(Des Moines, IA – Iowa DNR) – Iowa state parks and forests invite you to join in on a First Day Hike.  More than 40 locations are offering either a guided hike with park staff or a suggested hike to explore on your own.  Kick off the new year outdoors, surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, and experience spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s state parks and forests.

Locally, First Day Hikes are being held at:

• Lake Anita State Park (Anita): Hikes ranging from 1/3 of a mile to 4 3/8 miles are available. We will start at the east end of the beach parking lot. We will start out as a group and split up depending on how long everyone wants to walk. Friends of Lake Anita will provide snacks and drinks.
• Prairie Rose State Park (Harlan): Hike the 2-mile grass path around the east side of Prairie Rose Lake. The hike is pretty easy, with just a couple of hills. The Friends of Prairie Rose State Park usually provides hot cocoa and popcorn following the hike.
• Spring Brook State Park (Guthrie Center): Celebrate 100 Years of Springbrook State Park. Join park staff for a 2-mile hike to the highest point in the park, stopping at geologically and historically significant sites along the way and looking for signs of wildlife activity. Warm up with hot chocolate and cookies afterwards! Please dress for weather. There may be areas with ice or snow on trails.
• Waubonsie State Park (Hamburg): Noon – shelter open for potluck/refreshments. Hike starts at 1:00 PM; Meeting Location:Wa-Shawtee Lodge; The Hike will be approximately two miles long on a moderate route through the woods and prairies of Waubonsie State Park and nearby Wildlife Management areas.  Park staff will select a route that best fits weather and snowpack conditions during the week of the hike.  Wildlife viewing and landscape overlooks are abundant on our hikes.  The Friends of Waubonsie will serve lunch from noon through the beginning of the hike, and Wa-Shawtee Lodge will remain open for an hour after the hike for participants to warm up. The trails are mostly compacted dirt, with some intermittent steep sections and rolling terrain.

Find a First Day Hike near you!