BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. – New Year’s Day, or “First Day” hikes are catching on in the Mountain State.
Valerie Chaney is the chief naturalist for West Virginia State Parks system and works out of Cacapon State Park.
She says while First Day Hikes are catching on in West Virginia, they got their start with National Parks.
“So parks all over the country host this not just West Virginia,” she says. “You can hop on their website ‘America’s State Parks,’ you can click on any state and find a first day hike at a local state park that’s offering it.”
“This has been a tradition for many, many years and I’ve only been here for about eight years, but it’s a big thing.”
This year, because of the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday, there will be a special patch.
“It’s our nation’s 250th year of independence so so everyone who participates gets the hiking patch,” Chaney says, explaining the patch is different every year. “This one says First Day Hikes America State Parks
250th. So it’s a pretty special patch to come out and earn too.”
At Cacapon State Park last year, the First Day Hike drew 150 participants. “We have multiple trail options for everyone. You meet friends, everyone’s connecting in nature and you have different scenery. You’re listening for birds. If it’s snow on the ground, you’re looking for tracks and it’s quiet. It’s peaceful.”
It’s a chance for visitors to enjoy the outdoors, she says. “I’m a true believer that our state parks, which are our public lands are set aside for free recreation. So I would love everyone to come out and enjoy them.”
“Find one close to you but come out there and just by being in nature, I feel there’s so many health benefits of surrounding yourself in the natural world,” Chaney says.
She says some First Day hikers come out to a state park for the first time, but she’s hoping they’ll return.
At Cacapon State Park, hikers are encouraged to meet at the Nature Center at 10 a.m. to get their hike started. There, they will choose from among three trails, each varying in length and difficulty.
“We have three, and we split that up for resource protection because we don’t want to have 150 people all on one trail, of course.”
She’ll be leading a mile-long walk that starts behind their historic cabins.
“Some of those were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps the 1930’s,” she says. Of Cacapon, she says, “It’s a pretty special park. It was built by Camp Morgan and you know, with millions of young men out of the Great Depression that Franklin D Roosevelt put back into action here. They built our entire park.”
A colleague will take hikers on the Hovermale Homestead Trail. “We have a volunteer who has worked here for so many years. He’s also a Potomac Valley Master Naturalist. He’ll be leading that particular hike and the standouts of that hike. It winds along the South Fork of the Indian Run Park boundary and early Homestead location,” she says. “You can see parts of the mountain bike trail on that one. Cacapon over the last eight years has really exploded with mountain bike trails for all levels, easy all the way upt to technical.
The third trail, a 2.5 mile hike on the Laurel Trail is considered moderate for those who want a more challenging hike.
“We pretty much have everything ready to go so everyone can earn a patch. We are ready for a great day.”
Chaney says the mountain fire that burned acreage within the park Monday night into Tuesday has not affected park operations.
The park lodge will host New Year’s festivities, as well. “I think that there’s something for everybody here, so. If you don’t have any plans, come on.”
For a list of First Day Hikes in West Virginia, click here.
