Calendar of Events

First Day Hikes

First Day Hikes is a nationwide program to encourage hiking on New Year's Day. Start a new tradition and join us!

December 2025

Dec 31
6:00p
End Date

First Day Hike - New Years Eve Hike - **Reservation Required**

Lake Brownwood State Park
Join us for a guided ranger hike to celebrate New Years' Eve!
Dec 31
10:00p
End Date

New Year's Eve Honey Creek Nature Hike *Registration Required*

Honey Creek State Natural Area
Say goodbye to 2025 and ring in the new year while on a hike with us!
Dec 31
11:15p
End Date

Midnight Summit First Day Hike

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Join us for a Rock'ing New Year's Eve Hike on our Summit Trail and ring in the new year with fellow outdoor enthusiasts, adventurers, rangers, and rock-lovers under the stars*!
Dec 31
11:30p
End Date

First Day Midnight Hike

Inks Lake State Park
Start 2026 with a midnight hike and ring in the New Year with us!
Dec 31
11:30p
End Date

First Day Hike – Midnight Hike

Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway
Welcome in the New Year and make a lifetime memory, outdoors! At Lake Mineral Wells State Park.
Dec 31
11:30p
End Date

First Day Hike - New Years Eve!

Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Ring in the New Year right with a First Day Hike on the Kiowa Trail!

January 2026

Jan 1 End Date

First Day Honey Creek Guided Walks *Registration Required*

Honey Creek State Natural Area
Experience the natural and cultural history of Honey Creek on our First Day Hikes!
Jan 1 End Date

First Day Hike - Self Guided

Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Ring in the New Year right with a First Day Hike!
Jan 1 End Date

Self(ie) Guided First Day Hike

Blanco State Park
Kick off 2026 on the trail!
Jan 1 End Date

Self-Guided First Day Nature Hikes

Guadalupe River State Park
Experience the great outdoors and join us for a self-guided First Day Hike!
Jan 1
6:45a
End Date

First Day Hike - Sunrise Beach Walk

Galveston Island State Park
Begin 2026 with a sunrise walk on the beach at Galveston Island State Park!
Jan 1
7:00a
End Date

First Day Hike - Sunrise Edition!

Palo Duro Canyon State Park
New Year’s Day Sunrise Hike on the Triassic Trail!
Jan 1
7:30a
End Date

Self-Guided First Day Hike

Lockhart State Park
Feel like a hike, but at your own pace? We got you covered.
Jan 1
8:00a
End Date

Tri-Park-A-Thon

Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Branch Unit
Join rangers at Ray Roberts for our 3rd Annual hike across all 3 units.
Jan 1
8:00a
End Date

First Day Hike (Self Guided)

Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Branch Unit
Start the new year off on the right foot and enjoy a hike at the park.
Jan 1
8:00a
End Date

First Day Self-guided Hike, Bike and/or Ride!

Cooper State Park - South Sulphur Unit
Join us on New Year's Day to celebrate wellness in nature!
Jan 1
8:00a
End Date

Self-guided First Day Hike

Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway
Start the new year off right with a peaceful hike in the canyons!
Jan 1
8:00a
End Date

Story Book Stroll

Meridian State Park
Check out our self-guided First Day Hike available at the Shinnery Ridge Trail, featuring the children's book "Walking Through Texas" by author Courtney Rubalcaba.
Jan 1
8:00a
End Date

First Day Hike - Self Guided

Fort Richardson State Park & Historic Site / Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway
Ring in the New Year right with a First Day Hike
Jan 1
8:00a
End Date

Self(ie) Guided First Day Hikes

Eisenhower State Park
Celebrate the first day of 2026 by taking a hike at Eisenhower State Park!
Jan 1
8:00a
End Date

First Day Self-guided Hike!

