State parks’ First Day Hikes offer a great way to turn over a new leaf
Many ways there are to usher in the fresh start of 2021, but maybe one of the best is to get outdoors and move around — say, for example, go on a hike.
Annually, the nation’s state parks join in the effort as hospitable venues for that sort of activity with the First Day Hikes program.
Several local state parks are participating in this cause, including: Atlanta State Park in Texas, Beavers Bend State Park in Oklahoma and then Millwood State Park, Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area, Queen Wilhelmina State Park, Crater of Diamonds State Park and Daisy State Park in Arkansas.
According to America’s State Parks, almost 85,000 people started 2020 by putting their best feet forward with a First Day Hike, logging an average of two miles per person and burning the calorie equivalent of more than 41,000 fast-food burgers.
Meg Matthews, deputy chief of communications at the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, said First Day Hikes are a fine alternative to parking ourselves on the couch with a hangover.
“This year we are really counting on our visitors to take First Day Hikes into their own hands. We know they will be understanding because it is this year,” Matthews said, noting it’s a great way to kick off a change
in our lives.
“This way, you get out and you can go with your family or your friends and just having a wonderful time taking a hike at whatever speed you feel comfortable with,” she said. “We really want to emphasize that we have hundreds and hundreds of miles of trails because we have 52 state parks that are peppered throughout the state.”
Advanced hike? They have it. First hike of your life? They’re ready for you. “If you are parents with a very young child and you still need a stroller, we’ve got that, too,” Matthews said, noting ArkansasStateParks. com has a lists of trails, including ones nearby.
“Because of COVID, we really highly recommend that if you want to maintain social distancing that you try to avoid the more popular times of day to hike, which a lot of times probably would be, on New Year’s Day, maybe afternoon,” she said.
Also because of COVID, guided tours aren’t happening at the Arkansas parks this year. They hope to have guided hikes return as soon as possible, she said.
“This year, get out on your own, get that first day of 2021 in the books with a really really good feeling, that you’ve spent time with people who you want to be around outside enjoying nature, and it’s going to be a brand new year with hopefully all kinds of fun and wonderful things to do,” Matthews said.
Arkansas State Parks recommends that if people get on a trail and it’s crowded, maybe see it as an opportunity to explore a different trail, she said.
“Like at Pinnacle Mountain, climbing up the mountain is No. 1 the most popular, above all, but there’s the arboretum trail, which is paved. It’s sixtenths of a mile, and it’s really, really nice, especially like I say for those parents with kids who maybe still need a stroller … ” Matthews said.
At Arkansas State Parks, you can bring a dog but keep them on a leash.
“We are very, very dog friendly,” Matthews said, adding, “We really want to encourage people to hike at the skill level that is best for them.”
Consider whether you’ve hiked the trail or not, or if you’ve been exercising lately. You can also get sage advice from state park staff.
“You can always call and ask, and park staff would be more than happy to recommend a trail that they think would be best for you, your family and friends,” Matthews said.