‘Building connections to public lands’: Start 2024 with a First Day Hike in the Lehigh Valley

BUSHKILL TWP., Pa. — It can be intimidating to hike alone, especially for women.

“I've gotten calls from folks — How do you stay safe? What do you carry?” said Lauren Forster, environmental education specialist supervisor with the state Bureau of State Parks at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center.

"There are a lot of people who maybe aren't good at directions or map-reading and they just want a group to hike with so they know they're not going to get lost.

“Or, they want a group to hike with to help keep them committed to staying healthy and committed to hiking and First Day Hikes is here to start off that — that goal of setting that intention to be outdoors during the year and enjoy outdoor spaces.”

This New Year’s Day, tens of thousands of people across the country, including dozens in the Lehigh Valley, will take a guided hike through a state park to mark the beginning of 2024.

An annual tradition for at least a decade in the commonwealth, the goal of the hike is to provide an opportunity for residents to start their year off by exercising while connecting with nature, officials said.

“First Day Hikes are always a great way to start the new year in natural spaces, and this year we are focusing on building connections to public lands,” Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said in a news release.

“Whether it is learning about the wonderful programs we offer at our parks, finding a new recreational hobby, or learning about the history of Pennsylvania through public lands, we encourage Pennsylvanians and visitors to connect more in 2024.”

‘Savor the beauty’

Nationwide, about 55,000 people in 2023 participated in First Day Hikes, covering more than 133,000 miles, according to the American Hiking Society.

“First Day Hikes are led by knowledgeable state park staff and volunteers,” according to the society’s website. “The distance and rigor vary from park to park, but all hikes aim to create a fun experience for the whole family.

“People are invited to savor the beauty of the state park’s natural resources with the comfort of an experienced guide so they may be inspired to take advantage of these local treasures throughout the year.”

However, the history of the movement is somewhat murky.

While some officials say First Day Hikes originated more than two decades ago in Massachusetts, their start in Pennsylvania came in 2012, when the National Association of State Park Directors held hikes in all 50 states.

In addition to the guided hikes, many state parks also have self-guided hikes, story walks and adventure labs available year-round, officials said.

“Our state parks and forests are open for healthy outdoor adventures in all four seasons, and we are hopeful that people use First Day Hikes to explore what our public lands have to offer,” Dunn said.

“Thank you to the DCNR staff and volunteers who make these hikes interactive and enjoyable for visitors, new and old alike.”

Pennsylvania's natural spaces boost its economy, with nearly 40 million people visiting state parks annually, officials said this year.

The commonwealth’s outdoor sector adds $14 billion to its economy and accounts for 152,000 jobs, they said.

Women in the wild

DCNR officials have scheduled nearly 60 guided hikes in 43 state parks and two forest districts.

In the Valley, those include hikes at Jacobsburg, Lehigh Gorge State Park, Beltzville State Park and Delaware Canal State Park.

Of this year’s three scheduled hikes at Jacobsburg — all full with only waitlist spaces left — one is specifically for women.

The 3-mile, afternoon hike, led by Forster, also is the kick-off for Women in the Wild, a series geared specifically toward women interested in outdoor activities.

“The Women in the Wild series [aims] to teach women outdoor skills in a less masculine space,” she said. “Because a lot of folks say they're afraid to learn these skills or they were never taught these skills because they're very male-dominated sphere.

“So they feel more comfortable doing those things when they know it's just a group of women, or women teaching them those outdoor skills that are kind of a male-dominated sport, like fishing.”

The series will extend throughout the year, she said, all led by women state park employees throughout the region.

While the hikes at Jacobsburg are scheduled for 3 miles, the distance is dependent on the people who show up.

“Most of Jacobsburg trails are relatively easy," Forster said. "We're not doing anything difficult — I'd say maybe 80 to 100 feet elevation gain over the course of a mile.

“And we're going to be mostly on our Homestead Trail, which starts at our visitor center and goes through some wooded areas to our wildflower and warm season grass fields.

“Once we get to the highest point of the trail, there's a nice view of the Blue Mountain, the Kittatinny ridge, and then we'll kind of start descending a little bit and we'll get a nice picturesque view of the village of Belfast.

"And then we'll head into the woods a little bit and finish out the hike so it's going to be a round trip.”

With several intersecting trails, it’s easy to shorten the hike depending on ability level, she said.

However, residents don’t need to sign up for a guided hike to participate. Especially with local events full, those who feel comfortable can always set out on their own.

“I would encourage folks to look for First Day Hikes happening in other places or just do their own,” Forster said. “I have a group of friends — they're all comfortable outdoor people —they're gonna come hike here at Jacobsburg on their own, self-organized.”

A list of guided First Day Hikes is posted on the state DCNR’s website.