A hiker at Paris Mountain State Park near Greenville. (Provided by SC Parks, Recreation and Tourism)
COLUMBIA — For a head start on any New Year’s resolutions involving exercise or spending more time outdoors, South Carolina’s state parks will offer First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day.
South Carolina will have events at 39 of its state parks and historic sites Jan. 1. That includes hikes along 41 trails, two runs, a horseback ride for those able to bring their own horses and two polar plunges.
Some events require registration or fees to attend, all of which are available on the state parks department’s website.
Rangers will lead the hikes, which include nature walks and historical tours. People wanting a more self-guided experience can still visit any of the state’s trails for their own First Day Hike, agency Director Duane Parrish said in an online letter.
“Begin the year immersed in South Carolina’s breathtaking landscapes, from serene coastal views to lush mountain forests,” Parrish wrote. “Fresh air, exercise, and the calming beauty of nature set the tone for a positive year ahead.”
Participants will receive commemorative stickers and car decals, as long as supplies last, according to the parks department.
Runners can register for races at Rose Hill Plantation Historic Site and Devils Fork State Park.
The annual Devils Fork 5K costs $35. The $10 Rose Hill Plantation event includes a history lesson as participants run 1.6 miles to recognize the endurance of the people once enslaved on the Union property, according to the event’s website.
To start the new year off with a chill, Paris Mountain and Hunting Island state parks will offer plunges into Lake Placid and the Atlantic Ocean, respectively.
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Funds raised from the Paris Mountain plunge, which costs $20 per adult and $10 per child, will go to cleaning up damage to the park caused by Tropical Storm Helene. The Hunting Island Pelican Plunge includes a costume parade and prizes, with tickets priced at $10 per adult and $5 per child.
First Day Hikes, which are offered across the country, first began in 1992 in Massachusetts. The idea grew in popularity in 2012, when South Carolina started offering its designated hikes. Every state now offers some form of First Day Hikes, according to America’s State Parks, which represents parks across the country.
Following the success of the New Year’s Day events, some parks expanded the program to offer hikes on the first of every month this year, according to the state parks department.