The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is offering First Day Hikes set for Jan. 1, 2015.
New Year’s Day events earlier this year brought out more than 1,500 people who covered more than 6,000 trail miles in 59 Texas state parks.
The hiking and paddling events were part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes occurring in state parks throughout the nation – providing people the chance to get a healthy jump on the New Year.
This will mark the fourth consecutive year Texas state parks will participate in the initiative.
The National Association of State Park Directors is coordinating the event.
This past New Year’s Day, First Day Hikes took place in all 50 states, drawing about 28,000 people who hiked exactly 68,811 miles.
The concept originated more than 20 years ago at Blue Hills Reservation in Massachusetts.
Sixty-seven Texas state parks have scheduled more than 100 First Day events to begin the New Year.
Mother Neff Park near Waco, which was Texas’ first state park, continues to draw the most hikers with 204 participants the last time around. Lake Brownwood State Park had two hikes with 191 participants.
For something different on New Year’s Day, there will be the First Day Paddle at the Johnson Branch unit of Ray Roberts Lake State Park near Denton.
There is no charge to be involved with these First Day events, but normal park entry fees will apply.
For the most up-to-date list of First Day Hikes, visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/calendar/first-day-hikes. Also, go to www.tpwf.org for information on the state parks pass.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. (Logo provided by the TPWD, no copyright infringement inferred)