12 @@ export default function ExplorePage() {
     <div className="max-w-[640px] mx-auto px-4 py-6">
       <h1 className="text-xl font-semibold mb-4">Explore</h1>
 
-      {/* Species tabs */}
-      <Tabs
-        value={activeSpeciesId ?? "all"}
-        onValueChange={(v) => handleSpeciesChange(v === "all" ? null : v)}
-        className="mb-4"
-      >
+      <Tabs value={activeTab} onValueChange={handleTabChange} className="mb-4">
         <TabsList>
+          <TabsTrigger value="trending" className="gap-1">
+            <TrendingUp className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+            Trending
+          </TabsTrigger>
           <TabsTrigger value="all">All</TabsTrigger>
           {(speciesList ?? []).map((s) => (
             <TabsTrigger key={s.id} value={s.id}>
@@ -90,7 +105,7 @@ export default function ExplorePage() {
         </TabsList>
       </Tabs>
 
-      {/* Breed filter — only visible when a species is selected */}
+      {/* Breed filter — only when a species tab is active */}
       {activeSpeciesId && breeds.length > 0 && (
         <div className="mb-4">
           <Select
@@ -112,49 +127,212 @@ export default function ExplorePage() {
         </div>
       )}
 
-      {/* Pet grid */}
-      {isLoading ? (
-        <div className="flex justify-center py-16">
-          <Loader2 className="h-6 w-6 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
-        </div>
-      ) : pets.length === 0 ? (
-        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground text-center py-10">
-          No{" "}
-          {activeBreedId
-            ? breeds.find((b) => b.id === activeBreedId)?.name ?? "breed"
-            : activeSpeciesId
-              ? (speciesList ?? []).find((s) => s.id === activeSpeciesId)?.name ?? "species"
-              : ""}
-          {" "}pets yet
-        </p>
-      ) : (
-        <>
-          <div className="grid grid-cols-3 gap-3 sm:grid-cols-4">
-            {pets.map((pet) => (
-              <ExploreCard
-                key={pet.id}
-                pet={pet as Parameters<typeof ExploreCard>[0]["pet"]}
-                activePetId={activePetId ?? ""}
-              />
+      {/* Trending tab content */}
+      {isTrending && (
+        <TrendingContent
+          data={trendingData}
+          isLoading={loadingTrending}
+          onSelectPost={setSelectedPost}
+        />
+      )}
+
+      {/* Pet grid (all / species / breed tabs) */}
+      {!isTrending &&
+        (loadingPets ? (
+          <div className="flex justify-center py-16">
+            <Loader2 className="h-6 w-6 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
+          </div>
+        ) : pets.length === 0 ? (
+          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground text-center py-10">
+            No{" "}
+            {activeBreedId
+              ? (breeds.find((b) => b.id === activeBreedId)?.name ?? "breed")
+              : activeSpeciesId
+                ? ((speciesList ?? []).find((s) => s.id === activeSpeciesId)
+                    ?.name ?? "species")
+                : ""}{" "}
+            pets yet
+          </p>
+        ) : (
+          <>
+            <div className="grid grid-cols-3 gap-3 sm:grid-cols-4">
+              {pets.map((pet) => (
+                <ExploreCard
+                  key={pet.id}
+                  pet={pet as Parameters<typeof ExploreCard>[0]["pet"]}
+                  activePetId={activePetId ?? ""}
+                />
+              ))}
+            </div>
+            {hasNextPage && (
+              <div className="flex justify-center mt-6">
+                <Button
+                  variant="outline"
+                  onClick={() => void fetchNextPage()}
+                  disabled={isFetchingNextPage}
+                  className="bg-muted"
+                >
+                  {isFetchingNextPage ? (
+                    <Loader2 className="h-4 w-4 animate-spin mr-2" />
+                  ) : null}
+                  Load more
+                </Button>
+              </div>
+            )}
+          </>
+        ))}
+
+      {/* Post detail dialog */}
+      <Dialog
+        open={!!selectedPost}
+        onOpenChange={(open) => {
+          if (!open) setSelectedPost(null);
+        }}
+      >
+        <DialogContent
+          showCloseButton={false}
+          className="max-w-[560px] w-full p-0 overflow-y-auto max-h-[90dvh] rounded-xl"
+        >
+          {selectedPost && (
+            <PostCard
+              post={selectedPost}
+              variant="detail"
+              onDeleted={() => setSelectedPost(null)}
+            />
+          )}
+        </DialogContent>
+      </Dialog>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+// ─── Trending section ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+type TrendingPost = {
+  id: string;
+  type: string;
+  caption: string | null;
+  createdAt: Date | string;
+  pet: { id: string; name: string; avatarKey: string | null };
+  images: { storageKey: string; position: number }[];
+  milestone: { milestoneType: string; notes: string | null } | null;
+  _count: { reactions: number; comments: number };
+};
+
+type TrendingHashtag = {
+  id: string;
+  tag: string;
+  _count: { posts: number };
+};
+
+type TrendingData = {
+  posts: TrendingPost[];
+  hashtags: TrendingHashtag[];
+};
+
+function TrendingContent({
+  data,
+  isLoading,
+  onSelectPost,
+}: {
+  data: TrendingData | undefined;
+  isLoading: boolean;
+  onSelectPost: (post: PostCardPost) => void;
+}) {
+  if (isLoading) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex justify-center py-16">
+        <Loader2 className="h-6 w-6 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
+  const posts = data?.posts ?? [];
+  const hashtags = data?.hashtags ?? [];
+  const hasContent = posts.length > 0 || hashtags.length > 0;
+
+  if (!hasContent) {
+    return (
+      <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground text-center py-10">
+        No trending content yet — check back soon
+      </p>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-6">
+      {/* Trending hashtags */}
+      {hashtags.length > 0 && (
+        <section>
+          <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide mb-3">
+            Trending hashtags
+          </h2>
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+            {hashtags.map((ht) => (
+              <Link key={ht.id} href={`/hashtag/${ht.tag}`}>
+                <Badge
+                  variant="secondary"
+                  className="cursor-pointer hover:bg-orange-100 hover:text-orange-700 transition-colors text-sm px-3 py-1"
+                >
+                  #{ht.tag}
+                  <span className="ml-1.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                    {ht._count.posts}
+                  </span>
+                </Badge>
+              </Link>
             ))}
           </div>
+        </section>
+      )}
 
