First Day Hikes 2026 In FL: Visit A State Park Jan. 1

Work off the holiday sweets and hit Florida's trails New Year's Day as part of the nationwide First Day Hike initiative.

Florida State Parks has put together a list of where you can go on Jan. 1 — there are 175 state parks across the state.

First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks that encourages all 50 states to offer outdoor hiking opportunities on the first day of the new year.

Some state parks offer ranger-guided hikes. But anyone can participate in their own First Day Hike, whether on your own or with family and friends.

For more information, contact the Statewide Information Line at (850) 245-2157 or send an email to: FSP.Feedback@FloridaDEP.gov.

Check out the events below to find an event near you, or go your own way.

Find an Event Near You

Northwest Florida and the Panhandle

• First Day Hike, Camp Helen State Park, Bay County.
• First Day Hike, Blackwater River State Park, Okaloosa County.
• First Day Hike, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, Clay County.
• First Day Hike, Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, Holmes County.
• First Day Hike, St. Andrews State Park, Bay County.
• First Day Hike, Tarklin Bayou Reserve State Park, Escambia County.
• First Day Hike, T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Gulf County.

North Central Florida

• First Day Hike, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Citrus County.
• First Day Hike, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, Alachua County.
• First Day Hike, Suwannee River State Park, Suwannee County.

Central Florida

• First Day Dunk, De Leon Springs State Park, Volusia County.
• First Day Hike, Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach, Flagler County.
• First Day Hike, Sebastian Inlet State Park, Indian River County.
• First Day Hike, Silver Springs State Park, Marion County.
• First Day Hike, Tomoka State Park, Volusia County.

Southwest Florida

• First Day Hike, Caladesi Island State Park, Pinellas County.
• First Day Hike, Collier-Seminole State Park, Collier County.
• First Day Hike, Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, Sumpter County.
• First Day Hike, Estero Bay Preserve State Park, Lee County.
• First Day Hike, Myakka River State Park, Sarasota County.
• First Day Hike, Oscar Scherer State Park, Sarasota County.

South Florida

• First Day Hike, Curry Hammock State Park Nature Trail, Monroe County.
• First Day Hike, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Monroe County.
• First Day Hike, Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, Broward County.
• First Day Hike, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, Palm Beach County.
• First Day Hike, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Monroe County.
• First Day Hike, Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, St. Lucie County.
• First Day Hike, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Monroe County.
• First Day Hike, Long Key State Park, Monroe County.
• First Day Hike, Oleta River State Park, Miami-Dade County.
• First Day Hike, Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, Monroe County