Kick off New Year with First Day Hikes

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LINCOLN, Neb. — Kick off the new year in the great outdoors by participating in First Day Hikes at Nebraska’s state parks Jan. 1.

Join in one of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s planned hikes and enjoy the activities that go along with it, or create your own adventure by exploring trails, watching wildlife, or snapping photos at any state park.

Activities include a fruitcake fling and gnome hunt at Ponca State Park, snowball toss at Indian Cave State Park, sledding at Sherman Reservoir State Recreation Area, or a scavenger hunt at Red Willow SRA, among others. Bring your dog, but be sure to keep him or her on a leash. Hikes are planned at:

Hikes are planned at:

Buffalo Bill State Historical Park

Calamus SRA

Chadron SP

Fort Kearny SRA

Indian Cave SP

Johnson Lake SRA

Lake Ogallala SRA

Louisville SRA

Mormon Island SRA

Platte River SP

Ponca SP

Red Willow SRA

Rock Creek Station SHP

Schramm Education Center

Sherman Reservoir SRA

Wagon Train SRA

Wildcat Hills SRA

Windmill SRA

Branched Oak Lake SRA also will be hosting a horse trail ride. For more details, including start times for all First Day Hikes, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/FirstDayHikes.

A valid Nebraska state park permit is required for all vehicles entering park areas; 2022 permits are available for purchase at park offices or at OutdoorNebraska.org.

Those participating in the hikes are encouraged to tag @ NEGameandParks in their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram posts for a chance to be featured on the agency’s social streams.