First Day Hikes in Maryland
First Day Hikes in Maryland are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to get people out of their homes and on to local trails to start the new year on a healthy note. The hikes listed below are those that will be lead by a ranger or guide, and most offer a special look at the surrounding environment. A few require pre-registration. There are hiking options available for all levels of hikers.
Anne Arundel County First Day Hikes
Downs Park
1/1/2025 10:00 a.m. First Day Hike – Ranger-led Hike
Register online at https://bit.ly/aacofirstdayhikes. Register at ActiveNet #39425
Two hikes will be available: a shorter, more kid-friendly walk or a longer, more strenuous hike on the perimeter trail. Enjoy views of the Chesapeake Bay as Rangers guide you through the park.
Meeting Location: Visitor’s Center
Address: 8311 John Downs Loop, Pasadena, MD 21122
Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary
1/1/2025 9:00 a.m. First Day Hike – Ranger-led Hike
Registration is required at https://apm.activecommunities.com/aarecparks/Home Activity Net #39431.
There are two options to choose from. Go with Diane for a faster, longer, 4+ mile hike to our Emory Waters Nature Preserve property, or hike with Mike for a slower, 2-3 mile hike on our most popular yellow loop trail. Choose the group on the day of the hike.
Meeting Location: Visitor Center
Address: 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian, MD 20711
Sandy Point State Park
1/1/25 11:00 a.m. First Day Hike – Ranger-led Hike
2.5-mile loop hike along the Sandy Point coastline and through our Blue Crab and Symbi trail!
Meeting Location: South Beach Plaza (39.011301, -76.398588), Park in Green Lot
Address: 1100 E College Pkwy, Annapolis, MD 21409
Complete list of Anne Arundel County Parks First Day Hikes
Baltimore County First Day Hikes
1/1/25 at 9 a.m. Central First Day Hike – Ranger-led Hike
4.7 miles “Moderately challenging” rated first day hike based on length, terrain, and elevation.
Meeting Location: Gunpowder Falls State Park Parking, Belair Rd, Kingsville, MD 21087
1/1/25 at 2 p.m. First Day Bike – Ranger-led Hike
18-mile ride from White Hall to the Pennsylvania border and back along the former route of the Northern Central Railroad.
Meeting Location: Large parking lot next to Ranger Station
Address: 1349 Wiseburg Road, White Hall, MD 21161
North Point State Park
01/01/25 at 7 a.m. First Day Hike at North Point State Park – Ranger-led Hike
1.5 Miles. See the sunrise over the ancient Black Marsh and stand on the bay’s edge to take in the first day of the new year.
Meeting Location: Large lot just after the gatehouse
Address: 8400 North Point Rd, Edgemere, MD 21219
01/01/25 at 11 a.m. First Day Family Walk and Craft – Ranger-led Hike
Less than a mile-short walk through the woods and along the waterfront to find natural (and maybe not so natural) accessories to delightful crafts! Once participants have collected their materials, they will return to the Visitor Center to build crafts like wooden looms, bookmarks, biodegradable bird feeders, and more.
Meeting Location: North Point State Park Visitor Center
Address: 8400 North Point Rd, Edgemere, MD 21219
There is a $3 In-State Fee and a $5 Out-of-State Fee to enter the park and it provides all-day access to the park.

Patapsco Valley State Park – Avalon Area
1/1/25 4 – 6:30 p.m. First Day SUNSET Hike! – Ranger-led Hike
Registration is required. You can register here.
~3 miles for a sunset hike connecting the Sawmill Branch and Buzzards Rock trails for a ~3-mile loop, stopping at Ilchester Rocks to enjoy the sunset.
Meeting Location: Shelter 106, 5120 South St., Halethorpe, MD 21227
Patapsco Valley State Park – Hilton Area
12/31/25 at 4 – 5 p.m. Kids Countdown Hike – Ranger-led Hike
Registration is encouraged. You can register here.
.25 miles for young ones who felt left out by the late-night party. Bring a flashlight and countdown to sunset after the hike!
