Go take a hike! No, really. You can start the new year on the right foot (literally) with guided hikes at many state parks and forests throughout Pennsylvania, including several in the Pennsylvania Wilds.
If you’re looking to start a new tradition or maybe kickstart your New Year’s Resolution to get outdoors more often, a First Day Hike is a perfect option. These free hikes are guided by staff and volunteers from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and they’re typically anywhere from 1 to 3.5 miles long.
Throughout our 13-county PA Wilds region, Bald Eagle, Black Moshannon, Chapman, Cook Forest, Hills Creek, Kinzua Bridge, Lyman Run, Parker Dam and Sinnemahoning State Parks will all have hikes on January 1. Tiadaghton State Forest (Pine Creek Rail Trail) and Susquehannock State Forest will also offer a guided hike.
The following state park is situated in the Allegheny National Forest and Surrounds landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds, flanking the Commonwealth’s only national forest.
Join park staff for our first day hike! Hikers will meet at Parking Lot #1 and hike around the lake. There is an opportunity to see many forms of wildlife and some beautiful park features. For more info, click here.
Start the New Year healthy! Visit the park for a First Day Hike on the General Kane Trail! The trail is an approximate 1.5 mile easy rated trail. Dress in layers for the weather and wear appropriate shoes/boots. Part of the trail is open to hunting, so please wear an orange vest and hat. Meet in the Overflow Parking Lot. In case of inclement weather, call the park office for cancellation information at: (814) 778-5467. For more info, click here.
The following state park is situated in the Cook Forest and the Ancients landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds, an area known for its old growth forest cathedral.
Join the Friends of Cook Forest at the River Cabins parking lot by the new River Pavilion. Come explore the old growth forest along Cook Trail with this 90 minute interpretive hike. We’ll review some of the characteristics of old growth forest and discuss the history of this section of the park. People/pet friendly leashed pets welcome. For more info, click here.
The following state parks are situated in the Dark Skies landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds, where visitors can view the stars within an internationally-certified dark sky.
Get out on the first day of the year! Join our knowledgeable long-time park volunteers and explore the Spurline and Rock Run Trails. It’s great opportunity to get outside in the colder months to see the winter beauty of Lyman Run. Note that the Rock Run trail can be steep in places, and has basketball sized rocks. Hiking poles and boot traction devices encouraged for stability. Be prepared with water-resistant hiking boots, traction devices, hiking poles/sticks, and water. A limited number of boot traction devices may be available to borrow. Meet at: Parking Lot near Lower Campground, https://bit.ly/LymanLowerParking. This hike is brought to you by the Friends of Lyman Run State Park. For more info, click here.
Start the New Year on the right foot with an easy 2.5-mile guided hike on fairly level trails. Learn the importance of conifer trees to wildlife as we scout for tracks and traces of the animals that live in the park. Hike will be held rain or shine. A limited number of snowshoes available if needed. Dress for the weather and bring water. Good for all ages. Well-behaved dogs on short leashes are welcome. No pre-registration required. Meet at Pavilion 1 in the 40 Maples Day Use Area. For more info, click here.
Join Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of Forestry educators and foresters on the first day of the New Year for an educational hike. This easy 3.0 mile round trip hike on fairly level trails will take place on our interpretive Commissioner Run Trail in the Susquehannock State Forest. Learn the importance of forest health and management and how that relates to wildlife habitat and water quality while we explore. Hike will be held rain or shine. Dress for the weather (layers recommended) and bring water. Well-behaved dogs on short leashes are welcome. Pre-registration required. Email Cody Whipple at cwhipple@pa.gov to pre-register. Meet at Commissioner Run trailhead parking at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum – 5660 Us Route 6 W, Ulysses, PA 16948. For more info, click here.
The following state park is situated in the Elk Country landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds, where visitors can find the largest wild elk herd in the northeast.
Join us for our annual First Day Hike at Parker Dam State Park. This year we will be hiking the Logslide to Stumpfield Loop – about 1.5 miles. Bring water and snacks. Dress for the weather. Leashed pets welcome. For more info, click here.
The following state parks are situated in the I-80 Frontier landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds, which spans the entire southern width of the region.
Start the year off right with a First Day Hike at Bald Eagle State Park! The park naturalist will be leading a 1.5-mile, leisurely walk on easy terrain (mostly park roads) to celebrate the new year. We will make frequent stops to observe signs of wildlife and the beautiful winter scenery. Please dress for the weather and be prepared to walk on ice and snow as some areas may not be plowed/salted. For more info, click here.
