Take these guided First Day hikes, from Pa. lakes to N.J. Pinelands

Looking for a different, healthier way to welcome 2025?

Take a 2.5-mile guided hike Jan. 1 around Hopewell Lake at French Creek State Park in Chester County. Or try a 3-mile nature walk through the woods at Belleplain State Forest in South Jersey and learn about Pine Barrens lore and tree identification.

Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey are offering a range of free First Day guided hikes to bring in the new year. Some require reservations and fill up quickly as the walks have soared in popularity, though you can always map out your own.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is hosting 70 hikes in 46 state parks and one forest district. Last year, 3,000 hikers participated.

And New Jersey is offering 30 hikes, from beginners to advanced. Last year, 2,000 joined the walks.

New Year’s Day will be unseasonably warm for a January hike, with a forecast of partly sunny skies and a high near 50. However, it will be breezy with a slight chance of rain. The higher than normal temperature could prompt more hikers to sign up, officials say.

Hikes are designed to meet the needs of beginners and the more advanced.

“When the weather is mild and moderate, and people can get outside, we get good attendance,” said Wesley Robinson, a DCNR spokesperson.

First Day Hikes were first organized by the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) in 2012. Nationwide, there are more than 1,000 hikes available in state parks around the county.

“First Day Hikes offer a meaningful way to begin the new year with purpose, reflection, and a connection to nature,” Lewis Ledford, president and CEO of the NASPD, wrote in an email Monday to The Inquirer.

In Pennsylvania, DCNR staff and volunteers lead the hikes, usually about one or two miles long. Some can be longer, or more difficult than others, depending on terrain.

Some of the parks have seen upgrades given that Pennsylvania’s 2023-24 budget included $112 million for state park and forest infrastructure.

“They are pretty popular,” Robinson said.

He explained that the hikes became particularly popular during the pandemic when people yearned to get outside. That enthusiasm for New Year’s Day hikes hasn’t waned, he said.

In addition, “thousands and thousands” plan their own treks with family and friends.

Robinson said Jan. 1 hikes have gained traction from people looking for something different from New Year’s Eve celebrations associated with heavy drinking. However, he also noted that while there are early morning hikes, some are scheduled for late morning or early afternoon for those who stay up late.

Robinson also said the hikes are drawing more diverse crowds through the department’s outreach for equity. “We spent a lot of this year talking about equity and the efforts make people aware of how easy it is to get outside and start.”

John Cecil, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s assistant commissioner for state parks, forests, and historic sites, said the First Day Hikes “provide the opportunity to reconnect, rejuvenate, and set a positive tone for the year ahead.”

Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey offer online trail planning maps.

To find a guided First Day hike in Pennsylvania, you can go to events.dcnr.pa.gov/search/events?search=First+Day+Hike, or in New Jersey, to www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/firstdayhikes/

An easy 2.5-mile walk along the Hopewell Lake Loop. Runs 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and meets at the Hopewell Boat Launch at Hopewell lake, 785 Park Rd., Elverson, Pa. No registration is required.

This 3.5-mile loop along the Equestrian Trail offers views of the creek and a stop at the historic hilltop Russell Cemetery. Hike runs 10 a.m. to noon, starting at the parking lot behind Pavilion 8. Register by email to Gary at muddyboots@comcast.net. Park address is 1023 Sycamore Mills Rd., Media.

Women in the Wild hike runs 10 a.m. to noon and meets at Strickersville Parking Lot, 344 Strickersville Rd., Landenberg, Pa. This is one of Pennsylvania’s newest state parks.

This short, naturalist guided hike, between 1 to 2 miles, runs 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. It meets at the stone barn across the parking lot from the Johnson Ferry House, 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Rd., Titusville, N.J. Limited to 25 hikers. Register here.

From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., this 2.2-mile hike explores Wharton State Forest’s newest trail, the Atsion Family Camp Trail, offering views of views of Atsion Lake, mountain laurel, and Atlantic white cedars. Register by submitting this online form. Meet at Atsion Family Campground, Shamong, N.J. (GPS: 39.745972, -74.743974)