-          {hasNextPage && (
-            <div className="flex justify-center mt-6">
-              <Button
-                variant="outline"
-                onClick={() => void fetchNextPage()}
-                disabled={isFetchingNextPage}
-                className="bg-muted"
-              >
-                {isFetchingNextPage ? (
-                  <Loader2 className="h-4 w-4 animate-spin mr-2" />
-                ) : null}
-                Load more
-              </Button>
-            </div>
-          )}
-        </>
+      {/* Trending posts grid */}
+      {posts.length > 0 && (
+        <section>
+          <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide mb-3">
+            Hot posts · last 48 h
+          </h2>
+          <div className="grid grid-cols-3 gap-0.5">
+            {posts.map((post) => {
+              const firstImage = post.images[0];
+              const mediaUrl = firstImage
+                ? getMediaUrl(firstImage.storageKey)
+                : null;
+              const isCarousel = post.images.length > 1;
+
+              return (
+                <button
+                  key={post.id}
+                  type="button"
+                  onClick={() => onSelectPost(post as unknown as PostCardPost)}
+                  className="relative aspect-square overflow-hidden bg-muted focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-orange-500"
+                  aria-label={post.caption ?? "View trending post"}
+                >
+                  {mediaUrl ? (
+                    // eslint-disable-next-line @next/next/no-img-element
+                    <img
+                      src={mediaUrl}
+                      alt={post.caption ?? "Trending post"}
+                      className="w-full h-full object-cover"
+                    />
+                  ) : (
+                    <div className="w-full h-full bg-muted" />
+                  )}
+                  <div className="absolute bottom-1 left-1 flex items-center gap-0.5 bg-black/50 rounded px-1 py-0.5">
+                    <span className="text-white text-[10px]">🐾</span>
+                    <span className="text-white text-[10px] font-medium">
+                      {post._count.reactions}
+                    </span>
+                  </div>
+                  {isCarousel && (
+                    <div className="absolute top-1 right-1 w-4 h-4 bg-black/50 rounded-sm flex items-center justify-center">
+                      <span className="text-white text-[8px]">+</span>
+                    </div>
+                  )}
+                </button>
+              );
+            })}
+          </div>
+        </section>
       )}
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/src/trpc/routers/explore.ts b/src/trpc/routers/explore.ts
index 6eb1bc8..f972736 100644
--- a/src/trpc/routers/explore.ts
+++ b/src/trpc/routers/explore.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@ import "server-only";
 import { z } from "zod";
 import { router, publicProcedure } from "@/trpc/init";
 
