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Vermont State Parks will host free guided hikes at locations throughout the state on January 1, 2026, continuing an annual tradition that invites residents to start the new year outdoors.
The First Day Hikes program includes 18 hikes ranging from easy family walks to challenging mountain ascents, led by volunteers from organizations including the Green Mountain Club, Otter Creek Audubon Society, and South Hero Land Trust, along with state parks staff.
Program Details
State park entry is free on New Year’s Day and throughout the winter season. The hikes span all regions of Vermont, from Brighton State Park in the Northeast Kingdom to Button Bay State Park in Addison County.
Options include a two-mile bird-watching walk at Button Bay, a moderate trek to Big Deer Mountain in Groton State Forest, and a difficult climb to the summit of Camel’s Hump. Several hikes explore historical sites, including a tour of slate quarries at Bomoseen State Park and a journey through the former Little River settlement.
Registration Required
Vermont State Parks is asking participants to pre-register by contacting individual hike leaders, whose contact information is listed on the program’s official page. Some hikes have group size limits.
Participants should dress for winter conditions and bring snowshoes or traction aids depending on snow and ice conditions. Hike leaders will contact registered participants if weather conditions require cancellation.
What Happens Next
Registration for individual hikes is now open through the contact information provided for each hike leader. Updates to the schedule will be posted to the state parks First Day Hikes webpage.
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Categories: Outdoors
“The hikes span all regions of Vermont, from Brighton State Park in the Northeast Kingdom to Button Bay State Park in Addison County.” ‘All regions of Vermont’? Guess Bennington and Windham Counties are not in Vermont!
To quote Maxwell Smart, “they missed it by this much”.
Whenever some state agency promotes some program as being “free”, it should be known that if you are a contributing, taxpaying member of society, you are already paying for it. Nothing is “free”.
The state parks are not yours as the paid operators want you to register and be guided as you are not smart enough to walk in your park by yourself. Note that it is only free during the winter.
Totally in agreement Richard.
Real Vermonters don’t need to be guided on these trails, but for the safety of newbies probably a good idea, so not to get lost and need rescuing.
(Sorry, not sorry 😉)
I have no issue with this program.
It promotes VT’s outdoor beauty and its recreational activities & venues.
Geesh….having traditional or conservative viewpoints doesn’t require being angry or resentful at everything.
And anything can happen to anyone at anytime – whatever being a “real” Vermonter means (impervious to life??) which was how, as but one example, a lifelong Rupert woman was found frozen to death right outside her home two years ago after presumably going out to the curbside to retrieve mail and fell.
Please.
Nice, wholesome program.
If we want to promote outdoor recreation, I would rather the funding went to increasing the parking facilities at trailheads, which are often full on weekends and some are now posting signs indicating that any parking along the roadway, even in summer will face towing. Most people can find their way around just fine without a tour guide. Vermont agencies are brainwashed with the notion that people are generally helpless and need someone from government to hold their hand.