First Day Hikes are a good way to start the New Year

State Parks and Forests offer First Day Hikes to begin the year with a fun, outdoor activity. Both guided with park staff and unguided hikes that suggest a place to explore on your own. This year 19 parks are offering guided hikes and 25 are offering self-guided hikes. In either case quiet viewing of nature, wonderful views or learning about cultural treasures are available to fit your schedule. If you wish to search for a place on your own, visit https://www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks/First-Day-Hikes. A complete list of parks is found there. If the park has an asterisk, it offers a guided tour. Just clicking on the name of the park takes you to information regarding the location and time.

Geode State Park*

10 a.m. — Meeting Location: Beach Parking Area at Shelter — Park Address: 3333 Racine Ave, Danville, IA 52623 — Description: Join us for a 2.5-mile hike meandering from the beach to Shelter #2. There is one moderate hill, otherwise the crushed rock and dirt trail is relatively flat. Dress for the weather. Contact: (319) 392-4601

Lacey-Keosauqua State Park*

10 a.m. — Meeting Location: Lodge — Park Address: 22895 Lacey Trl, Keosauqua IA 52565 — Description: Meet at the lodge for a guided hike along the Des Moines River bluffs. Enjoy nature such as bald eagles and waterfowl. Enjoy hot chocolate, coffee & soup at the end of the hike. Choose to hike a short 1-mile, medium 2-mile, or long 3-mile route. Bus shuttle available at the end of the hike to go back to lodge. The trail is a mix of crushed rock and dirt. This is a moderate hike with a few steep sections. — Contact: (319) 293-3502

Lake Darling State Park*

9 a.m. — Meeting Location: Lake Darling Lodge — Park Address: 111 Lake Darling Rd, Brighton IA 52540 — Description: Meet at the Lodge and plan to hike the newly finished Ding Darling Interpretive trail. Participants will get a chance to view the 10 new educational panels that have been installed. The hike will continue through the campground and along the fishing trail back to the Lodge. The trail is wide, flat and paved. -Contact: (319) 694-2323

Lake Macbride State Park*

9 a.m. — Meeting Location: Main Lodge- Park Address: 3525 Highway 382 NE, Solon IA 52333 — Description: Join us for a 2.5-mile hike on the Beach to Dam Trail: Park/Start at the Main Lodge. Feel free to hike out to the spillway/waterfall and enjoy a scenic view from the Rock (be careful climbing on icy/slippery surfaces), before or after your trail hike. Please keep pets on leashes at all times. DNR staff will have the fireplace going at the lodge, and will provide hot water/cocoa. The only restroom available will be a vault toilet along the hike (at the Main Boat Ramp). The crushed rock trail is mostly flat, with a steep section from the lodge to the trailhead, and then at the dam.- Contact: (319) 624-2200

Wildcat Den State Park — SELF GUIDED HIKE

Meeting Location: Upper Picnic Area Shelter — Park Address: 3489 State Park Rd, Muscatine IA 52761 — Description: The 1.3-mile hike will begin at the Upper Picnic Area Shelter and follow the Punch Bowl trail through the Devil's Punch Bowl. The hike will then follow the Lower Picnic Area Trail along Pine Creek, past Steamboat Rock, then loop back up the hill to the shelter. The gravel/dirt trail will have steep terrain and stairs in several spots. — Contact: (563) 263-4337

If you are spending the New Year with family in another part of the state, be sure to check out the opportunities in that area. Also don’t forget that many county and local parks are sponsoring their own first day hikes. Henry County Conservation is offering a self-guided hike at Oakland Mills. The dates of this hike are Dec. 30 — January 13.