First Day Hikes Start the Year Off Right!

Got plans for New Year’s Day?

Here’s an idea.  Kill your TV, roll off the sofa, walk past the snacks and trash from New Year’s Eve and take a hike.

All across America, state parks are inviting folks to celebrate nature and the New Year with a “First Day Hike.”

In Georgia, more than 40 state parks will have ranger-led hikes to inspire us to kick off 2014 with a commitment to healthy living.

From easy family-friendly strolls to more challenging treks, Georgia’s State Parks offer many choices for “First Day Hikes.”  Some focus on history, such as walks through Civil War camps or to ancient Indian mounds.  Others highlight geologic wonders, such as Tallulah Gorge or Providence Canyon.

Seminole State Park is including a fitness challenge and Fort Mountain State Park will even end its hike with a “black bear plunge” into a cold mountain lake.

Georgia State Parks Director Becky Kelley says, “Joining this movement to start the New Year with a healthy hike is a great way to connect with nature, as well as your friends and family.  Being outdoors and walking is good for soul, as well as your heart.”

The nationwide “First Day Hikes” program is sponsored by America’s State Parks.

For a list of more than 40 hikes in Georgia, click here.

For a map showing park locations in Georgia, click here.

To celebrate a peaceful New Year’s Eve in nature, reserve one of Georgia State Parks’ cozy cabins, heated yurts, lodge rooms, or modern campsites with hot showers.  For reservations, call 1-800-864-7275 or book online here: GeorgiaStateParks.org/reservations.