First Bird Hike – Join the park naturalist for the first bird walk of the year! After checking our park feeders, we will be taking a short walk to the Marina to look for winter birds. Birders of all experience levels are welcome. Some binoculars will be available for loan on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more info, click here.
Bog Treasure Hike – 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., again 11 a.m. to noon – Take a stroll on the boardwalk to see the unique plants and animals that call the bog home. The hike will be approximately 1/2 mile long on a wooden boardwalk. If there is no snow/ice, the trail is ADA accessible and stroller friendly. Please email blackmoshannonee@pa.gov or call the park office at 814-342-5960, if you need updated conditions before coming out for the hike. For more info, click here.
Lake Loop – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Take a hike on the Lake Loop Trail to see a beaver lodge up close and look for signs of wildlife. This trail is one mile long and is mostly flat with roots and rocks on it. It is not stroller-friendly. Meet at the Environmental Learning Center. For more info, click here.
The following state parks/forests are situated in the Pine Creek Valley and PA Grand Canyon landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds, home of the Pine Creek Rail Trail.
Start out on the right foot in 2024 with a short hike, exploring nature in winter at Hills Creek. This slow-paced, family-oriented hike will be less than 1.5 miles in length. If conditions warrant, limited snowshoes will be available or you are encouraged to bring your own. Also, back this year, is the 5K Fun Run around the lake. It’s a no frills no cost run where you record your own time and have some fun challenging your friends to some healthy competition or just challenge yourself to healthy activity. Come early or stay late – the sledding hill is nearby or you can explore more trails or the plowed campground roads throughout the park. Part of the Winter Outing Series: More events all winter and updates at www.stepoutdoors.org. For more info, click here.
Start your New Year and 2024 off right with a moderate, 2-mile hike on the Pine Creek Rail Trail and through the Bonnell Flat Campground, all the while looking for wildlife signs along the way. Program may be cancelled due to severe weather. Check with the office or Facebook page to verify. Meet at the Ramsey Village Pine Creek Rail Trail Lot. Contact Vinny Curtis at vicurtis@pa.gov with any questions. For more info, click here.
Why not start new holiday traditions in 2023 by taking your family and friends on a family-friendly First Day Hike at one of these participating Pennsylvania state parks?
DCNR announced it will host nearly 60 guided hikes in 43 state parks and two forest districts on New Year’s Day, as part of the nationwide “First Day Hike” efforts. These guided hikes, all taking place on January 1, are designed to promote a healthy start in the new year while offering families an opportunity to forge new and stronger connections with the outdoors.
“First Day Hikes are always a great way to start the new year in natural spaces, and this year we are focusing on building connections to public lands,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “Whether it is learning about the wonderful programs we offer at our parks, finding a new recreational hobby, or learning about the history of Pennsylvania through public lands, we encourage Pennsylvanians and visitors to connect more in 2024.”
State parks staff and volunteers lead the hikes, which are usually about one or two miles, but can be longer depending on the park and its terrain.
First Day Hikes are organized by the National Association of State Park Directors to promote healthy lifestyles throughout the year and year-round recreation at state parks. All 50 states have cooperatively sponsored First Day Hikes since 2012. Each year more than 730 million people visit America’s State Parks and contribute billions of dollars to the U.S economy.
Image: Photo by Kalie Schmader
State parks are a “close to home” resource and an important part of our country’s fabric, enhancing our quality of life. Visit America’s State Parks website for more information on First Day Hikes nationally.
In addition to the guided hikes offered as a part of the national First Day Hikes, many Pennsylvania state parks also have self-guided hikes, story walks and adventure labs available year-round.
“Our state parks and forests are open for healthy outdoor adventures in all four seasons, and we are hopeful that people use First Day Hikes to explore what our public lands have to offer,” Dunn said. “Thank you to the DCNR staff and volunteers who make these hikes interactive and enjoyable for visitors, new and old alike.”
Hikers are invited to share their experience on social media using #FirstDayHikes. If you’re participating in a First Day Hike in the Pennsylvania Wilds, tag us too @thepawilds.
Additional details can be found on the DCNR Calendar website; click on Events, then select the “First Day Hikes” tab on the right.
Author: Britt Madera
Britt joined the PA Wilds team as communications manager in 2022, helping to tell the stories that make our region so unique, whether that is covering our beautiful landscapes, the innovative businesses, or the spunky people that call it home. She had worked the last 10 years in radio and news broadcasting, and now she’s continuing to connect media outlets with positive news stories. Britt oversees external communications, media relations, and paid and volunteer content on the blog. As someone who grew up in Clearfield County and moved back shortly after college, Britt is eager to share her passion for the PA Wilds and help our area grow and shine.