Washington State Parks has announced its annual First Day Hikes events on Jan. 1, 2026.
More than 30 state parks across the state will host staff-led and self-guided hikes, snowshoe treks, trail rides, polar plunges, interpretive activities and more on New Year’s Day, a news release from Washington State Parks stated.
First Day Hikes vary in distance and difficulty, ranging from smooth, flat ADA-accessible trails to moderate hill climbs. A few parks will offer multiple hikes tailored to different abilities and interests. Many ranger-led hikes will include talks highlighting each park’s unique history, geology and wildlife.
When participants complete their hike, they’ll receive a free 2026 First Day Hikes button as a memento of their adventure.
First Day Hikes experiences for visitors include:
• Guided snowshoe hikes at Fields Spring, Lake Easton and Lake Wenatchee — plus two at Mount Spokane: one to the Smith Gap warming hut and another up to the iconic Vista House.
• A short guided hike at Steamboat Rock led by interpretive specialists David and Sarah near the waters of Banks Lake, where they’ll share the history of the Coulee Corridor landscape.
• A 2.5-mile hike at Cascade Falls with Moran’s park rangers.
• A 1.5-mile hike learning about Lake Sammamish’s local flora and fauna, followed by their annual polar plunge.
• A 2-mile guided hike at Saint Edward down to Lake Washington, where there may be bald eagles, beavers, Douglas squirrels and various waterfowl.
• A self-guided horse ride with other riders along the equestrian-friendly trails at Bridle Trails.
• A family-friendly, flat 1.5-mile hike at Bottle Beach through coastal wetlands to view birds and other wildlife.
• A 2.25-mile hike up to the forest ridgetop along the Twanoh Creek.
• ADA-accessible hikes at Camp Wooten, Fort Flagler, Columbia Plateau and the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center.
First Day Hikes is a national initiative led by America’s State Parks, encouraging people of all ages to start the year with an outdoor activity and connection to nature, the news release stated. In 2025, more than 1,800 participants hiked, rode and snowshoed over 2,750 miles on Washington’s state park trails, according to the release.
Most First Day Hikes require advanced registration, and group sizes may be limited. Select hikes will have snowshoes available for visitors to reserve.
Visit the State Parks website at https://tinyurl.com/5xsctf39 for the full list of activities and registration information.
New Year’s Day also marks the first Discover Pass free day of 2026 on state-managed lands. Visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park on state recreation lands.
However, First Day Hikes at parks that operate as a Sno-Park during the winter (Fields Spring, Lake Easton, Lake Wenatchee and Mount Spokane) require a Sno-Park permit.
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