Where to take a First Day Hike in Maryland to start 2024
BALTIMORE -- Taking a First Day Hike is an annual tradition and a fun, healthy way to welcome the New Year.
To ring in 2024, Marylanders can expand upon one day and celebrate the New Year with First Weekend hikes, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The First Weekend hike opportunities will happen across Maryland from December 31, 2023, to January 2, 2024.
First Day Hikes are part of a national initiative by America's State Parks that encourages all 50 states to offer outdoor hiking opportunities to kick off the New Year.
In Maryland, state parks will offer more than 60 hikes across 40 state parks.
According to DNR, there are two types of hikes: Ranger-led hikes which are accompanied by one or more Park Rangers, have specific start times, and usually need to be registered for in advance, and self-guided hikes which take place on well-marked trails with park staff and volunteers available.
Here is a list of some of the state parks and trails where the hikes will be offered:
- Rocky Gap State Park
- South Mountain Battlefield State Park
- Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail
- North Point State Park
- Patapsco Valley State Park
- Calvert Cliffs State Park
- Smallwood State Park
- Rosaryville State Park
- Tuckahoe State Park
- Janes Island State Park
- Assateague State Park
For more details, visit the DNR website here.