+const TRENDING_POSTS_WINDOW_MS = 48 * 60 * 60 * 1000; // 48 h
+const TRENDING_HASHTAGS_WINDOW_MS = 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000; // 7 days
+
 export const exploreRouter = router({
   listPets: publicProcedure
     .input(
@@ -35,4 +38,38 @@ export const exploreRouter = router({
         nextCursor: hasNextPage ? items[items.length - 1]!.id : null,
       };
     }),
+
+  /**
+   * getTrending — trending posts (48 h window, ranked by reaction count)
+   * and trending hashtags (7 day window, ranked by post count).
+   */
+  getTrending: publicProcedure.query(async ({ ctx }) => {
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const since48h = new Date(now - TRENDING_POSTS_WINDOW_MS);
+    const since7d = new Date(now - TRENDING_HASHTAGS_WINDOW_MS);
+
+    const [posts, hashtags] = await Promise.all([
+      ctx.prisma.post.findMany({
+        where: { createdAt: { gte: since48h }, type: "PHOTO" },
+        include: {
+          images: { orderBy: { position: "asc" } },
+          pet: { select: { id: true, name: true, avatarKey: true } },
+          milestone: true,
+          _count: { select: { reactions: true, comments: true } },
+        },
+        orderBy: { reactions: { _count: "desc" } },
+        take: 12,
+      }),
+      ctx.prisma.hashtag.findMany({
+        where: {
+          posts: { some: { post: { createdAt: { gte: since7d } } } },
+        },
+        include: { _count: { select: { posts: true } } },
+        orderBy: { posts: { _count: "desc" } },
+        take: 10,
+      }),
+    ]);
+
+    return { posts, hashtags };
+  }),
 });
diff --git a/src/trpc/routers/follows.ts b/src/trpc/routers/follows.ts
index 2b40ce1..7b42134 100644
--- a/src/trpc/routers/follows.ts
+++ b/src/trpc/routers/follows.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,25 @@
 import "server-only";
 import { z } from "zod";
 import { TRPCError } from "@trpc/server";
+import { MilestoneType } from "@prisma/client";
 import { router, protectedProcedure } from "@/trpc/init";
 import type { PrismaClient } from "@prisma/client";
 import { redis } from "@/lib/redis";
-import { backfillOnFollow } from "@/lib/feed-helpers";
+import { backfillOnFollow, fanOutPost } from "@/lib/feed-helpers";
+
+const FOLLOWER_MILESTONES: Partial<Record<number, MilestoneType>> = {
+  500: MilestoneType.FOLLOWERS_500,
+  1000: MilestoneType.FOLLOWERS_1K,
+  2500: MilestoneType.FOLLOWERS_2_5K,
+  5000: MilestoneType.FOLLOWERS_5K,
+  10000: MilestoneType.FOLLOWERS_10K,
+  25000: MilestoneType.FOLLOWERS_25K,
+  50000: MilestoneType.FOLLOWERS_50K,
+  100000: MilestoneType.FOLLOWERS_100K,
+  250000: MilestoneType.FOLLOWERS_250K,
+  500000: MilestoneType.FOLLOWERS_500K,
+  1000000: MilestoneType.FOLLOWERS_1M,
+};
 
 /**
  * Ownership assertion helper — verifies that a pet belongs to the requesting
@@ -76,6 +91,35 @@ export const followsRouter = router({
       // Backfill followee's recent posts into follower's Redis feed inbox (SOCL-01)
       await backfillOnFollow(redis, followerPetId, followeePetId, ctx.prisma).catch(() => {});
 
+      // MILE-F: check follower milestone thresholds — fire-and-forget
+      void (async () => {
+        const count = await ctx.prisma.follow.count({ where: { followeePetId } });
+        const milestoneType = FOLLOWER_MILESTONES[count];
+        if (!milestoneType) return;
+
+        // Guard: don't award the same milestone twice
+        const existing = await ctx.prisma.milestone.findFirst({
+          where: { milestoneType, post: { petId: followeePetId } },
+        });
+        if (existing) return;
+
+        const post = await ctx.prisma.post.create({
+          data: {
+            petId: followeePetId,
+            type: "MILESTONE",
+            caption: null,
+            milestone: { create: { milestoneType, notes: null } },
+          },
+          include: {
+            images: { orderBy: { position: "asc" } },
+            milestone: true,
+            pet: { select: { id: true, name: true, avatarKey: true } },
+          },
+        });
+
+        await fanOutPost(redis, post.id, followeePetId, post.createdAt, ctx.prisma);
+      })().catch(() => {});
+
       // NOTF-01: notify the followee (fire-and-forget — never fails the follow)
       ctx.prisma.notification
         .create({