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

VIRGINIA — Shake off your Christmas cookies and hit Virginia's 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 Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has put together a list of 42 Virginia State Parks to visit on Jan. 1.

"Taking a hike to inspire those New Year resolutions centered on getting or keeping fit is the perfect family-friendly activity," the agency said. "First Day Hikes is an initiative of America's State Parks, and hikes are offered in state parks across the country. We have many hikes and opportunities to choose from, or you can visit a park of your choosing and create your own special First Day Hike. It's the perfect time to start your Trail Quest."

For 2024, Virginia State Parks will offer more than 60 hikes across 42 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. There are 60 planned in the state between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
• Self-guided hikes: These hikes will be available throughout the weekend, on marked trails. Park staff and volunteers may be available to get you started but will not be joining you on the hike itself.

For more information and reservations, call 800-933-7275.

Here are parks taking part in the First Day Hikes:

• Bear Creek Lake (BC)
• Belle Isle (BI)
• Breaks Interstate (BK)
• Caledon (CA)
• Chippokes(CP)
• Claytor Lake (CL)
• Clinch River (CR)
• Douthat (DO)
• Fairy Stone (FS)
• False Cape (FC)
• First Landing (FL)
• Grayson Highlands (GH)
• High Bridge Trail (HB)
• Holliday Lake (HL)
• Hungry Mother (HM)
• James River (JR)
• Kiptopeke (KP)
• Lake Anna (LA)
• Leesylvania (LE)
• Machicomoco (MA)
• Mason Neck (MN)
• Natural Bridge (NB)
• Natural Tunnel (NT)
• New River Trail (NR)
• Occoneechee (OC)
• Pocahontas (PO)
• Powhatan (PW)
• Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historic (SC)
• Seven Bends (SE)
• Shenandoah River (SH)
• Shot Tower (ST)
• Sky Meadows (SK)
• Smith Mountain Lake (SM)
• Southwest Virginia Museum Historical (SW)
• Staunton River (SR)
• Staunton River Battlefield (SB)
• Sweet Run (SN)
• Twin Lakes (TL)
• Westmoreland (WE)
• Widewater (WW)
• Wilderness Road (WR)
• York River (YR)

Visitors will receive a commemorative sticker while supplies last. Please be safe on your adventure and enjoy free parking*.