Want to get your new year off on the right foot?
Rangers and volunteers will lead 37 guided First Day Hikes at 30 parks around the state on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2025, over distances ranging from a quarter-mile stroll to a 5-mile trek. Hikes are free, and the $5 day-use parking fee is waived on that day at the state parks that charge for parking.
America’s State Parks sponsors the First Day Hikes program nationwide to encourage everyone to start the year outside and connect with nature. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has participated since 2012.
“First Day Hikes has become a fun tradition for both visitors and staff on New Year’s Day. Rangers and volunteers get a chance to share park history, geology, wildlife and plants, and visitors get to experience an adventure with friends and family to start the new year,” said Lisa Sumption, director of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
Visit the Oregon First Day Hikes web page for a list of all the hikes and additional hike information such as hike times, meet-up locations and trail terrain are available via the park links on the web page.
If you have questions about accessibility or to request reasonable accommodations needed for you to participate in a hike, see contact information for each of the hikes.
Remember to plan for winter weather, dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, bring water and carry binoculars for viewing wildlife. Snacks are recommended as well for longer hikes.
The day-use parking fee is waived that day for all state parks that require a parking permit and are open
Here are some of the hikes located closest to Sweet Home and Lebanon:
Detroit Lake: 1.5-mile hike along the east-side Camp Perimeter Trail, where you’ll enjoy scenic views of the lake, a temperate rainforest, and Mt. Jefferson. A park ranger will be on hand to discuss cultural, historical, and ecological topics during the hike, making the experience even more enriching. Registration is required.
The hike begins at 10:30 a.m. at the viewing deck located to the right of the Visitors Center, just behind the Old Tree Ring cutout. There is a parking area in front of the Visitors Center, and additional parking will be available in the E-loop if needed.The trail consists of dirt, wood chips, and gravel, and is generally even. An adjacent park road can be used for strollers, wheelchairs, and those with mobility issues.
Friendly dogs are welcome on 6-foot leashes. No smoking.
Participants should dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes suitable for ice and snow, bring water and snacks, use hand warmers for warmth, and carry a camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing.
For more information, call (503) 854-3766.
Silver Falls North Rim Trail: Join park staff for a 1½-mile hike at 9 a.m. and again at 11 a.m. on the newly opened North Rim Trail. The 9 a.m. hike begins at the North Canyon Trailhead and will traverse ¾ mile to the North Falls viewpoint. Visitors will get to explore the amazing diversity of lichens found at Silver Falls. Pets are allowed on leash.
The 11 a.m. hike will begin at the North Canyon Trailhead and traverse ¾ mile to the North Falls viewpoint. Visitors will get a chance to use all of their senses to the during the hike and learn how to prepare for a trip in the outdoors.
Pets are allowed on leash.
The North Rim Trail has a surface of compacted gravel, is 6 feet wide, and has a slope of less than 5%. Most mobility devices can navigate this trail.
The North Canyon Trailhead is located at Milepost 28 on Oregon Highway 214, 3 miles north of the South Falls day-use area. Look for “First Day Hike” signs to direct you to the meeting point.
For more information, call the park at (503) 873-8681.
Elijah Bristow State Park: This approximately three-mile loop along the Middle Fork Willamette River and Channel Lake is a relatively flat, easy hike on compacted gravel trail. The trail winds through open meadows and fields, cottonwood and conifer forests, and along Lost Creek and the Middle Fork Willamette River. It’s a peaceful way to enter the New Year. Participants can watch for birds, beaver, deer, and possibly even elk.
Begin at 10 a.m. at the main parking lot at the end of the park road within Elijah Bristow State Park, near the restroom building. Park address: 38263 Wheeler Rd Dexter.
Dogs should be left at home for this one.
No registration is required. Snacks and collector lapel pins will be provided by park staff.
For more information, contact Tabbi Sprague at (541) 912-3785.
A First Day horseback trail ride will also be hosted at Elijah Bristow, led by Oregon Equestrian Trails after an 11 a.m. potluck
For more information, check out the calendar at https://www.
Spring Valley Access Trail on New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1. Spring Valley Access is a 177-acre day-use park along the west bank of the Willamette River. The entrance is 10 miles north of Salem along Highway 221, also known as Wallace Road.
Winter in the valley is often described as dark, dull and devoid of color. This is not true on the Spring Valley Access Trail. Join this guided walk in the woods and discover the colors of winter that native plants provide and what makes them unique. Meet at 10 a.m. at the parking lot of the Spring Valley Access Trail near the kiosk, located at 8900 Wallace Road NW.
The trail is a natural trail surface with some incline exceeding 5%. There may be standing water in some places and the trail is not wheelchair friendly. Dogs are not allowed. Registration is required.
For more information, contact Park Ranger Steve Hernandez at (503) 586-8134.
Haceta Head Lighthouse: Enjoy a scenic self-guided half-mile hike from the parking lot to Oregon’s most photographed lighthouse from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Volunteers will be onsite at the lighthouse to provide historical information and answer questions. Visitors can also view several native species of animals and discover coastal plant life atop the stunning Heceta Head. Guests will be allowed into the first floor of the lighthouse from 11-2 and learn what the life of a lighthouse keeper and their families were like 130 years ago. Photo opportunities galore here where the forest meets the sea!
Hikers can also explore miles of additional trails from the lighthouse to several scenic overlooks.