Free First Day Hikes in parks New Year’s Day

Many North Carolina State Parks, as well as other parks, are participating in First Day Hikes on January 1st, 2020. The hikes are led by park staff and vary in difficulty. 

Here are some choices in the Triangle. Please note that some require pre-registration and have a limited number of spots. 

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
919-362-0586
Wednesday, January 1st, 2020, 10 a.m.
280 State Park Road, Apex
Start Location:
New Hope Overlook Recreation Area (339 WH Jones Rd., New Hill NC 27562) Blue Loop Trail.

Start the first day of the year with a ranger walking in the woods. Come out and enjoy a beautiful hike with a ranger at New Hope Overlook. You will be hiking the Blue Loop Trail, which is 2.7 miles long. This is a challenging trail with several steep hills. Hikers will enjoy sweeping views of the lake, mature hardwood forests, groves of mountain laurel and much, much more. Plan to meet at the trailhead near the boat ramps at 10am.

Falls Lake State Recreation Area
919-676-1027
Wednesday, January 1, 2020- 1 p.m.
13304 Creedmoor Road, Wake Forest
Start Location:
Beaverdam Fox Trot Trail

Start the year out right by coming out and joining a park ranger for an easy hike on the Fox Trot Trail. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Wear appropriate clothes and shoes. Reservations are required…Please call the park office at 919-676-1027 to sign up.

First Day Hike at West Point on the Eno
5101 N. Roxboro Street, Durham
Wednesday, January 1st, 2020
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Free

Start 2020 off with visions of old and new Eno friends. Everyone is welcome. It is free and you can choose between a long or short hike. After the hikes they’ll serve hot chocolate and popcorn, and roast marshmallows at the Fews Ford picnic area.

First Day Hike at William B. Umstead State Park
8801 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh
Wednesday, January 1st, 2020
9 a.m.
Start location: Multi-use Parking Lot / Crabtree Side of Glenwwood Avenue
Free

Join Ranger Billy as we welcome the New Year in the best way possible, spending time in Nature. We will enjoy one of my favorite hikes where you will enjoy a lake side trail, the closest thing we have to a waterfall, the old quarry and one my secret spots below the quarry where the kids used to swim back in the day. This hike has some off trail components, but nothing too strenuous.

Call the park office at 919-571-4170 to register for the program. Space is limited.