'First Day Hikes' New Year's Day at Virginia State Parks

Virginia State Parks are hosting First Day Hikes on Jan. 1 in participation with a national initiative to get people outdoors and into parks.

“There’s no better place to begin the year than in one of our 36 state parks,” said Virginia State Parks Director Joe Elton. “This is our third year participating in the First Day Hikes program, and it’s proven to be a popular and fun way for visitors to enjoy our parks with friends and family and to begin healthy habits of physical activity that we hope they will continue in the days to come.”

Self-led and ranger-led hikes and activities vary by park. For example, Lake Anna State Park near Fredericksburg will host two hikes -- "Let's Go Geocaching" and "Overlook Hike."

Mason Neck State Park in Lorton will hold three ranger-led hikes of varying difficulty to the park’s bird observation blinds.

See the complete list of First Day Hikes for park-by-park details.

In conjunction with First Day Hikes, Virginia State Parks will hold a photo contest. Prizes include stays in a lodge and a cabin, as well as annual passes. The contest runs Jan. 1 - 8, with the winners to be announced on Jan. 10, 2014.  Contest details are available online.

Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information about Virginia State Parks activities and amenities or to make a reservation for one of the more than 1,800 campsites or 300 climate-controlled cabins, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 800-933-7275 or visitwww.virginiastateparks.gov.

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