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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.
This hike will be lead by Park Ranger Rudd and Park Ranger Alvarado. The hike will utilize the McSorely Creek Loop Trail. The hike will encourage a self-guided approach, but park staff will be present for the hike.
Join us on a guided hike through the forested hillsides of Lake Easton.
Note: Guide is a Spanish speaker, hike available in Spanish.
Note: Guide is a Spanish speaker, hike available in Spanish.
Go for a hike with Ranger Mehgan on Spencer Spit’s Southern Route for this year's First Day Hike! We will explore the west to south route of our perimeter loop trail with a special surprise near the end of our hike. This hike is easy with a steady decline down to The Spit. Please come prepared for weather and bring a good pair of binoculars in case we spot some epic birds along the way!
Join Interpretive Ranger Kara Frashefski on this family friendly First Day Hike along the Columbia Plateau Trail. This will be an out and back hike to the railroad underpass at Minnie Creek. Along the way, participants will have beautiful views of Fish Lake and plenty of opportunities to hear about the geology and history of the Columbia Plateau area. Snacks will be provided at the trailhead.
A guided tour around the wooded trail through Nolte State Park, lead by Park Ranger Bailey. Ranger Bailey will point out various flora and fauna along the hike and describe the history of the Park and the Tahoma Gateway area.
Join Moran State Park Rangers on a rejuvenating hike of renewal to Cascade Falls to ring in 2026.
Take a guided hike on the beach along the Birch Bay lead by Park Ranger Sokol. Explore and learn about the native wildlife at Birch Bay State Park.
OLYMPIA – Celebrate the new year with Washington State Parks during our annual First Day Hikes events on Jan. 1, 2025.
More than 30 state parks will host staff-led and self-guided hikes, snowshoe excursions, trail rides, polar plunges, scavenger hunts and more on New Year’s Day.
Join the Interpretive Specialist, Meredith Peterson, and other park staff for a walk out to Cranberry Lake to get out and get moving on the first day of the year. This gentle trail leads you through the forest to a marsh ecosystem, where there is an active beaver lodge and signs of their activity along the way. Enjoy hot drinks and snacks at the drop off shelter before the hike begins.
Allow for 3 hours round trip. We will make several stops and talk about park features, history, and wildlife.
Join the Interpretive Specialist, Meredith Peterson, and other park staff for a walk along the Howard Adams Trail to get out and get moving on the first day of the year. This gentle trail leads you through the forest, where we will set our intentions for the new year and enjoy time spent outside. Enjoy hot drinks and snacks at the drop off shelter before the hike begins.
Hike the Harstine State Park Trails with local Park Rangers and dive into the flora and fauna of Harstine Island. We'll be following our curiosities through the forest to learn about the plants we see, the birds we hear, and anything else we stumble upon!
The hike will be led by park staff and will follow Twanoh Creek before climbing up to a forested ridgetop. It then follows a service road along the ridge before descending back to end along the creek. For those interested, multiple geocaches have been placed along or near the trail
This hike will be an interpretive showcase of some of the park’s more overlooked features. The 1.1 mile loop starts at the park’s new amphitheater and is composed of a combination of the Middle Loop Trail, the Upper Loop Trail and Interpretive Loop Trail. The theme of the hike will be Kopachuck’s Trees. Topics discussed will be Kopachuck’s tree history and how visitors of the park can affect the trees both negatively and positively. The hike will have a brief ascent in the beginning but most of the hike will be steady and downhill.
Kick off the new year with a one-mile walk through history and nature at Fort Flagler! On this family-friendly hike, discover the fort’s role in the past and its purpose today as a state park.
Guided Hike: 10:15am (limit 20 people) with an interpretive ranger
Self-Guided Hike: 10:00am–12:00pm at your own pace (several versions to choose from)
Location: Rec Hall or Theater (check signs on arrival)
Before or after your hike, warm up inside with hot drinks and snacks from the Friends of Fort Flagler and stop by the State Parks booth for First Day Hike pins, Bark Ranger bandanas, Jr. Ranger packets, and more.
Accessibility: The first portion of the guided hike and the self-guided route are ADA accessible. The guided hike includes 60 feet of downhill elevation change along a portion of the Bluff Trail.
Guided Hike: 10:15am (limit 20 people) with an interpretive ranger
Self-Guided Hike: 10:00am–12:00pm at your own pace (several versions to choose from)
Location: Rec Hall or Theater (check signs on arrival)
Before or after your hike, warm up inside with hot drinks and snacks from the Friends of Fort Flagler and stop by the State Parks booth for First Day Hike pins, Bark Ranger bandanas, Jr. Ranger packets, and more.
Accessibility: The first portion of the guided hike and the self-guided route are ADA accessible. The guided hike includes 60 feet of downhill elevation change along a portion of the Bluff Trail.
The hike will be led by a Park Ranger who will guide participants along the Camp Wooten property and the Tucannon Campground. After the hike we’ll have hot cocoa, cider and tea in the rec hall along with a fire going in the fireplace. The hike will have very little elevation change and stay on shoveled/plowed roads and paths.
