First Day Hikes: Start 2026 Outside, Surrounded by Nature
What better way to ring in the new year than with some fresh air and scenic views? Here's a guide for finding the perfect 'First Day Hike' near you. Make this outdoor activity an annual tradition for welcoming each new year! Image: iStock
This year marks the 34th anniversary of the inaugural First Day Hike, which occurred on January 1, 1992.You will find linksto all First Day Hikes across the South at the bottom of this article. In fact, across the country, there are more than 1,000 organized First Day Hikes! But first, a little history on the power of one person’s vision …
Patrick Flynn, the former supervisor of the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, MA, was thinking ahead of his time. To get more people to spend time outdoors and come to Massachusetts State Parks in the winter, he set out to create a local initiative: First Day Hikes. For that first one, on New Year’s Day 1992, Patrick hosted 380 people at Massachusetts’ Blue Hills Reservation to open the new year with a guided hike. As years followed, the tradition stuck and was adopted by many state parks across the country.
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On January 1, 2012, 400 First Day Hikes were held across the country at America’s state parks. The initiative even became an international phenomenon in 2018 with Canada’s Ontario Parks’ participation. Although Patrick passed away in 2016, his legacy lives on. First Day Hikes have been around ever since (source).
Today, there’s no need to convince Americans to go to the park. If there’s anything recent years have taught us, it’s that a daily walk or a respite in nature is essential for personal well-being. With 2025 just around the corner, there’s no better way to kick off the new year than with some fresh air, some extra steps, and time to enjoy what state parks across the country have to offer.
PinOver 100 wild ponies roam Virginia’s Grayson Highlands State Park which will host a First Day Hike from 1 to 3 p.m. on January 1, 2025. Image: iStock
Click on the links below to find First Day Hikes in each of our Southern states:
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