There is no excuse for staying indoors this New Year’s Day.
Nearly 40 Washington State Parks will be participating in the First Day Hikes, an event to help celebrate the first free day at the state parks this year. This is an opportunity to spend Jan. 1 hiking and enjoying the state parks system for free.
A Discover Pass will not be required, although other fees may apply for some activities, such as Sno-Park passes. This is the first of 12 free days at Washington State Parks this year, with the next free day scheduled for Jan. 21.
First Day hikers will be joined by knowledgeable parks staff members to help with interpretation and answer questions. There will be discussions of the history of the parks and surrounding area, as well as talks covering local flora, fauna, and more.
“The First Day Hikes are done in conjunction with our free days,” said Toni Droscher, the communications manager for the Washington State Parks. “It’s a good way for people to try out one of our state parks, and a good way to get people reinvigorated about getting back into our parks.”
There are three First Day Hikes not too far from the Vancouver area that residents should consider, ranging from old growth forest walks to coastal hikes, and a hike through the scenic Columbia River Gorge.
Presented here are a few options. If getting out for a healthy winter walk is something that appeals to you, you might want to plan on attending one of these hikes.
If hiking is not your thing, there are plenty of other activities available at parks all over the state this New Years Day.
Cape Disappointment
Situated where the Columbia meets the Pacific Ocean, this park encompasses a mix of beaches, old growth forests and saltwater and freshwater marshes. The area is steeped in the history of the Lewis and Clark expedition and is home to the North Head Lighthouse, where the hike will take place.
It will be a very easy one-mile hike along the Lighthouse Keepers Loop Trail with excellent views of the ocean, the lighthouse, and the historical residence grounds. It will start at 10 a.m.
Interpretive specialist and historian Steven Woody will lead the hike.
“I will be talking about the history and restoration of the lighthouse, and the military history,” said Woody. “People will be able to get a better sense of what it used to be like here once upon a time.”
Lewis and Clark
How about spending New Year’s Day hiking under towering old growth forests in Lewis and Clark State Park, located 15 miles south of Chehalis? This is a family-friendly trail that meanders through mossy, lush undergrowth below sky-scraping trees.
After the hike you can enjoy refreshments and a warm fire at the depression-era historical kitchen, built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Interpretive specialist Alysa Adams will lead the talk and give a presentation about the history and the forests in the park.
“This will be my third time doing this,” said Adams. “And, of course, it’s a lot of fun. I’ll be talking about the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps.”
“This is one of the few old growth forests left in this part of the state,” added Adams.
The hike will begin at 10 a.m.
Beacon Rock
You can help celebrate the centennial of the Beacon Rock Trail this New Year’s Day by joining a First Day hike at Beacon Rock State Park in the Columbia River Gorge. This will be a hike of about 2 miles, followed by a trip to the Doetsch day use area for a campfire, hot dogs, hot cocoa and marshmallows.
The hike will begin at 10 a.m.
“It will be a ranger-led hike and they will give a history of the area and the park, and the trail itself,” said Heath Yeats, the manager of the park. The trail was built in 1918.
“It’s an easy to moderate hike that climbs about 800 feet, and there are some amazing views,” added Yeats.
Anyone planning to attend these hikes should be sure to dress for typical cold and windy January weather, and rain is always a possibility.
For more information, check the Washington State Parks website’s events calendar.
Beyond the hikes there are some other options for enjoying a free day at local state parks. Listed here are just a couple.
Battle Ground Lake
While no organized hikes are scheduled, the lake has been well stocked with rainbow trout this fall, and the fishing has been very good. There are still a few of the big trout available that were stocked into the lake on Black Friday, and there were 100 trophy sized brooder rainbow trout stocked into the lake on Dec. 12. Other trout have been stocked there recently as well.
Anglers have also been catching hold-over rainbows from last spring’s stockings.
Paradise Point
This is a public recreation area on the East Fork Lewis River in Clark County. The park’s 101 acres include 6,180 feet of shoreline, beach access, and hiking trails along riparian corridors. No organized hikes are scheduled.