Cooper State Park - Doctors Creek Unit
Join us on New Year's Day to celebrate wellness in nature!
Jan 1
8:15a
End Date

First Day Self-Guided Hike

Lake Tawakoni State Park
Hike any trail of your choosing on January 1, 2026 from 8:15am-4:00pm and stop by the park headquarters after to receive your first day hike sticker!
Jan 1
9:00a
End Date

First Day Hike: Family-Friendly Morning Hike

Government Canyon State Natural Area
Start your kids' new year on the right foot enjoying the outdoors at Government Canyon State Natural Area!
Jan 1
9:00a
End Date

First Day Hike

Tyler State Park
Put your best foot forward into the New Year!
Jan 1
9:00a
End Date

Self-Guided First Day Hike

McKinney Falls State Park
Start off the new year with a hike!
Jan 1
9:00a
End Date

First Day Hike - Bird Walk

Galveston Island State Park
Kick off 2026 with a refreshing Bird Walk at Galveston Island State Park!
Jan 1
9:00a
End Date

First Day Hikes - Yoga at the Pavilion

Village Creek State Park
Join a park ranger for a gentle guided yoga session in nature.
Jan 1
9:00a
End Date

First Day Hike - Prickly Pear

Fort Richardson State Park & Historic Site / Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway
Ring in the New Year right with a First Day Hike!
Jan 1
9:00a
End Date

First Day Roll Out of Bed Hike

Eisenhower State Park
Start the New Year off comfy, cozy, and a little bit silly!
Jan 1
9:00a
End Date

First Day Hike

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
Ring in the NEW year on this OLD trail.
Jan 1
9:00a
End Date

First Day Hike (Self-Guided)

Daingerfield State Park
Start your New Year off right by going on a First Day Hike!
Jan 1
9:00a
End Date

First Day Hike for Your Health

Lockhart State Park
Start your New Year off right with a hike about supercharging your wellness!
Jan 1
9:00a
End Date

First Day Hike

Caddo Lake State Park
Join us for the annual nationwide First Day Hike here at Caddo Lake State Park!
Jan 1
9:00a
End Date

First Day Hikes - Self-Guided Activities

Village Creek State Park
Start the New Year off with a resolution to spend more time outside enjoying nature! Bring your family and pets (on a leash) to help us top our First Day Hike participation record!
Jan 1
9:30a
End Date

Mile-High First Day Hike

Davis Mountains State Park
Start 2025 off on the right (or left) foot by joining us on our Mile-High First Day Hike.
Jan 1
9:30a
End Date

First Day Poetry Hike

Government Canyon State Natural Area
Spend a morning reading and composing poetry in nature while hiking Government Canyon State Natural Area.
Jan 1
9:30a
End Date

First Day Hike - Self-Guided

Lake Brownwood State Park
Take a First Day Hike at your own pace on our trails!
Jan 1
9:30a
End Date

First Day Hike: Bluff Spurs

Government Canyon State Natural Area
Celebrate the first day of the new year with an adventure on the Bluff Spurs Trail.
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

First Day Hike

Inks Lake State Park
Hit the trial with us as we celebrate a new year.
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

First Day Guided Hike

Lake Tawakoni State Park
Start your new year right and join a ranger for this 1.8 mile guided hike!
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

First Day Hike: Hoodoos Trailhead

Big Bend Ranch State Park
Start the new year off right with a hike to the iconic Hoodoos Trailhead along the parks river district on River Road FM170.
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

First Day Hike!

Cooper State Park - South Sulphur Unit
Join us on New Year's Day to celebrate wellness in nature!
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

First Day Hike 2026

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
Start off the New Year with a hike in the park!
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

First Day Hike: Tails to the Trails

Government Canyon State Natural Area
Ease into the new year with your favorite canine friend on a guided dog-walk along the Savannah Loop Trail.
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

2026 First Day Hike

Garner State Park
Start 2026 off right with a dose of nature! This is a guided First Day Hike to the top of Old Baldy revealing scenic overlooks of the Frio River and Texas Hill Country.
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

First Day Hike

Meridian State Park
Start your year with fresh air and new adventures at Meridian State Park!
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

First Day Hike -- C.C.C. our History!

Blanco State Park
Celebrate the New Year by learning about the young men that built this park nearly 100 years ago!
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

First Day Hike! - Penitentiary Hollow Wild Walk

Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway
Start your New Year in the great outdoors! Reservations required. Explore beautiful sandstone formations in remote areas only accessible on this guided hike.
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

First Day Hike at South Llano River State Park!

