Whether you want to undo some of the caloric damage of the holidays, make headway toward getting healthy or being healthier through exercise, or are looking for a great family tradition to ring in the New Year, the Virginia State Park's New Year Challenge is a way to add a competitive twist and possibly win some prizes?

So many adventures to choose from

What is the New Year Challenge?

It's our way of promoting participating in our First Day Hikes by offering prizes to folks who resolve or pledge to come out to a Virginia State Park on January 1 and then follow through on that commitment.

Just 4 Easy Steps

Yes, only four steps and three of them you can do from the comfort of your home. 

• Step One: Pick a park and guided program or just decide to some out to the park to do your own First Day Hike. We use the "hike" term loosely and include biking, horseback riding, walking or exploring the park. You can find a complete list of the scheduled guided hikes here.
• Step Two: Sign up for the New Year's Challenge. Follow this link. Be sure to remember how you enter your first and last name, which email address you use, and your zip code. We don't bother with log ins and passwords because we just rely on you entering that information again to confirm your participation.
• Step Three: Okay so this is the part where you have to leave your house. On January 1, come out to one of our Virginia State Parks and participate in one of our guided hikes or create your own adventure. Bring your family or friends or use the time to escape the hustle and bustle and spend some "me" time. Your choice. 
• Step Four: After you participate in your First Day Hike, on your phone or computer log back into the same website and verify that you participated. How can it be the same website? Well, up until midnight on Dec. 31 the website is set up for folks to sign up for the challenge and starting Jan. 1 it is set up for the confirmations. 

Please remember that the object of this Challenge is to sign up prior to January 1 so you can't wake up on Jan. 1 and decide to sign up for the Challenge. You have to plan at least the day before - that is what makes it a challenge. Encourage friends and family, even those that don't live near you, to participate. While it would be fun if they can join you on your First Day Hike adventure but if they won't work geographically, challenge each other to participate at a park close to home. 

We take a broad view of what HIKE means

Yes, there are prizes

After Jan. 1, we will pull the list of all of the participants who signed up for and completed the Challenge and randomly draw for the following prizes:

Winners will be announced by Jan. 6 at 3 p.m.

While you are enjoying your First Day Hike adventure, don't forget about our First Day Hikes Photo Contest.