Make New Year's Day 2026 an outdoor adventure with First Day Hikes

Join Washington State Parks for its annual First Day Hikes on New Year's Day to start your 2026! First Day Hikes is an annual event held by America's State Parks to get folks outside on the first day of the year, and New Year's Day is also a Discover Pass fee-free day! 

(Note that Sno-park permits are still required at sno-parks, though. Sno-park permits will be required at Fields Spring, Lake Easton, Lake Wenatchee and Mount Spokane state parks.) 

Slap on some snowshoes with Washington State Parks at various parks throughout the state. Photo by Charlie Wakenshaw.

Though the event is called First Days Hikes, hiking is just one fun activity you can enjoy on New Year's with Washington State Parks! Here is just a short selection of some of the events throughout the state: 

• A hike at Battle Ground Lake, Bottle Beach, Birch Bay, Lime Kiln Point, Saint Edward, Lake Chelan, Curlew Lake or many other state parks 
• A tree-planting restoration day at Deception Pass State Park
• A snowshoe at Fields Spring, Lake Easton, Lake Wenatchee or Mount Spokane State Park
• An ADA-accessible hike at Camp Wooten, Fort Flagler, Columbia Plateau or the Mount St. Helens Visitors Center
• A post-hike polar plunge at Lake Sammamish State Park
• A self-guided horse ride at Bridle Trails State Park
• A history walk with rangers at Lyons Ferry State Park

There will be different types of activities for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels, so check out the whole event calendar online. 

Write a trip report!

Once you've made it home and warmed up from your New Year's Day adventures, tell us how it was in a trip report! We are excited to read all about your #FirstDayHikes (whether they were day hikes, rides, snowshoes or even a polar plunge).