Out of the 458 people who have completed the Virginia State Parks Trail Quest program (as of July, 2023), Ezra Hernandez is the youngest to do so.

Erza is only 4 months old and relied on his mom, Kaylee Hernandez, for trekking, but his experiences were all his own. She chose Bear Creek Lake State Park as the location to receive their Master Hiker certificates, since the park holds a lot of great family memories.

Kaylee and Ezra Hernandez receive their Master Hiker certificates at Bear Creek Lake State Park, presented by Park Manager Joey Dayton and Education Support Specialist Jordan Persinger. 

Generations of love for Bear Creek Lake

Bear Creek Lake State Park was a place that Kaylee’s grandmother took her mom when she was a child. She also took Kaylee and her cousins there when they were children. Her family would share stories with her about swimming at the park in the 1970s.

“My mother would recall having to safety pin fabric pieces to her swimsuit to show that she had paid to swim,” said Hernandez. “Each day there was a different color fabric. She has so many amazing stories about swimming at the park and I knew I wanted my children to experience this too.”

When Kaylee’s grandmother passed away, she really wanted to do something special. She dedicated a bench at Bear Creek Lake in her honor on July 4, 2023. Her husband, daughter, son and mother were able to come to the park for the dedication and witness Kaylee and Ezra receive their Master Hiker Certificates.

The Hernandez and Gunn family pose at the bench at Bear Creek Lake State Park that is dedicated to Grandmother Helen Dale Gunn.

Hiking with Ezra

Hiking with young children can be challenging, but very fun. Kaylee Hernandez is an outdoor enthusiast and knows this firsthand as she decided to bring her newly born baby to experience the beauty of Virginia State Parks when he was just 48 days old.

The first park Ezra visited was York River State Park. They enjoyed the scenic hike and views of the river and the beach.

Kaylee and Ezra Hernandez at York River State Park's Fossil Beach.

“We woke up to a beautiful Saturday, so we decided to take a family road trip to York River,” said Hernandez. “I was unsure how the first hike was going to go but Ezra nuzzled down, took a nap and my husband, daughter and I ended up doing almost 4 miles between hiking and walking the beach. We love combing the beach for shells and fossils.”

Kaylee and Ezra had family accompany them on most of the trips and this proved to be such a great experience for everyone. The family soon took several camping trips with Ezra and easily traveled during the spring months to many more parks.

“We are so blessed that Ezra has the best temperament and was such a happy baby at every single park,” said Hernandez. “I would try to plan the travel around his napping schedule or drive at night to the parks in Southwest Virginia like Wilderness Road, but while we were actually at the parks he would nap in the carrier or enjoy the scenery.”

Kaylee and Ezra began the program on March 18, 2023, and finished in just under three months on June 6. She wanted to use her maternity leave to bond with Ezra and create lasting memories just as her family had done with her.

Kaylee and Ezra Hernandez at Twin Lakes State Park.

“I decided to use my maternity leave to finish the Trail Quest challenge and revisit some parks again with Ezra,” said Hernandez. “This was such an incredible bonding experience for us, and I loved watching him go from snug in the carrier to alert and looking around at everything.”

When asked about a favorite park visit, she recalled a few special experiences.

“It’s hard to pick just one favorite memory or even a favorite park because the whole journey was a blast,” said Hernandez. “Camping at Douthat was fun, seeing the beautiful bluebells at Shenandoah River was noteworthy as well as getting caught in the rain at False Cape. I had Ezra tucked inside my rain suit and I could see his little eye peering out to watch the rain. He really wasn’t fussy a
nd enjoyed being on the move as well as experiencing the sights and sounds around him.”

Kaylee and Ezra Hernandez at Wilderness Road State Park.

She also mentioned that she enjoyed seeing some wildlife as well as the stunning scenery at all the state parks.

A family of hikers

Since hiking, swimming and outdoor adventures are something she has always been passionate about, she wanted to be sure that her husband and children also shared wonderful outdoor experiences.

“We love getting out in nature,” said Hernandez. “The whole family hiked to a waterfall to take my maternity photos the week before Ezra arrived and we even hiked 3 miles the day I was in labor with him. He came into this world a week earlier than planned, but I believe he really wanted to join us on our outdoor adventures.”

Her husband and daughter have been working on Trail Quest and still have 10 parks to visit. They are excited to visit several parks again, as well as the remaining 10 needed to complete the program.

Ezra Hernandez receiving his Master Hiker certificate at Bear Creek Lake State Park. 

“I will say now I have created a baby hiker monster who does not like to be still,” explained Hernandez. “If he is in the carrier, he will kick his legs so it looks like he is walking along with me, he will bounce in his excer-saucer for hours and if you lay him down, he will roll over and try to army crawl away. He is a busy body and I look forward to many more family memories at Virginia State Parks.”

Plan your next Virginia State Park adventure

Have you completed Trail Quest yet? Simply start by visiting a Virginia State Park and then log your hike on the Adventures Page. It’s a fun experience for the whole family or for solo adventurers and you collect cool pins along the way at certain milestones until you hike at all parks in the program and receive your Master Hiker certificate.

Have you been paddling at the parks this summer? You can also log your paddle adventures on the Adventures Page as you complete the new program, Wandering Waters Paddle Quest.

Check out upcoming events at Virginia State Parks to start planning your next park adventure today!

For more information about Virginia State Parks’ activities and amenities or to make reservations in one of the more than 1,800 campsites or 300 climate-controlled cabins, visit www.virginiastateparks.gov for more information.