Meeting Location: Shelter 201, 1101 Hilton Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228
Calvert County First Day Hikes
Calvert Cliffs State Park
12/31/24 to 1/1/25 at 10:30 a.m. Hike into the New Year! – Ranger-led Hike
Registration: Preferred via email. ([email protected])
3.6 miles. Meet the Friends of Calvert Cliffs and park staff at the pavilion at 10:30 PM on December 31st to close out 2024 with a 1.8-mile hike on the Red Trail to the Chesapeake Bay. We will count down the new year with a bonfire lit at midnight and s’mores. Then, celebrate the New Year with your first hike of 2025 while enjoying the sights and sounds of wetland wildlife you don’t get to see during the day. We will hike as a group both ways; please come prepared with a flashlight, water, and weather-appropriate clothing.
Meeting Location: Pavilion
Address: 10540 H.G. Truman Road, Lusby, MD 20657
Carroll County First Day Hikes
Patapsco Valley State Park – Carroll County – McKeldin Area
1/1/25 at 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. First Day Guided Hike - Ranger-led Hike
Registration is required. You can register here.
2.5-mile guided hike through the McKeldin Area! The trail is rated easy/mildly intermediate and loaded with fun!!!
Meeting Location: McKeldin Area 11676 Marriottsville Rd Marriottsville, Md 21104 Shelter 576 Parking Lot
Cecil County First Day Hikes
Bohemia River State Park
1/1/25 – 7 p.m. to Sunset, Bohemia River’s First Day Hike – Self-guided Hike
2.5-mile hike with two water overlooks and a beaver pond along the way. The route will be marked with ribbons. It is an easy, flat hike with one gentle uphill portion. It will take an average of one hour to complete.
Trail Location: Oak Point and Greenbrier Farm Trails
Address: 4030 Augustine Herman Hwy, Chesapeake City, MD 21915
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area
1/1/25 at 10 a.m. First Day Hike – Ranger-led Hike
5-mile invigorating hike on the beautiful Orange Trail and parts of our old-growth woodlands. This route will cover moderately steep and uneven terrain. The entire route is 5 miles, with an optional shortcut on the way back,, reducing the length to about 3 miles. A warming campfire stop will be enjoyed on the final leg
Day-use fees apply: $3 for MD, $5 for out-of-state, and veterans are free (price per vehicle).
Charles County First Day Hikes
Smallwood State Park
1/1/25 at 9:30 a.m. “Winter Birding” First Feathers Hike – Ranger Guided Hike
Registration: Pre-registration is preferred. Please fill out our Pre-Registration form.
~0.75 mile hike to explore various habitats that winter birds rely on. Along the way, we’ll learn about some of the adaptations that help birds endure winter weather, and about the foods they eat during this season.
Meeting location: Sweden Point Discovery Center
Address: 2750 Sweden Point Rd, Marbury, MD 20658
Dorchester County First Day Hikes
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park
1/1/25 at 10 First Day Hike – Ranger-led Hike
2.5 mile flat and paved hike into the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on their Wildlife Drive.
Meeting Location: Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center
4068 Golden Hill Road, Church Creek, MD 21622
Garrett County First Day Hikes
Deep Creek Lake State Park
1/1/25 at 10 a.m. First Day foraging and twig ID – Ranger-led Hike
One mile, Join MCC members to forage through the beautiful winter wonderland at Deep Creek Lake State Park.
Meeting Location: The Discovery Center
Address: 969 State Park Road, Swanton, MD 21561
1/1/25 at 1 p.m. Healthy Parks, Healthy People First Day Hike on Beckmans Trail – Ranger-led Hike. Meet at the Discovery Center
New Germany State Park
1/1/25 at 10 a.m. Little Legs First Day Hike – Ranger-led Hike
1.5-mile hike on the Ice House Loop. Afterward, warm up by the fire and enjoy complimentary coffee and hot chocolate in the Lake House.
Meeting Location: New Germany Lake House
Address: 403 McAndrews Hill Rd, Grantsville, MD 21536
1/1/25 at 2 p.m. First Day Hike – Ranger-led Hike. 4 miles meet at New Germany Lake House.
Harford County First Day Hikes
Gunpowder Falls State Park
1/1/25 at 8 a.m. Jerusalem Mill First Day Hike – Ranger-led Hike
2 mile “moderate” hike starts at our historical Jerusalem Mill village and takes us to the Little Gunpowder trail along the Gunpowder River. This hike includes shallow stream crossings and some slight inclines.
Meeting Location: Blacksmith Shop (Across the street from the visitor center)
Address: 2813 Jerusalem Rd, Kingsville, MD 21087
Rocks State Park
1/1/25 from 1 – 3 p.m. The View from the King and Queen Seat – Ranger-led Hike
1.5 mile walk to a 190-foot rock overlook! This outcropping of rocks features many vertical faces, some of which are 94 ft, and a breathtaking view.
