10 great First Day hikes to start 2017 on the right foot
If you’ve resolved to make 2017 a year of healthy living and exercise, why not kick off it off with a hike? More than 1,100 state parks in all 50 states will offer special programs and guided excursions on New Year’s Day as part of the national First Day Hikes program. “The activities of the holiday season can be kind of overwhelming. The hikes are a tonic for mind, body and spirit,” says Lewis Ledford of the National Association of State Park Directors. He shares some favorite offerings with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY. A complete list can be found at StateParks.org.
Blue Hills Reservation
Milton, Mass.
This park south of Boston popularized the idea of a First Day Hike in 1992 to attract visitors during the dead of winter. Now the natural area offers three easy-to-moderate excursions beginning at 1 p.m., including a pondside stroll for families with young children. There’s also hot cocoa, a warming fire and a live wildlife show. mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks
City of Rocks State Park
Faywood, N.M.
Known for its volcanic formations, the aptly named City of Rocks park offers visitors a surprising landscape in the Chihuahuan desert region of southwestern New Mexico. A two-mile hike leads by the geologic oddities like pinnacles towering up to 40 feet on paths that resemble city streets. www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD
Grayson Highlands State Park
Mouth of Wilson, Va.
Hikers may find themselves in company of wild ponies along the park’s poplar Rhododendron Trail. The equines were released in the area in 1975 to control brush and now number about 150. “It's a beautiful area in southwest Virginia that gives you splendid vistas,” Ledford says. dcr.virginia.gov/state-park
Tettegouche State Park
Silver Bay, Minn.
If you’ve got snowshoes, you might want to bring them for a 3.4-mile roundtrip hike to the park’s historic logging camp. The well-groomed trail is easy to navigate in boots as well. Whatever you choose, dress warmly: The hike will run as scheduled unless the temperature dips below -15 F at the 1 p.m. starting time. dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks
Antelope Island State Park
Syracuse, Utah
This park on a Great Salt Lake island will offer three different New Year’s Day hikes including a one-mile interpretive stroll, a more demanding two-mile loop that gains 350 feet elevation and a four-mile loop. A highlight for all visitors could be catching a glimpse of the park’s bison herd, which numbers more than 500. “This is a spectacular park, a truly special place,” Ledford says. stateparks.utah.gov/parks
Tishomingo State Park, Miss.
Located in the Appalachian foothills along the Natchez Trace Parkway, this park welcomes New Year’s visitors on its Outcroppings Trail. Hikers will pass waterfalls, cross a swinging bridge and encounter massive rock formations with fern-filled crevices. mdwfp.com/parks-destinations
Pearrygin Lake State Park
Winthrop, Wash.
Snowshoers and fat-tire bikers are welcome to tackle the 3-mile Rex Derr loop trail through the hillside above this north central Washington park. “Cycling in the outdoors has gained in popularity,” says Ledford, citing the balloon tire bikes which can handle snowy single-track rides. After the excursions, visitors can enjoy a free barbecue lunch with hot cocoa and coffee, although participants should contact the park to RSVP. parks.state.wa.us/563/Pearrygin-Lake
Magnolia Springs State Park
Millen, Ga.
Once home to a huge Civil War POW camp, this park south of Augusta now draws visitors with a crystal-clear spring flowing seven million gallons a day. On New Year’s Day, rangers will lead a 10 a.m., hike along the three-mile Lime Sink & Beaver Trail, where a boardwalk leads past habitat for turtles and alligators. gastateparks.org/MagnoliaSprings
Mount San Jacinto State Park
Idyllwild, Calif.
Visitors can access this Golden State park on a 2.5-mile tram ride from Palm Springs, assuring an adventure before they even hit the trail. Rangers will lead hikes on snow-covered paths through pine forests, although given the 8,500-foot elevation, some may choose to stay near the tram station and enjoy sweeping views of the Coachella Valley and the California desert. “The park shows the great diversity of California,” Ledford says. parks.ca.gov
Silver Lake State Park
Hollis, N.H.
New Year’s Day visitors will wander along a spring-fed lake and then into an apple orchard on a self-guided nature hike. Afterwards, hikers can warm up at a beachside campfire, complete with snacks and warm beverages. Depending on the weather, the park has snowshoes to loan out. Dogs on leashes are also welcome. nhstateparks.org/news-and-events/first-day-hike.aspx