Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

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First Day Hikes 2017

By Nancy HeltmanPosted December 02, 2016

 

Join the movement that gets larger every year and participate in our annual First Day Hikes. An initiative of America's State Parks, this year will be bigger and better than ever.

Mark your calendars for the biggest and best New Year's Challenge and First Day Hike Jan 1, 2017

Visit any of our 37 Virginia State Parks on January 1 and participate in one of our guided hikes and programs or create your own adventure. All of our parks are free to enter that day as a way to encourage everyone to start the New Year right. The hardest part may be deciding which park to visit and some of our past First Day Hike participants have visited more than one.

Oh, and we use the term "Hikes" but also count strolling, biking, horseback riding, rambling, wildlife viewing ...

For a complete list of scheduled hikes and programs for Jan. 1, 2017, click here.

After you decide WHERE you plan to visit to participate, be sure to participate in our two contests for a chance to win some great prizes.

New Year Challenge

We are switching the participating contest up this year and making it an individual challenge. However, it is certainly more fun to get a group together to participate in a First Day Hike. To participate in this contest, you need to "Resolve" or "Pledge" to participate using our online signup tool here. You must do this before midnight on Dec. 31 to participate in the contest. After you visit the park on Jan. 1, you will need to enter the fact that you completed the Challenge before midnight on Jan. 1. You go back to the same web page to register your participation. Prizes will be awarded based on a drawing of folks who complete the Challenge. It's not every year you can make and complete a New Year's Resolution on the first day of the year.

Grand Prize: $500 Virginia State Parks Overnight Stay Gift Certificate 

First Prize: Virginia State Parks Naturally Yours Passport (good for a year of parking/admission at all Virginia State Parks)

Second Prize: 10,000 Virginia State Parks Loyalty Points


Photo Contest

Take a photo on Jan. 1 at one of our Virginia State Parks and upload the photo to the contest site or the contest tab on our Facebook page before 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 1. You can enter up to 3 photos and must abide by the rules of the contest. 

Grand Prize: $500 Virginia State Parks Overnight Stay Gift Certificate 
Use of winner's Photo with Photo Credit for our February 2017 social media covers and eNewsletter photo

First Prize: $250 Virginia State Parks Overnight Stay Gift Certificate

Second Prize: $100 Virginia State Parks Overnight Stay Gift Certificate

Third Prize: Virginia State Parks Naturally Yours Passport (good for a year of parking/admission at all Virginia State Parks)

This year we will allow voting, commenting and sharing of the contest entries to add additional excitement. You can vote and/or comment once per entry every hour beginning 10 a.m. ET on Jan. 1 and ending 10 p.m. ET Jan. 2. Winners will be selected by our marketing staff and not the results of the voting but the votes may influence that decision. All decisions are final.

Questions? Email me. I only ask that you read the information before emailing.

CATEGORIES
Biking  |  Bird Watching  |  Get Outside  |  Hiking  |  Horseback Riding  |  Photography  |  Wildlife Viewing  |  Winter Activities
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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

COMMENTS

Virginia State Parks (January 02, 2017 07:06:55 PM): Kathryn - the park staff would have been happy to help you if you let us know your situation. We actually have wireless hot spots at numerous locations in the park you stayed at with fiber optic internet. The problem is the just the cell service.

Kathryn (January 02, 2017 06:37:12 PM): Participated but at park w/out connectivity :-(. Maybe next year extend to next day? Was great to get out and enjoy the fresh air, quiet at Douthat!

Virginia State Parks (January 02, 2017 03:18:18 PM): Scott - As the Marketing Director, I still value serendipity. So happy you stumbled on Natural Tunnel and had such a great experience.