Meeting Location: Wilson’s Picnic Area, 3805 St. Clair Bridge Road, Jarrettsvilee, Md 21084
Entrance fee is $3 per person in-state and $5 per person out of state.
Susquehanna State Park
1/1/25 at 10 a.m. Eagles, Conowingo Dam, and You – Ranger Guided Hike
5-mile walk to the Conowingo Dam on the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenways Trail to see some migratory bald eagles. The trail is a crushed stone Rail Trail with a stream crossing.
Meeting location: Deer Creek Picnic Area 948 Stafford Road, Havre de Grace, Md 21078
Entrance fee is $2 per vehicle in state and $4 per vehicle out of state.
Howard County First Day Hikes
Montgomery County First Day Hikes
Little Falls Stream Valley Park
1/1/2025 at 11 a.m. First Day Nature Hike – Guided Hike
5 miles round trip, almost all on hard surfaces, to the mouth of the creek on the Potomac River.
Meeting Location: Park entrance on Massachusetts Ave
Address: 6300 Little Falls Pkwy, Bethesda
Prince George’s County First Day Hikes
Cedarville State Forest
1/1/25 at 10 a.m. First Day Nature Hike – Ranger-led Hike
2-mile hike along the Green Trail. The trail passes through the headwaters of Maryland’s largest freshwater swamp, the Zekiah, making it a great location to discover native wildlife.
Meeting Location: Pond Parking Lot
Address: 10201 Bee Oak Road, Brandywine, MD 20613
Day-use fees apply: $3 for MD, $5 for out-of-state, and veterans are free (price per vehicle).
Merkle NRMA
1/1/25 at 10 a.m. First Day Hike – Ranger-led Hike
2.3 mile hike winds through the forest and marsh environments of Merkle, and features man-made mounds of dirt that are believed to have been early boundary markers or defenses built by soldiers during the War of 1812.
Meeting Location: Visitor Center
Address: 11704 Fenno Rd. Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Queen Anne’s County First Day Hikes
Tuckahoe State Park
1/1/25 at 10 AM Junior Ranger Hike! – Ranger Guided Hike
1.5-mile hike with Junior Rangers. Bring your parents out for a guided exploration of the Lake Trail! What will you find?
Meeting location: Lake Picnic Area
13187 Crouse Mill Rd Queen Anne MD 21657
St. Mary’s County First Day Hikes
St. Mary’s River State Park
1/1/25 at 10:00 AM First Day Hike – Ranger Guided Hike
~2-mile hike with a Ranger on the Green Trail that is heavily forested.
Meeting location: The St. Marys River Bathroom
Address: 21250 Camp Cosoma Rd, Leonardtown, MD 20650
The fee is $3 for an instate vehicle and $5 for an out-of-state vehicle.
Somerset County First Day Hikes
Janes Island State Park
12/31/24 at 10 AM Last Day Birding Hike – Ranger-led Hike
2-mile hike that will teach you the basics of birding.
Meeting Location: Meet at the Camper Check-In Parking Lot, and Then We Will Caravan to Irish Grove
Address: 26280 Alfred J. Lawson Dr. Crisfield, MD 21817
1/1/25 at 4:00-5:00 PM First Day Sunset Hike – Ranger-led Hike
~ 1 mile family-friendly hike through our whitetail trail that ends along the Daugherty Creek canal for a Janes Island sunset.
Talbot County First Day Hikes
Assateague State Park
1/1/25 at 10 AM First Day Family Hike – Ranger-led Hike
~1-mile hike to explore the beach, identify seashells, shorebirds, and more as you stroll along the Atlantic Ocean.
Meeting Location: Assateague State Park Day-Use Area
Address: 6915 Stephen Decatur Hwy., Berlin, MD 21811
1/1/25 at 11 AM First Day Beach Hike – Ranger-led Hike
~1-mile hike to explore the island’s rich history, discuss local wildlife that calls the island home and learn more about the legendary horses.
Meeting Location: Assateague State Park Day-Use Area
Address: 6915 Stephen Decatur Hwy., Berlin, MD 21811
Day-use fees apply $5 per vehicle.
More details for First Day Hikes all State Parks are available here.
Most hikes welcome well-behaved dogs on a leash and under control. Expect to pay park admission fees, although some parks will be free to enter.