South Llano River State Park
Start your New Year off at South Llano River State Park with a guided hike through the beautiful pecan bottomland!
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

Self-Guided First Day Hike

Old Tunnel State Park
Hike our half-mile trail to start off your New Year.
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

First Day Hikes - Hiking With Intention

Village Creek State Park
Join a Village Creek State Park ranger to ring in the New Year with a mindful hike in nature.
Jan 1
10:00a
End Date

First Day Hike: Let's Ring in 2026!

Stephen F. Austin State Park
Begin the New Year with a healthy dose of nature and start a new tradition at Stephen F. Austin State Park!
Jan 1
11:00a
End Date

First Day Hikes - Guided Mountain Biking

Village Creek State Park
Join a Village Creek State Park ranger to ring in the new year with a nature hike to explore the biodiversity of the Big Thicket.
Jan 1
12:00p
End Date

First Day Self-Guided Hike

Inks Lake State Park
Begin your New Year on a trail!
Jan 1
12:30p
End Date

First Day Hike (B.A.R.K. Ranger)

Daingerfield State Park
Join us for a stroll around the day-use area with your B.A.R.K. Ranger! Not a B.A.R.K Ranger? Come earn your badge!
Jan 1
1:00p
End Date

First Day Hike: Trek to the Tracks

Government Canyon State Natural Area
Take a 5-mile guided hike to see the dinosaur tracks at Government Canyon.
Jan 1
1:00p
End Date

First Day Hike

Bonham State Park
Join us for the first hike of the year at Bonham State Park
Jan 1
1:00p
End Date

First Day Hike

Atlanta State Park
Join us on a guided hike through the forest of Atlanta State Park!
Jan 1
1:00p
End Date

First Day Hikes - Compass Reading

Village Creek State Park
Join a Village Creek State Park ranger to ring in the new year and learn land navigation.
Jan 1
1:30p
End Date

First Day Hikes (Guided)

Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Branch Unit
Join rangers for our annual First Day Hike to celebrate the New Year.
Jan 1
1:30p
End Date

First Day B.A.R.K. Ranger Hike

Eisenhower State Park
Kick off the New Year with your four-legged friend!
Jan 1
1:30p
End Date

First Day Hike

Tyler State Park
Put your best foot forward into the New Year!
Jan 1
2:00p
End Date

First Day Hike (Ranger-Guided)

Daingerfield State Park
Start your New Year off right by joining us on our First Day Hike!
Jan 1
2:00p
End Date

First Day Hikes - Discovery Hike

Village Creek State Park
Join a Village Creek State Park ranger to ring in the new year with a nature hike to explore the biodiversity of the Big Thicket.
Jan 1
2:00p
End Date

First Day Hike! - Penitentiary Hollow Wild Walk

Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway
Start your New Year in the great outdoors! Explore beautiful sandstone formations in remote areas only accessible on this guided hike.
Jan 1
2:00p
End Date

Old Tunnel First Day Guided Hike

Old Tunnel State Park
Join Ranger Izzy and start your New Year's off on the right foot.
Jan 1
2:00p
End Date

First Day Hike!

Cooper State Park - Doctors Creek Unit
Join us on New Year's Day to celebrate wellness in nature!
Jan 1
3:30p
End Date

Hats Off to the New Year: First Day Hike

Eisenhower State Park
Start the year on the right foot, and under your favorite hat!
Jan 1
5:15p
End Date

First Day BARK Ranger Guided Hike

Lake Tawakoni State Park
Catch the first sunset of the year with your pup on this half-mile BARK Ranger guided hike!
Jan 1
5:30p
End Date

First Day Night Hike

Lockhart State Park
Join us for a night hike to discover the critters that come out when the sun goes down!

January 2027

Jan 1
9:30a
End Date

First Day Hike - Self-Guided

Lake Brownwood State Park
Take a First Day Hike at your own pace on our trails!

January 2028

Jan 1
9:30a
End Date

First Day Hike - Self-Guided

Lake Brownwood State Park
Take a First Day Hike at your own pace on our trails!

January 2029

Jan 1
9:30a
End Date

First Day Hike - Self-Guided

Lake Brownwood State Park
Take a First Day Hike at your own pace on our trails!

January 2030

Jan 1
9:30a
End Date

First Day Hike - Self-Guided

Lake Brownwood State Park
Take a First Day Hike at your own pace on our trails!