Right around the end of December I start planning my outdoor adventures for the coming year. It's a time where anything seems possible and that means pretty much everything is on the table. I could thru-hike the John Muir Trail, knock out a couple of 14ers in Colorado, or perhaps I'll high point a few more states. With a bunch of ideas in hand, the research begins!
I decided to start by planning a high point trip. Oklahoma’s Black Mesa is driving distance from me, the weather makes this summit available in the winter, and my current fitness level can handle the 8.5 mile out and back trek. As I was investigating the Black Mesa State Park and its campground, I stumbled upon a program called First Day Hikes at Oklahoma State Parks. It turns out that on January 1st, 2023, they are offering guided hikes at 21 parks across the state. What a cool idea!
As I moved on to planning my second summit of the year, Black Elk Peak, which is South Dakota’s highest point, I found the same thing – First Day Hikes. In this case, the state of South Dakota offers guided hikes at 12 of their state parks. At this point, I put two and two and together and figured out that this is a thing!
It turns out that First Day Hikes is a nationwide initiative put on by America's State Parks, and the program offers hundreds of free, guided hikes in nearly all 50 states on January 1st every year. It's an opportunity to start the new year off right, namely outdoors, by yourself or with loved ones, connecting with nature and enjoying the sites and sounds of your state. The hikes vary in both distance and difficulty, so there’s something out there for everyone, and of course kids are welcome!
It seems my research paid off because instead of waiting a month or two to get my 2023 hiking plans going, now I can get started on the 1st! This weekend I’m going to attend the First Day Hike at the Schramm Park State Recreation Area with my family, get outside and get inspired for the year to come, and I hope you’ll do the same. Below I’ve got links to all the First Day Hikes in the US so you can find something near you. Cheers!
First Day Hikes by State
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Alaska |
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Illinois |
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Louisiana |
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