Scott Zacherl (January 02, 2017 02:23:40 PM): My family and I stumbled across Natural Tunnel State Park on our way back to Ohio after vacationing in Florida. We decided to stop in and see what this park had to offer. We didn't realize that there was a "First Day Hike" tour being conducted at 1:30pm on Jan. 1st, but by pure coincidence and luck, we timed it perfectly. We had no idea what kind of gem this park was, but are so glad we took the time to encounter this little piece of Nature's Heaven. Our tour guide took us down to the natural tunnel and she was very informative. I would and will recommend this park to anyone that is interested in seeing the kind of natural beauty our state park systems have to offer. Thank you so much for making my family's brief detour a memorable one!

Steve (January 02, 2017 09:43:53 AM): The park ranger on the guided First Day Hike at York River State Park needed to check his math. The "3.5-mile round trip" was actually over 6 miles! It wouldn't have changed our decision to walk in the 150 hiker band, but it might have influenced some of the parents with little children. But kudos to the ranger who stopped several times to let us catch up to his fast pace and hear his interesting talks about the park and its history.

Virginia State Parks (January 01, 2017 11:43:27 PM): That's great Linda!

Linda (January 01, 2017 11:40:56 PM): First day hikes is great.We are going to do this every year!

Virginia State Parks (January 01, 2017 09:22:09 PM): Jerry - we are having a photo contest. You can enter them here http://vspfdh2017.hscampaigns.com/#enter-now.

Jerry Zachman (January 01, 2017 08:31:10 PM): Ranger Jet told me she counted 91 people at our First Day Hike. I have some pictures but I don't know how to get them into the e-mail so I'll have hard copies made. It was a beautiful day for a hike and there were a lot of smiles all around.

henry prater (January 01, 2017 06:42:40 PM): walked most of lake trail on hikin g day

Virginia State Parks (January 01, 2017 05:32:49 PM): #FirstDayHikes but if you are on Twitter, please include @vastateparks, on Instagram #vastateparks and tag our Facebook page. Don't forget the photo contest: http://vspfdh2017.hscampaigns.com/#enter-now/

Sherrie Dulany (January 01, 2017 05:21:23 PM): We did the hike at Grayson Highlands to see the wild ponies. It was SO awesome! Is there a hashtag to use on social media?

DK (January 01, 2017 02:28:00 PM): Great day today at First Landing State Park! Did the 10:00 am hike (in the rain and still fun) with three kids. Guided tour was great, learned so much about a park I visit all the time. Thank you Virginia State Parks!

Becky Shepard (January 01, 2017 02:23:00 AM): I would like to hike the Smith Mountain Lake State Park Hike. Count me in

Shevon (December 31, 2016 09:05:52 PM): I am looking forward to visiting the parks and viewing the beautiful nature scenery . Yes I will hike too.

jeff holt (December 31, 2016 08:32:30 PM): I wanna win

Kim (December 31, 2016 07:21:06 PM): Count me in! I will be horseback riding tomorrow!

henry prater (December 31, 2016 05:15:16 PM): please sign myself and my granddaughter Caroline for the self guided hike at Hungry Mother Park

Virginia State Parks (December 31, 2016 10:57:18 AM): Bob - I'm not sure either park has one but I will forward your name to them. We have a statewide weekly enewslettet that features upcoming programs for the next two weekends. It is delivered on Thursdays. You can see previous issues and sign up here www.dcr.virginia.gov/intranet/eMailSignup.html.

Bob Childers (December 31, 2016 10:14:47 AM): Please put me on you e-mail list for events at False Cape State Park and First Landing State Park.

Stephanie (December 30, 2016 11:21:46 PM): My family and I participated in this event last year at Leesylvania State Park and loved it! I am looking forward to starting the new year off on healthy footing.
Happy Hiking, everyone! :)

Virginia State Parks (December 30, 2016 04:20:39 PM): Christopher - I am pretty sure they are full. They added a second hike and that filled up too. But you could try leaving a message on the number. Someone should have been there today (Friday) until 4:30.

Christopher Hibben (December 30, 2016 01:06:08 PM): Greetings, I'm trying to make reservations for False Cape 'First Day Hike...To the Middle of Nowhere'; unfortunately I did not reach anyone using the 757.426.7128 phone number. Is there another way to reserve a space on this event? I fear that it is already full...
Thank you,
Happy New Year,
Christopher Hibben

Monica (December 30, 2016 09:51:24 AM): I'll be at Hungry Mother for the Ridge Hike. See you there!

