Ring in the new year with a First Day Hike, bike or walk in Texas State Parks on January 1.



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Blanco State Park



The end of the year is quickly approaching. Make plans now to start 2026 off on the right (and left) foot with a hike, stroll, dog walk, bike ride, paddle or winter water plunge in your favorite state park.

Whether exercising your body, relaxing your mind or enjoying some social time with friends and family, your parks offer outdoor fun for everyone [ [link removed] ]!

Check below for events at a park near you or visit the events calendar [ [link removed] ] for a complete list of all First Day Hikes and activities.

You can make reservations [ [link removed] ] for most state parks up to 5 months in advance for overnight visits and up to 30 days in advance for day passes.

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Austin and San Antonio Area

Honey Creek First Day Hike

First Day Hike -- C.C.C. our History! [ [link removed] ] at *Blanco State Park. *Celebrate the New Year by learning about the young men who built this park nearly 100 years ago!

New Year's Eve Honey Creek Nature Hike [ [link removed] ] at *Honey Creek State Natural Area. *Say goodbye to 2025 and ring in the new year while on a hike with us! Close out 2025 and welcome 2026 with a rare guided night hike to the stunning Honey Creek. Registration required.

First Day Bird Walk [ [link removed] ] at *Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site. *It's a new year -- time to start your yearly bird list! Whether you're a lifelong birder looking to start your 2026 bird list early or someone new to the hobby and unfamiliar with the joy of observing and identifying the birds around you - this easy walk along our nature trail will be a good introduction or refresher to observing our avian friends.

First Day Guided Hike [ [link removed] ] at *Old Tunnel State Park.* Join Ranger Izzy for Old Tunnel's First Day Guided Hike! Start your New Year on the right foot with our half-mile hike through the smallest state park in Texas. 

 

*More Austin [ [link removed] ] and San Antonio [ [link removed] ] area events.*



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Dallas/Fort Worth Area

Meridian State Park First Day Hike

First Day B.A.R.K. Ranger Hike [ [link removed] ] at *Eisenhower State Park. *Kick off the New Year with your four-legged friend! Join a park ranger for a tail-wagging adventure as we ring in the New Year on the trails!

Get Froggy at Fort Boggy [ [link removed] ] at *Fort Boggy State Park.* Start your year with a splash! Join us for our annual New Year's Day cold plunge into the lake!

First Day Hike: Dragonfly Trail [ [link removed] ] at *Lake Arrowhead State Park. *Join us for a First Day hike on Dragonfly Trail, our half-mile nature trail! This trail is perfect for a leisurely stroll through nature. We will have hot chocolate and coffee available, too!

Story Book Stroll [ [link removed] ] at *Meridian State Park. *Check out our self-guided First Day Hike on Shinnery Ridge Trail, featuring the children's book "Walking Through Texas" by author Courtney Rubalcaba.

 

*More Dallas/Fort Worth [ [link removed] ] area events.*



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Tyler Area

Lake Tawakoni State Park First Day Hike

First Day Hike [ [link removed] ] at *Atlanta State Park. *Join us on a guided hike through the forest of Atlanta State Park! Program will consist of an approximately 1.5-mile moderate hike to start the New Year off right!

First Day B.A.R.K. Ranger Guided Hike [ [link removed] ] at *Lake Tawakoni State Park. *Catch the first sunset of the year with your pup on this half-mile B.A.R.K. Ranger guided hike! Bring in the new year with your best friend and find out what it takes to be a B.A.R.K. Ranger on the trails. 

First Day Hike: Full Moon Forest [ [link removed] ] at *Martin Creek Lake State Park. *The forest takes on new life by the light of the full moon. We'll hike around the island looking for nocturnal wildlife and view of the full moon over the lake. 

First Day Hike: Midnight Kick-Off! [ [link removed] ] at *Purtis Creek State Park. *Join a ranger for a midnight hike along the Wolfpen Trail to kick off the new year! Registration required.

 

*More Tyler [ [link removed] ] area events.*



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Houston Area

Village Creek State Park First Day Hike

First Day Hike - Sunrise Beach Walk [ [link removed] ] at *Galveston Island State Park. *Begin 2026 with a sunrise walk on the beach.

