There’s a common item on many New Year’s resolution lists: Get outdoors.
It isn’t always written that way, of course. For some, it’s hitting a weight goal or taking up exercise. For others, it’s about rediscovering an old hobby or less screen time. Whatever the motivation, Missouri State Parks makes it easier for outdoors enthusiasts to ring in the New Year during First Day Hikes.
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“First Day Hikes serve as a welcome mat for the new year,” says Missouri State Parks Division information officer Tisha Holden.
Part of a program organized nationally by America’s State Parks, the guided hikes are intended to remove barriers to entry, such as visiting a new park for the first time or being intimidated by the prospect of hiking in the wintertime. “It reinforces the park system’s mission of preservation and recreation by showing that our state’s natural beauty is a year-round resource, not just a summer destination,” says Holden.
Indeed, one of the signature appeals of winter hiking is the unique perspective on local scenery. Without the cover of leaves, wildlife (particularly birds) and geologic formations are easier to see. Holden adds that the timing of the hikes is a great way to jumpstart New Year’s resolutions and start the year in a quiet, natural setting to reduce stress. “Starting the year with a hike isn’t just a tradition; it’s a reset for both the body and mind,” she says, adding that with organized hikes on public land, even a solo outing can become a shared experience for family, friends, neighbors, and new acquaintances alike.
The idea of kicking off the new year with an organized hike originated in Massachusetts’ Blue Hills Reservation in 1992. Missouri State Parks embraced the initiative two decades later, when First Day Hikes went nationwide.
This year, 29 of the Show-Me State’s state parks are scheduled to host at least one guided hike or walk on New Year’s Day. While the guided outings require preregistration through Missouri State Parks’ website, Holden says visitors are encouraged to choose their own adventure. “Our parks and historic sites are free to enter and hike,” Holden says. “Our hope is that people get outside and visit the parks, whether it’s through a First Day Hike or exploring on their own.”
First Day Hikes in Missouri State Parks
Many of Missouri’s state parks host First Day Hikes on January 1. Below are a list of parks hosting hikes in St. Louis and eastern Missouri. For a complete list of First Day Hikes across the state, visit mostateparks.com/FirstDayHikes.
- Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park (Wildwood): 10 a.m., Hawthorn Trailhead
- Cuivre River State Park (Troy): 10 a.m.—noon, Visitor Center
- First Missouri State Capitol State Historic State and Katy Trail State Park (St. Charles): 10 a.m.—noon, St. Charles Veterans Memorial
- Hawn State Park (Ste. Genevieve): 1—3 p.m., Spanish Land Grant trailhead
- Mastodon State Park (Sullivan): 10 a.m.—noon, museum parking lot and Spring Branch trailhead
- Meramec State Park (Sullivan): Noon—2:30 p.m., Visitor Center
- Missouri Mines State Historic Site (Park Hill): 9 a.m.—10:30 a.m., Office/gatehouse
- Onondoga Cave State Park (Bourbon): 10 a.m.—noon, Vilander Bluff Trail trailhead
- St. Francois State Park (Bonne Terre): 11 a.m. & 1–3:30 p.m., Swimming Deer Trailhead and Shelter 2, respectively
- St. Joe State Park (Park Hills): 1—3 p.m., Shelter 6
- Wakonda State Park (La Grange): 10:30 a.m.—11:45 a.m. & 2—3:30 p.m., Jasper Lake Trail and Agate Lake Trail trailheads, respectively
