A group of snowshoers in colorful winter clothes stands on a field of fluffy snow in front of a snow covered stone cabin. Pale clouds rise into a clear blue sky behind them.
people riding horses down a trail, horse wearing a happy new year hat
Park rangers surrounded by group of bundled up hikers standing in front of fir trees
Hikers in bright colored jackets walking in a line down a wooded trail
Large group of hikers standing in snow, in front of Lake Wenatchee

First Day Hikes

Ring in the New Year with Washington State Parks! First Day Hikes offer an experience for everyone to get outside and enjoy our beautiful state parks.

Seasons

First Day Hikes is available in Winter.

Participate in staff-led and self-guided hikes, snowshoe excursions, trail rides, polar plunges, scavenger hunts and more at 30+ parks on New Year's Day. When you are done, don't forget to pick up your free, collectible Washington State Parks 2025 First Day Hikes pin!

All hikes are free and a Discover Pass is NOT needed to park on state managed lands on Jan. 1, our first Washington State Parks free day of 2025. However, you may need to register for some events with participation limits and/or purchase the appropriate Sno-Park permit for parks that become Sno-Parks during the winter (Lake Easton, Lake Wenatchee and Mount Spokane). 

Thank you to the Washington State Parks Foundation for supporting our 2025 First Day Hikes events. 

Please read hike descriptions carefully and check the park's event descriptions to make sure you are registered and have what you need. Enjoy your New Year's Day State Parks adventure!

Eastern Washington First Day Hikes
Park Event Time Event  Link
Bridgeport State Park 10 a.m.  Bridgeport First Day Hike
Columbia Plateau Trail 1 p.m. Columbia Plateau Trail First Day Hike
Lake Easton State Park 10 a.m. Lake Easton First Day Hike
Lake Chelan State Park 1 p.m. Lake Chelan First Day Hike
Lake Wenatchee State Park 11 a.m. Lake Wenatchee First Day Hike
Maryhill State Park 10 a.m. Maryhill Polar Plunge
Mount Spokane State Park 9 a.m. Mount Spokane First Day Hike- Smith Gap Snowshoe Hike
Mount Spokane State Park 9 a.m. Mount Spokane First Day Hike- Summit Snowshoe Hike
Palouse Falls State Park 11 a.m. -2 p.m. Palouse Falls First Day Hike
Riverside State Park 9 a.m. Deep Creek Canyon First Day Hike
Sacajawea State Park 10 a.m. Sacajawea First Day Hike
Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park 9 a.m. Making New Years tracks in the Shrub Steppe
Wenatchee Confluence State Park 9 a.m. Wenatchee Confluence First Day Hike
Northwest Washington First Day Hikes
Park Event Time Event Link
Bridle Trails State Park 10 a.m. Bridle Trail Trotting into '25
Cama Beach State Park 9 a.m. Cama Beach First Day Hike
Camano Island State Park 1 p.m. Camano Island First Day Hike- Howard Adams Trail
Deception Pass State Park 9:30 a.m. Deception Pass First Day Hike
Lake Sammamish State Park 10:30 a.m. Lake Sammamish Polar Plunge
Larrabee State Park 11 a.m. Larrabee First Day Hike
Lime Kiln Point State Park 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Lime Kiln Point First Day Hike
Millersylvania State Park 10 a.m.-Noon Millersylvania First Day Hike
Moran State Park 11 a.m. Moran First Day Hike
Nolte State Park 10 a.m. Nolte First Day Hike
Rockport State Park 1 p.m. Rockport First Day Hike
Saint Edward State Park 10 a.m. Saint Edward First Day Hike
Saltwater State Park 11 a.m. Saltwater First Day Hike
Spencer Spit State Park 1 p.m. Spencer Spit First Day Hike
South Whidbey State Park 11 a.m.  South Whidbey First Day Hike
Tolmie State Park 1 p.m.- 3p.m.  Tolmie First Day Hike
Southwest Washington First Day Hikes
Park Event Time Event Link
Beacon Rock State Park 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.-4 p.m.

Beacon Rock First Day Hike 

Beacon Rock First Day Hike-Afternoon Hike
Bottle Beach State Park 10 a.m. Bottle Beach First Day Hike
Cape Disappointment State Park 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Cape Disappointment First Day Hike
Fort Worden State Park 10 a.m. - Noon Fort Worden First Day Hike
Griffiths-Priday State Park Noon Griffiths-Priday First Day Hike
Harstine Island State Park Noon Harstine Island State Park Loop
Lake Sylvia State Park 1 p.m. Lake Sylvia First Day Hikes
Lewis and Clark State Park 10 a.m.- Noon Lewis and Clark First Day Hike 
Mount Saint Helens Visitor Center - Seaquest State Park 10 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. Bird Walk on the Boardwalk (Wetland Haven Trail)
Penrose Point State Park Noon- 3 p.m. Penrose Point First Day Hike
Twanoh State Park 8 a.m. Twanoh First Day Hike

Rules & safety

We at State Parks want you to enjoy all the wonders the winter season has to offer. Preparing for safety on your First Day Hike experience is the first step. Visit our park Rules & Safety pages, pay careful attention to the equipment lists and difficulty level of each event, know your own abilities and limitations and always pack the Ten Essentials. 

If you have questions about the difficulty or equipment requirements of any hike, please reach out to the event organizers. Happy New Year from Washington State Parks!

Popular parks with First Day Hikes

Griffiths-Priday boardwalk trail to beach Griffiths-Priday State Park
Dock at Millersylvania at sunset. Millersylvania State Park
Penrose Point beach with driftwood Penrose Point State Park
A view from the shore looking over the Columbia River with trees along the far shore and a far distant hillside topped with wind turbines. Sacajawea Historical State Park
See all parks with First Day Hike Events

Map & visitor guide

Use the Find a Park Page to see maps and visitor guides for a specific park.

Seasons

First Day Hikes is available in Winter.