First Day Hikes In MD: Find A State Park To Visit On Jan. 1, 2024

MARYLAND — Shake off your Christmas cookies and hit the trails New Year's Day as part of the nationwide initiative First Day Hike. Led by America's State Parks, all 50 states are encouraged to offer outdoor hiking opportunities on the first day of the new year.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has put together a list of where you can go Dec. 31, through Jan. 2.

“First Day Hikes are a great way to start the New Year off on the right foot…or boot,” said Maryland Park Service Director Angela Crenshaw. “Maryland State Parks are offering a variety of opportunities all over the state to get out and hike to celebrate the start to 2024. Bring some water, a snack, and hike in the New Year on your public lands. I look forward to seeing you on the trail!”

For 2024, Maryland State Parks will offer more than 60 hikes across 40 state parks. There are two types of hikes available:

• Ranger-led hikes: These hikes will be led by a Park Ranger, have specific start times and many require pre-registration.
• Self-guided hikes: These hikes will be available throughout the weekend, on well marked trails. Park staff and volunteers may be available to get you started but will not be joining you on the hike itself.

Participants are asked to fill out this form to let DNR staff know about their hike and how many miles they covered.

Here are parks taking part in the First Day Hikes:

• Assateague State Park
• Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park
• Bohemia River State Park
• Calvert Cliffs State Park
• Cedarville State Forest
• Cunningham Falls State Park
• Cypress Branch State Park
• Dans Mountain State Park
• Deep Creek Lake State Park
• Elk Neck State Park
• Fair Hill NRMA
• Fort Frederick State Park
• Fort frederick & Sideling Hill Creek Complex
• Gathland State Park
• Greenbrier State Park
• Greenwell State Park
• Gunpowder Falls State Park
• Gunpowder Falls State Park (Harford County)
• Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park
• Herrington Manor State Park
• Janes Island State Park
• Martinak State Park
• Merkle NRMA
• New Germany State Park
• North Point State Park
• Palmer State Park
• Patuxent River State Park
• Patuxent River State Park (Montgomery County)
• Patapsco Valley State Park (Carroll County)
• Patapsco Valley State Park
• Pokomoke River State Park
• Rocks State Park
• Rocky Gap State Park
• Rosaryville State Park
• Sandy Point State Park
• Sassafrass NRMA
• Seneca Creek State Park
• Sideling Hill Creek State Park
• Smallwood State Park
• South Mountain State Battlefield
• South Mountain State Battlefield (Washington County)
• St. Mary's River State Park
• Susquehanna State Park
• Swallow Falls State Park
• Tuckahoe State Park (Caroline County)
• Tuckahoe State Park (Queen Anne's County)
• Washington Monument State Park
• Woodmont NRMA

First Day Hike “I Hiked” stickers will be available at select locations while supplies last.

The DNR said residents are welcome to take a First Day Hike on any trail or at any state park during this weekend event, if you would prefer.