Kickstart the New Year: Explore Kansas State Parks with Guided Hikes!

For Immediate Release:
December 30, 2024

Contacts:
Laura Rose Clawson, Chief of Public Affairs
[email protected]

Kansas State Parks to Offer New Year’s Day Hikes

TOPEKA – Begin 2025 on the right track by participating in a First Day Hike at a Kansas State Park! These guided excursions, arranged each year by park staff, motivate individuals and families to welcome the New Year with outdoor adventures and a relationship with nature.

This year, over 1,000 hikes are scheduled to occur nationwide, including 24 First Day Hike events presented by Kansas State Parks. While the difficulty and distance of the hikes will differ, each one is designed to provide an enjoyable experience for everyone. Appreciate the splendor of our state parks’ natural, cultural, and historical features, and be motivated to keep enjoying these local gems throughout 2025.

“This represents our 14th year of providing First Day Hikes in Kansas State Parks, and we’re excited to uphold the tradition,” stated Linda Lanterman, director of Kansas State Parks. “These events offer a pleasurable, healthful way to commence the New Year, overcome cabin fever, and discover some of the most stunning sites in our state.”

Where to Participate
For a comprehensive list of First Day Hike events in Kansas on Jan. 1, 2025, please visit ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Special-Events/First-Day-Hikes.

What To Expect
Participants can select from a range of guided hikes that match their comfort level, such as picturesque strolls near lakes, discovering trails, and options ideal for wildlife observation. Pets are permitted but must remain on a leash. And if hiking doesn’t suit you, Kansas State Parks encourage you to engage in other enjoyable activities, from boating and fishing to horseback riding, or simply relish a calm moment from a park picnic table or bench.

What To Bring
Kansas State Park staff suggest the following items for a successful First Day Hike:

• Water
• Snacks
• Clothing suitable for the weather (hat, gloves, heavy coat, or raincoat)
• Hiking shoes
• Binoculars
• Hiking stick
• Camera

Limited First Day Hike t-shirts will be accessible on a first-come, first-served basis. A vehicle permit is required at all state park entry points; a daily vehicle permit can be acquired for $5 at each park.

First Day Hikes began at the Blue Hills Reservation State Park in Massachusetts in 1992. The initiative has since broadened nationwide, with nearly all 50 states now taking part.

For further details on First Day Hikes throughout the country, visit stateparks.org/special-programs/first-day-hikes. And don’t forget to share your First Day Hike experiences on social media with #FirstDayHikes and #MyKSStatePark.

Click HERE to locate a Kansas State Park closest to you.

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