Hike through a coastal rainforest features huge trees, stunning views of the Columbia River Bar, and a landscape steeped in history. We’ll talk about the unique mix of weather, waves, currents and sandbars that makes this place what it is.
Ring in the New Year with fresh air, sweeping views, and the magic of winter birdwatching! Join Washington State Parks staff and volunteers for a guided First Day Hike at Bottle Beach State Park.
This easy, family-friendly hike follows a flat, 1and a half-mile round-trip trail and beach through coastal wetlands to a wildlife viewing platform overlooking Grays Harbor. Along the way, we’ll share the unique natural and cultural history of Bottle Beach.
Participants can expect to see a variety of wintering waterfowl and maybe even some early shorebirds. Binoculars and cameras are encouraged!
This easy, family-friendly hike follows a flat, 1and a half-mile round-trip trail and beach through coastal wetlands to a wildlife viewing platform overlooking Grays Harbor. Along the way, we’ll share the unique natural and cultural history of Bottle Beach.
Participants can expect to see a variety of wintering waterfowl and maybe even some early shorebirds. Binoculars and cameras are encouraged!
Parks host hikes, snowshoe excursions, bike rides and more on New Year's Day!
OLYMPIA – Dec. 6, 2021 - Washington State Parks invites the public to take a First Day Hike on Jan. 1, 2022.
At least 42 state parks have scheduled staff-led hikes, self-guided hikes, dog strolls, cross-country ski trips and more for New Year's Day.
First Day Guided Snowshoe Hike
This hike will be led by a Park Ranger, who will guide participants along the Wenatchee River, up to our North Beach for views across Lake Wenatchee, and then through our Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir forest, finally ending back at the North Reservation Booth for hot cocoa and light snacks! Along the way, our hike leaders will point out various historical aspects of our park, highlight notable stories and discuss some fun facts! One particular stop at our North Beach is a favorite, where participants tend to take a snack break, and we gather together for a fun group photo opportunity. Snowshoes are available to rent in limited youth and adult sizes. Please contact the park ahead of time to reserve a pair if needed.
This hike will be led by a Park Ranger, who will guide participants along the Wenatchee River, up to our North Beach for views across Lake Wenatchee, and then through our Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir forest, finally ending back at the North Reservation Booth for hot cocoa and light snacks! Along the way, our hike leaders will point out various historical aspects of our park, highlight notable stories and discuss some fun facts! One particular stop at our North Beach is a favorite, where participants tend to take a snack break, and we gather together for a fun group photo opportunity. Snowshoes are available to rent in limited youth and adult sizes. Please contact the park ahead of time to reserve a pair if needed.
Take a turn along the interpretive Little Bear Loop Trail through ponderosa pine forest and learn about the park’s unique position on the convergence of four ecological zones ranging from mountains to desert plateau.
Lyons Ferry History Hike
Join Ranger Patti, Ranger Mary, and a local history expert to walk through history at Lyons Ferry State Park! Along the hike, visitors will learn about the historic ferry that brought people across the Snake River for more than a century, the soaring Joso Railroad Trestle Bridge, and the wildlife that calls Lyons Ferry Home. End with smores and hot beverages!
Join Ranger Patti, Ranger Mary, and a local history expert to walk through history at Lyons Ferry State Park! Along the hike, visitors will learn about the historic ferry that brought people across the Snake River for more than a century, the soaring Joso Railroad Trestle Bridge, and the wildlife that calls Lyons Ferry Home. End with smores and hot beverages!
Hike Options
1.5 Lake Trail – Open to all ages
Meet at the Legacy Pavilion at 11 am. The hike will begin there and will go around the lake, 1.5 miles. The trail can be slippery and muddy, so rain/mud boots are heavily recommended.
.5 Mile Kids Hike
Our kids hike begins at the legacy pavilion. The group will be led by staff over the bridge and up through group camp and back toward the dam and back to the legacy pavilion. Along the way plant species and little critters will be discussed.
1.5 Lake Trail – Open to all ages
Meet at the Legacy Pavilion at 11 am. The hike will begin there and will go around the lake, 1.5 miles. The trail can be slippery and muddy, so rain/mud boots are heavily recommended.
.5 Mile Kids Hike
Our kids hike begins at the legacy pavilion. The group will be led by staff over the bridge and up through group camp and back toward the dam and back to the legacy pavilion. Along the way plant species and little critters will be discussed.
Coulee Corridor First Day Hike
A short, guided hike led by Interpretive Specialists David McWalter and Sarah Overby. This walk near the waters of Banks Lake will focus on highlighting the complex natural history and beauty of the land, the perfect walk to reflect on how the land has changed and the year gone by.
Meet at Cabin #1 in the Bay loop of Steamboat Rock State Park. Cabin #1 will be open and available to sit inside and warm up with a delicious drink and snack.
A short, guided hike led by Interpretive Specialists David McWalter and Sarah Overby. This walk near the waters of Banks Lake will focus on highlighting the complex natural history and beauty of the land, the perfect walk to reflect on how the land has changed and the year gone by.
Meet at Cabin #1 in the Bay loop of Steamboat Rock State Park. Cabin #1 will be open and available to sit inside and warm up with a delicious drink and snack.