(Area) Forty-nine state parks throughout Iowa will participate in First Day Hikes on Wednesday.
The annual tradition is gaining traction according to Brian Hayes with the DNR Office in Lewis. “These First Day Hikes in the state parks have been a growing thing. We see more participation and more parks getting involved. It’s just a good way to kick off the new year.”
The DNR and the various state parks relish the opportunity to show what Iowa’s parks have to offer. “We are excited to host people in these state parks and show off the natural resources that these parks contain.”
Lake Anita will host a First Day Hike beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the campground check in station. “They have a couple of different routes that you can choose from. They have a route that’s a mile long and if you do the entire loop around the lake it’s a little over four miles.”
Last year Hayes reports more than 1,400 people participated in First Day Hikes and logged over 1,100 miles.