First Day Hikes – 9 a.m. (one short and one long) Start off the new year with a hike in your favorite state park. Fort Macon State Park will be offering four ranger-led hikes this year, two at 9 a.m. and two at 2 p.m. The shorter hike at 9 a.m. will offer a short […]
Bring your thermos, a warm snack, and a journal as we celebrate the New Year by getting outside and experiencing nature with this guided hike up to Hanging Rock. At the top there will be a journaling experience for you be intentional about what goals you have for the coming year. Dress warm with appropriate […]
Join us for a guided 1.8-mile hike along the fox trail. A ranger will navigate, while sharing inspired insight as we start the new year off with a stroll through the woods. We will meet at the Picnic Shelter located at the Mayo Mountain Access. We will have a fire, ready for you to warm […]
Come join a park Ranger on a scavenger hunt at Ebenezer Church Recreation Area to kick off the New Year! The hike consists of locating various park animal silhouettes throughout the trail. Learn about animals of Jordan Lake and their special adaptations. Wed, Jan 1 2025, 9 - 11am Ebenezer Church Recreation Area 2582 Beaver Creek Rd Apex, […]
Meet a ranger at the Boone Fork Parking Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway (mile marker 299.9) to grab a scavenger hunt to complete on Nuwati Trail for your First Day Hike! The hike is approximately 2.4 miles round trip, so make sure to dress warmly, wear appropriate footwear, and bring snacks and water for […]
Join Park Staff for a 2025 First Day Hike to the Upper Bearwallow Falls Overlook. Please be prepared for a moderate, 30 minute hike, with proper footwear and water. We will be meeting at the Upper Bearwallow Picnic Shelter. Wed, Jan 1 2025, 10 - 10:30am Gorges State Park – Grassy Ridge Access 976 Grassy Ridge Road […]
Kick the year off right by joining Ranger Austin for a fun and informative hike to the ridge. We will discuss all things Jockey's Ridge. Let us embrace 2025 by setting the pace for a year filled with adventure and physical activity. All are welcome. Bring your family and friends. Wed, Jan 1 2025, 10 - 10:45am
What a better way to ring in the New Year than by taking a hike with a Ranger? Meet at the swim beach parking lot for a 1 to 1.5-mile hike. Participants will get a First Day Hike sticker following the hike! No registration needed. Bring water and dress for the weather. Closed-toed shoes are […]
Start 2025 with a guided hike around a Carolina bay lake. Learn about the flora and fauna of this unique environment while we hike an easy 1 mile. Meet at the visitor center. Wed, Jan 1 2025, 10 - 11am Jones Lake State Park – Visitor Center 4117 NC Highway 242 N. Elizabethtown, NC 28337
Join us at the Iron Ore Belt Access of Haw River State Park for a leisurely walk with a North Carolina State Parks Education Specialist as part of the First Day Hike initiative. Learn all about animal winter adaptations on this route, approximately 2 miles in length along even, natural terrain. Please dress for the […]
Come out to Morrow Mountain State Park on New Year’s Day to get your wellness goals started off on the right foot. Join a park ranger for a guided hike on the 3.3-mile moderate to strenuous Sugarloaf Mountain trail. Sugarloaf’s 850-foot summit is a fitting destination with expansive views stretching across the Uwharrie Mountains, Lake […]
Join a Park Ranger to hike the Sugarloaf Trail at the Marina for a two mile round trip hike to Sugarloaf Dune. Lace up your shoes, bring water and start your new year off right. Hike will begin at 10:00am. Start with the group and stay with the group or find your own path! Wed, […]