First Day Paddle [ [link removed] ] at *Sea Rim State Park. *Oar you ready to start the new year off right? Join park rangers on a 1.8-mile (round trip) guided paddle of the salt marsh! Registration required.

First Day Hike [ [link removed] ] at *Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center.* Start off the New Year on the right foot by joining us for our First Day Hike!

First Day Hikes - Guided Mountain Biking [ [link removed] ] at *Village Creek State Park. *A new year brings new opportunities to explore nature at a state park. Get your blood pumping with a bike ride around the park trails and roadway with Ranger Erick. 

 

*More Houston [ [link removed] ] area events.*



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Lubbock/Amarillo and Midland Area

Palo Duro Canyon State Park First Day Hike

Self-Guided First Day Hike [ [link removed] ] at *Caprock Canyons State Park. *Start the new year off right with a peaceful hike in the canyons!

First Day Self-Guided Hike [ [link removed] ] at *Copper Breaks State Park. *Enjoy our self-guided hike on the Juniper Ridge Nature Trail. The trail is .75 miles long with many stairs and interpretive signage along the way.

First Day Hike - Sunrise Edition! [ [link removed] ] at *Palo Duro Canyon State Park. *Join our rangers for a brisk, early morning hike on the Triassic Trail and catch a beautiful sunrise over the canyon! Hike approximately 1.5 miles round trip.

First Day Hike - Equestrian Ride [ [link removed] ] at *San Angelo State Park. *Gallop into 2026 with a ride on the trails. Join the Friends of San Angelo State Park in starting off the new year with a horse ride tour of the South Unit trails!

 

*More Lubbock/Amarillo [ [link removed] ] and Midland [ [link removed] ] area events.*



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Brownsville and Corpus Christi Area

Goliad State Park & Historic Site First Day Hike

First Day Junior Ranger Nature Hike [ [link removed] ] at *Falcon State Park. *Attention adventurers! Start off the new year with a guided hike and complete our brand-new Junior Ranger activity books. If you complete the activity book on the same day, we’ll proudly swear in our new Junior Rangers with a Falcon State Park badge. 

First Day Hike - Guided Trail Sampler [ [link removed] ] at *Goliad State Park & Historic Site. *Join a ranger as we hike roughly 1.8 miles from headquarters to the mission grounds, along the Aranama Nature Trail, down the CCC Trail, along the San Antonio River Trail to a restroom and water stop, up the Angel of Goliad Hike and Bike Trail back to headquarters.

First Day Birding Tour [ [link removed] ] at *Goose Island State Park. *Get birdy on the first day of the new year! Join experienced guides for the first bird tour of the new year and discover the birds that call Goose Island State Park home! You'll learn about and identify the birds seen on the route.

First Day Hike! B.A.R.K. Ranger [ [link removed] ] at *Lake Corpus Christi State Park. *Make your furry friend a certified B.A.R.K. Ranger on this scavenger hunt adventure!

 

*More Brownsville [ [link removed] ] and Corpus Christi [ [link removed] ] area events.*



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El Paso Area

Balmorhea State Park

First Day Polar Plunge [ [link removed] ] at *Balmorhea State Park. *Start the new year with a splash! Count down with us as we leap into the pool together for our 8th annual New Year's wakeup!

Mile-High First Day Hike [ [link removed] ] at *Davis Mountains State Park. *Start 2026 off on the right (or left) foot by joining us on our Mile-High First Day Hike. At just over 5,000 feet in elevation, our trails offer beautiful vistas of the surrounding Davis Mountains. This moderate hike along Skyline Drive Trail will take 2 - 2.5 hours, including a break at the Scenic Overlook where we will take a First Day “selfie.”

First Day Hike - Upper Sunset & Tom Mays Trails [ [link removed] ] at *Franklin Mountains State Park. *This year we will be hiking the Upper Sunset and Tom Mays trails. This easy to moderate hike takes you along a low ridgeline west of the Tom Mays Park Access road. While there are some short steep inclines and declines, you are rewarded with great views of the valley.

2026 First Day Hikes [ [link removed] ] at *Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site. *Celebrate the first day of 2026 with an outdoor adventure! Join rangers and volunteers for a New Year’s Day hike at Hueco Tanks.

 

*More** El Paso [ [link removed] ] area events.

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