Jerry Zachman (December 29, 2016 12:29:37 PM): Hope to get our youth group from church to come out.

RICH AND PAT ARMSTRONG (December 29, 2016 06:23:18 AM): VIRGINIA STATE PARKS OFFER SO MUCH IN WAYS TO ENJOY NATURE, EXERCISE AND RELAXATION. FIRST DAY HIKES ARE SUCH A WONDERFUL WAY TO START A NEW YEAR.
ENJOY.

Shelia Ball (December 28, 2016 10:20:19 AM): I will be hiking Hungry Mother State Park with 2 of my fur kids. Hope to get a couple of humans to walk along with us.

Virginia State Parks (December 27, 2016 02:16:37 PM): Kimberly you don't have to sign up for any if the guided options at Claytor Lake. Here are the options http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/park-event-info?id=CL170001-00. Just show up at the listed location a few minutes before the start time. You might want to sign up for the New Year Challenge. Each participant can sign up and then log in Sunday when you get home and confirm you participated. Just follow the instructions here http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/other/1st-day-hikes.

Kimberley Crawford (December 27, 2016 12:47:15 PM): I am interested in signing up for hiking challenge at Claytor lake. I need to know how I have to sign up. I have 4-6 people. Please pass any information that is possible. Thanks for your help.

Virginia State Parks (December 27, 2016 11:15:47 AM): You must have just missed Catherine. Please try again - I just spoke to her.

Lisa (December 27, 2016 10:53:26 AM): I tried to call to make the reservation as instructed for False Cape and just get a voicemail stating that the trails are closed until April. Suggestions?

Virginia State Parks (December 27, 2016 10:48:38 AM): We advertise park entrance is free. False Cape's guided hike involves transport into the park which is what you are paying for. You are welcome to hike in along the beach (the internal roads through the refuge are closed this time of year) and explore the park and there is no charge from us for that. Actually we never have a fee for False Cape park entrance.

Lisa (December 27, 2016 10:44:33 AM): This states that January 1st is free for the guided hikes, however, False Cape is charging $8.00. Is it free or do we have to pay?

Karen GREGORY (December 27, 2016 10:33:07 AM): I would love to be a winner- VA parks

Brandi Payne (December 26, 2016 01:30:54 PM): Sounds like fun!

Virginia State Parks (December 25, 2016 08:15:09 PM): Jacky - sounds great. Be sure to enter the Bew Tear Challenge using the link in the article.

Jacky R Fannon (December 25, 2016 07:05:26 PM): The Misses and I will be hiking at Natural Tunnel

Janet (December 23, 2016 08:04:45 PM): Ready to start this challenge!

Pamela underhill (December 19, 2016 07:53:45 AM): Great idea for getting us out in nature:starting the new year right!

Virginia State Parks (December 17, 2016 11:02:08 AM):

To sign up for the challenge you have to follow the link listed in the article http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/other/1st-day-hikes. Posting a comment here will not enter you in the contest. Details of the hikes can be found here. http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/park-events-list?action=detail&srchloc=all&eventtype=115&BDate=01/01/2017&EDate=01/01/2017 Each listing will let you know if you have to sign up in advance.


Helen Otero (December 17, 2016 10:23:58 AM): Interested in Hiking!

Olga (December 06, 2016 10:01:55 PM): Have a nice day.
Thank you for your offer "Hiking on the first day of the New Year." We would like to take part in a walking tour in this day with you. Our company is 4 persons. Could you write, where it will begin our journey where we can meet with the leader of the group. Thank you for your response to me.
All the best . See you in the New Year. Best regards, Olga.

Gina M. Nardoianni (December 05, 2016 08:40:53 PM): Is this where I sign up for the hike? Count me in.

Barbara (December 05, 2016 03:48:10 PM): Sounds fun... I will be cycling

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