Celebrate the New Year with “First Day Hikes”

Updated:
First Day Hikes in New Jersey 2024.

A hike is a great way to kick off the New Year. There is nothing like fresh air and an invigorating hike on the first day of the year.

It’s also not a bad way to shake off some holiday over-indulgence… although, in our opinion, leftover holiday cookies count as “trail mix”.

For New Year’s Day hike ideas to do on your own, try our Top 10 Hikes in NJ, Best Hikes in NJ, Best Hikes Central Jersey, Best Hikes South Jersey, Easy Hikes, or our Hike Finder map.

For group hikes check out one of the First Day Hikes that the New Jersey State Parks are holding across the state on January 1, 2024 plus a few more listed below.

And for links to First Day Hikes for each of the 50 states, visit America’s State Parks.

Blue trail marker on a tree along a snowy path in a pine forest.

Some New Jersey First Day Hikes for 2024 include:

For times, meeting locations, and more information for the State Park events listed below check the New Jersey State Park’s First Day Hikes page. Note the first two listings are on New Year’s Eve.

  • Cheesequake New Year’s Eve Hike (Dec 31) – Moderate ~ 3 miles
  • Hacklebarney’s 100th Year Hike (Dec 31) – Moderate ~ 5 miles
  • High Point “First Day Challenge” Hike – Difficult to Strenuous ~ 6 miles
  • Paulinskill Valley Trail – Annual New Year’s Day Hike – Moderate ~ 4 miles
  • Wawayanda State Park – Hike Around the Lake – Moderate ~ 5.5 miles
  • Warren Highlands Trail – Difficult, all-day, not for beginners ~ 9 or 15 miles
  • Liberty State Park – Caven Point – Easy ~ 3 miles
  • Allaire State Park First Day Hike – Moderate ~ 4 miles
  • D&R Canal / Mapleton Preserve – Moderate ~ 1.5 miles
  • D&R Canal / Washington Crossing – Titusville Loop – Easy ~ 2.5 miles
  • D&R Canal / Tour of Trenton – Moderate ~ 3.5 miles
  • Washington Crossing Red Dot Trail – Moderate ~ 2 miles
  • Forest Resource Education Center – Moderate ~ 3 miles
  • Island Beach – First Day Hike – Easy ~ 1 mile
  • Monmouth Battlefield – Perrine Hill and Sutfin Farm Hiking Tour – Easy ~ 2 miles
Bright blue reservoir in winter.
  • Round Valley Recreation Area – First Day Hike – Moderate ~ 2.5 miles
  • Bass River State Forest – Easy ~ 2.5 miles
  • Brendan T. Byrne State Forest – Easy ~ 2-2.5 miles
  • Brendan T. Byrne State Forest – Cranberry Trail – Moderate ~ 6 miles
  • Belleplain State Forest – First Day Dog Hike – Moderate ~ 6 miles
  • Belleplain State Forest – First Day Nature Hike – Easy ~ 3-3.5 miles
  • Double Trouble State Park – Easy ~ 1.5 miles
  • Parvin First of the Year Nature Walk – Easy ~ 3 miles
  • Tall Pines – Annual First Day Hike – Moderate ~ 1.5 miles
  • Wharton State Forest – Sunrise Hike to Apple Pie Hill and tower climb – Moderate ~ 2.5 miles
  • Wharton State Forest – Carranza Memorial to Apple Pie Hill and tower climb – Moderate ~ 8 miles

2024 First Day Hikes in New Jersey (other than State Parks)

Yards Creek Preserve – Blairstown, NJ
11:00 AM
Get the new year started right with some fresh air, exercise, and time in nature. Hike out to the meadow and back at Yards Creek Preserve. RSVP.

White Lake Natural Resource Area First Day Hike – Hardwick, NJ
10:00am to 12:00pm
1:00pm to 3:00pm
Join Park Naturalist, Jennifer Correa-Kruegel, for a beautiful 4 miles hike around White Lake on New Year’s Day. Please come prepared if you would like to hike the entirety of the trail as it could take more than 2 hours depending on how often we stop for observations.

If you would like to shorten your hike, there will be opportunities for you to break from the group and loop back early. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are permitted and to be cleaned up after. Please sign up in advance for one of the two times.


Snow covered trail with footsteps and sunlight streaming through bare trees.

2024 First Day Hikes near New Jersey (PA/NY)…

Washington Crossing Historic Park – Washington Crossing, PA
10:00am – 11:00am
Start your New Year and 2024 off right with a moderate 2-mile hike through the crisp January air!
Register and receive the meeting location for this program.

Ralph Stover State Park – Pipersville, PA
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Welcome in the new year by joining us for a ~2.5 mile hike over uneven terrain with a few steep hills on one of the most beautiful trails in the county!  We will hike at a slow pace so that we can enjoy the sights and sounds of nature along the way. Please register for this program.

Wissahickon Creek Gorge – Pennsylvania
1:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Batona Hiking Club. 6 miles. There are parking lots at the bottom of Wises Mill Road and along Valley Green Road. From there, walk down the hill to Valley Green Inn. RSVP required. $1.00.

More… First Day Hikes in Pennsylvania


Sterling Forest State Park – New York
10:00 AM
Mild 4 Mile hike around scenic Sterling Lake. Along the way hikers will enjoy historic structures of the iron industry, some predating the revolutionary war. Event is weather permitting – We will call registered participant in case of cancellation. Trail is not maintained so wear appropriate foot wear and attire. Bring water and a snack. Registration: Required.

More… First Day Hikes in New York.

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