On January 1, all 50 U.S. states will be participating in First Day Hikes, an annual national event that encourages Americans to celebrate the New Year with a guided outdoor exploration.
Held in state parks across the USA, the hikes are led by park staff and volunteers. The distance and rigor of First Day Hikes vary from park to park.
First Day Hikes originated more than 25 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Milton, Massachusetts.
Last year, more than 41,000 people participated on guided hikes that covered over 79,000 miles on 997 hikes across the country.
sources: National Association of State Park Directors, American Hiking Society