Enjoy a First Day Hike at Colorado State Parks on Jan. 1
Bridget O'Rourke
Photos by CPW/Ryan Jones
DENVER — On Jan. 1, 2024, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) invites you to participate in a First Day Hike at a Colorado state park. First Day Hikes offers a chance to start 2024 off on the right foot by exercising in nature. Each participating state park provides a unique opportunity to enjoy self-guided hikes, scavenger hunts or guided hikes.
About First Day Hikes
- Hikes are free, but park visitors must possess a valid state park pass (this includes a Keep Colorado Wild Pass purchased through the DMV during a vehicle registration).
- Participating parks may require a reservation before the hike; check the park’s webpage for details.
- Hikes will vary in skill level and length depending on location and weather conditions.
- Bring snacks, water, extra clothing, and hiking shoes with good traction. If trails are icy or snowy, consider bringing trekking poles, snowshoes, or shoe spikes.
- Know Before You Go - Plan your visit with the Colorado State Parks Guide (el folleto de parques en Español) and online CPW Park Finder Tool.
- Stick To Trails- Download the COTREX app to discover Colorado’s network of trails.
- Leave It As You Find It- Parking in designated areas is critical — undesignated parking can destroy vegetation, ignite wildfires in dry grass, and block first-responder vehicles in case of an emergency.
- Trash the Trash - Dispose of trash properly when on the trail; this includes dog waste bags.
- Keep Wildlife Wild- Help prevent conflicts with wildlife by keeping your dogs on a leash and watching wild animals from a safe distance to avoid startling or forcing them to flee.
For a complete list of participating parks, visit the CPW Event Calendar or find park activities on each state park’s social media account. Links are on the social media page. A few featured hikes are listed below.
Highline Lake State Park
Learn the Bird - First Day Hike
The main self-guided hike will be along the Highline Lake Trail (3.3 miles) and will have a secondary trail set in the campground (~0.4 miles completely paved) for families with small kids or visitors with wheelchairs. There will be eight stations that highlight local bird species that look alike. Once visitors finish hiking, they will return to the Visitor Center and play bird bingo with a chance to win gift certificates, calendars, a bird feeder, and other prizes.
Barr Lake State Park
First Day Hike 2024
Join us for a chilly guided nature walk and enjoy hot beverages and soup afterward. Dogs are welcome but cannot walk through the wildlife refuge. Please sign up ahead of the hike.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
First Day Hike 2024
Join us for a volunteer-led hike on the Horseshoe Trail. Meet at the Visitor Center at 10:30 am. There will be coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and snacks.
State Forest State Park
First Day Hike 2024
Join us for a snowshoeing hike around the Gould Loop with a CPW Park Ranger. Bring your snowshoes for this hike and meet us at the State Forest Moose Visitor Center. A vehicle state park pass is required.
Fishers Peak State Park
Our event will be 10 am-2 pm, and we will offer two hike options, one led by staff and the other self-guided (Goldenrod, Upper Lone Cub, and Lower Lone Cub). We will provide sweet treats and a hot chocolate bar.
Eldorado Canyon State Park
Coffee, tea, and bagels will be available at the Visitors Center at 10 am, followed by a 2-mile guided hike up Eldorado Canyon Trail. We are also offering a self-guided interpretive Nature Walk up Fowler Trail.
Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Join us for different options of guided hikes in varying distances and difficulties: An Adventure Hike, Jr. Ranger Hike, and hikes ranging from 1-5 miles. There are 17 "First Day Cookies" hidden on all the trails, and park visitors can bring them to the Visitor Center for a special prize. There is a hot chocolate/cookie station and information about the park and the agency in the Visitor Center.
Ridgway State Park
Join us for a guided hike from 10 am -12 pm. We will have a 1-mile hike on Forest Discovery and meet at the Visitor Center. Potential other hike options will be Pinyon Park, Wapiti, Cookie Tree, and Enchanted Mesa. Hot chocolate or tea will be available.
Vega State Park
We will be doing a snowshoe hike, pending the weather. The hike will be 1-mile, and hot drinks will be provided at the Visitor Center.
Arkansas Headwaters State Park
Loop hike in the area of the Old Midland Railroad Grade and Forest Service Road #376A, to the north and east of the parking area or, with heavier snow conditions, the railroad grade east of the parking area and connecting trails. The hike will be 4 miles round trip.
__________
Join us in keeping Colorado, Colorado. Learn more about the $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass and how it benefits Colorado at: cpw.info/keepcoloradowild and cpw.info/keepcoloradowildspanish.
Join us in keeping Colorado, Colorado. Learn more about the $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass and how it benefits Colorado at: cpw.info/keepcoloradowild and cpw.info/keepcoloradowildspanish.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.