Kick off the New Year with some fresh air by joining in on one of the many First Day Hikes in state parks across the country. Most are interpretive and introduce visitors to wildlife, trees and geology. Many people, especially those in northern states, have never visited state parks in winter, so a First Day Hike can be a new experience in a familiar place. While there aren’t any hikes for Central Ohio listed on the America’s State Parks page, there are several scheduled near Dayton and Cincinnati, and several others on the Ohio State Parks website.
Local First Day Hikes near Columbus on January 1, 2019
Dress for the weather!
Blendon Woods: New Year’s Day Bird Hike – Begin your new year bird list while walking 2 miles on our trails. 8 am
Deer Haven Park: New Years Day Hike – Hike through woods and prairies of Deer Haven Park and Havener Park. Afterward, warm up with a hot beverage & cookies by the fireplace in the visitor center. All ages. 10 am
Blacklick Woods: Winter Bird Walk – Take a 2 mile walk to search the trails for winter birds. 10 am
Clear Creek: New Year’s Day Hike – Start the New Year off with a 3-mile hike on one of the parks most rugged trails and along the creek. 10 am
Take a little drive for these First Day Hikes
- Mohican State Park: First Day Hike – Join us for this continuous hike from Camp Area A through beautiful Lyons Falls, Pleasant Hill Dam, Mohican Covered Bridge, Hemlock Gorge Trail and back. Meet at the nature center, which is located at the park’s Class A campground, just south of Loudonville on State Route 3 in Ashland County. 10 am
- Hueston Woods State Park (SW of Dayton): First Day Hike – Hike our 3- mile loop trail thru a scenic forest and close to Acton Lake’s shore. We will learn about native flora and fauna along the way. Please wear appropriate footwear. Bring your vehicle; we will drive to the trailhead. 1 pm
- Shawnee State Park (south of Chillicothe): First Day Hike – Get the year off to a good start on a fun relaxing walk through an oak hickory forest with family and friends in the center of the largest state forest in Ohio along the 1 mile Lampblack Trail. Meet at the lodge lobby at 1pm. Light refreshments served afterwards in the cozy, cheerfully decorated timber-framed lodge.
- Lake Hope State Park (near Athens): First Full Moon Hike – Bring a flashlight and wear sturdy shoes. Meet at the Shelter House. 4:30 pm
Can’t make a hike on New Year’s Day? Find a hike that fits your schedule with the Winter Hike Series with the Columbus Metro Parks.
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