As part of the First Day Hike Programs, which encourages people to spend time outdoors to exercise and connect with nature, families and friends can be led by knowledgeable state park staff and volunteers. Would-be hikers can choose from a variety of distances and rigorousness, while also soaking up the natural beauty of the American land.
First Day Hikes began more than 25 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Massachusetts. According to the National Association of State Park Directors, last year nearly 55,000 people rang in the New Year on the guided hikes, collectively hiking over 133,000 miles throughout the country. This New Year’s Day, hikers can take part in activities such as mountain- and hill-climbing, walks along lakes and beaches, exploration of trails through great forests, wildlife expeditions, bird-watching and much more, depending on their local state park.
“It’s our way of wishing health and happiness for the coming new year,” says Lewis Ledford, executive director of the National Association of State Park Directors. “Recent research is confirming the benefits of spending just 30 minutes a week in nature, and what better way to start a new healthy habit for 2020 than taking advantage of hikes being offered in state parks across the nation.
“Our hope is that this event will stimulate a passion for the outdoors and a desire to explore our local treasures throughout the entire year,” he concludes. According to Harvard, hiking is good for improving cardiovascular fitness, engaging the core muscles in the torso and honing balance skills.
In America, there are 8,565 state park areas, comprising of over 18.6 million acres, according to the National Association of State Park Directors. There are 14,672 trails over 52,603 miles in total length, which is more than twice around the Earth’s equator.
In 2018, 807,264,826 annual visitors visited the American state parks, with 66,769,502 staying overnight in lodges, cabins and campsites. The operating expenditure totals $2.636 billion.
State parks that Americans can visit on January 1, 2020, include:
Dead Horse Point State Park, UtahWaianapanapa State Park, HawaiiHunting Island State Park, South CarolinaEcola State Park, OregonPfeiffer Big Sur State Park, CaliforniaLetchworth State Park, New YorkCape Disappointment State Park, WashingtonNiagara Falls State Park, New YorkPalo Duro Canyon State Park, TexasEldorado Canyon State Park, ColoradoCape Henlopen State Park, DelawareBaxter State Park, MaineNatural Bridge State Park, Virginia
To find a local state park, visit the America’s State Park website.
