First Day Hikes Kick Off 2020
News Release, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
About 5,000 hikers took advantage of sunny and mild weather New Year’s Day, joining the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in the state’s annual First Day Hikes initiative. Hikers logged more than 10,000 miles on trails in parks and public lands all across Maryland.
Park rangers, staff, and volunteers guided hikers of all experience levels ringing in the new year on the trail. With 43 hikes at more than 30 locations, the Maryland Park Service registered 3,834 hikers participating in guided hikes, while 1,152 people hiked 1,516 miles on their own — a grand total of 4,986 hikers, not counting many who didn’t check in with a ranger. Even more people hiked in Maryland’s state forests, wildlife management areas, and other public lands.
Among those hiking was Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford, who trekked with Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and about 250 fellow hikers at Patuxent River State Park in Howard and Montgomery counties.
“First Day Hikes are a great way to spend New Year’s Day,” Lt. Governor Rutherford said. “Special thanks go to the rangers, volunteers and all the folks who joined us — I’m already looking forward to next year.”
This year’s attendance broke the record set New Year’s Day 2019, when more than 3,700 people hiked 8,500 miles on 36 different First Day Hikes throughout Maryland — triple the previous year’s numbers.
Maryland First Day Hikes 2020 State Park Participants Total Miles Assateague 253 253 Calvert Cliffs 200 720 Cedarville 52 78 Chapman 111 277.5 Cunningham Falls 51 153 Dans Mountain 18 18 Elk Neck 37 74 Fair Hill 100 500 Fort Frederick 96 192 Gambrill 275 550 Gathland 40 40 Greenwell 39 78 Gunpowder – Jerusalem Mill 500 1,250 Gunpowder – Torrey C. Brown (bike) 4 20 Harriet Tubman 158 237 Herrington Manor 38 38 Janes Island 30 90 Martinak 59 59 Merkle 116 406 New Germany 85 170 North Point 67 134 Patapsco – Cascade 12 6 Patapsco – McKeldin 97 388 Patuxent River 350 700 Pocomoke 52 78 Rocks 130 130 Rocky Gap 112 240.8 Sandy Point 232 696 Sang Run 6 12 Seneca 120 240 Susquehanna 289 578 Swallow Falls 5 6.25 Tuckahoe 43 86 Wye Island 57 85.5 Guided Hikes TOTAL 3,834 8,584.05 Gathland – Self-Guided 132 132 Greenbrier – Self-Guided 101 101 Patapsco-Union Dam – Self-Guided 264 396 Patapsco-Soldiers Delight – Self-Guided 155 387.5 Cunningham Falls – Self-Guided 500 500 Self-Guided Hikes TOTAL 1,152 1,516.5 All Hikes TOTAL 4,986 10,100.55
