America’s State Parks reports that more than 22,000 people celebrated the New Year by hiking in a state park on New Years Day, up nearly 60 percent from last year.


For the second straight year, all 50 states hosted Americas State Parks First Day Hikes, offering 721 hikes across the country. As a nation, 22,022 First Day Hikers logged a total of 43,911 miles on Jan. 1, 2013 in hikes that ranged from 1 mile to 9 miles round-trip.


The annual event, sponsored by the 50 state park systems throughout the nation, highlights our state parks as providing year round recreation and promoting healthy lifestyles.
 
We are thrilled that so many people across the nation started 2013 in one of Americas State Parks by joining us for a First Day Hike, said Priscilla Geigis, President of the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) and Director of Massachusetts State Parks. Our state parks are places to get naturally healthy through physical exercise and connecting with nature close to home. We hope this experience inspires everyone to continue to enjoy these valued resources throughout the year.


We have so many incredible places to explore right in our own backyards, added Dr. Phil McKnelly, NASPDs Executive Director. Every season is the best season to be in a state park and First Day Hikes are the perfect opportunity to burn off some of those holiday calories with a brisk hike.
 
Hikers across the nation, some veterans and some visiting a state park for the first time, shared enthusiastic comments with their guides. We would never have been to this park if it werent for this hike. We plan to return! said one man who was with his family and among 247 hikers at Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. The park hosted 12 hikes including one which began at 11 p.m. on December 31st and ended in the New Year. Leslie Patton, who hiked the South Rim Trail at Roxborough State Park in Colorado said, Wow, what a beautiful way to begin the New Year! Others across the country remarked, This is great! and said they looked forward to making these hikes an annual tradition.
 
The majority of hikes were moderate, attracting a wide audience including kids (and babies in backpacks), adults and some dogs. However, some locations offered more strenuous options for people looking to get their hearts pumping in the New Year! Red Rock Canyon in California hosted the longest hike at 9 miles round-trip.


At Golden Gate Canyon State Park in Colorado, with the thermostat registering 5 degrees Fahrenheit, six brave souls donned snowshoes for a one mile hike through a beautiful stand of aspen.


At Alaskas Independence Mine State Park, hikers strapped on skis and joined Ranger Amy OConnor as they toured a trail that led to a historic mine and learned about what life was like when the mine was operational.
 
Over 500 early risers walked the scenic Makapuu lighthouse trail at the Ka Iwi State Scenic Shoreline, in Oahu, Hawaii to see the first sunrise of the New Year, ushered in by a Hawaiian chant and taiko drums.


Ludington State Park in Michigan hosted a lantern lit snowshoe hike while visitors saw ruins of a fort at Churchill State Park in Maryland. Abeliene State Park in Texas added a self-guided scavenger hunt to their hike. And showing nature has no borders, North Carolina and South Carolina State Parks co-sponsored a hike at Kings Mountain State Park.


In addition to getting exercise, enjoying natural and cultural features and viewing wildlife, hikers learned about the history of their parks and the integral role of the Civilian Conservation Corps in creating national and state parks. In South Dakota, visitors heard about Lewis and Clarks experience at Spirit Mound Historical Prairie.
 
Tennessee and Virginia State Parks hosted a First Day Hike in all of their state parks and Virginia boasted the highest attendance for a First Day Hike with a record 1900 at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.
 
First Day Hikes originated at Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, Massachusetts in 1992. In the past, several states offered special programs on New Years Day. However, Jan. 1, 2012 marked the first time all 50 state park systems joined together to offer Americas State Parks First Day Hikes. In the inaugural year, 400 state parks hosted 14,000 First Day Hikers so this year represents a significant increase in hike locations and participation.