Start 2026 on the Right Foot, Take a First Day Hike!

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – The new year is just around the corner, and what better way to start it than at a Utah State Park! Parks across the state are hosting ranger-led hikes for visitors to start 2026 on the right foot, and as an additional bonus, each person who attends a first day hike can get a limited edition sticker.

Northern/Central Utah

Antelope Island State Park

This year Antelope Island will host THREE guided hikes to choose from for your annual First Day Hike tradition. Join for one, or all three!

• 10 a.m. Meet at the Gravel Pit trailhead for an approximately 5-mile round-trip hike to the historic flight beacon at Beacon Knob.
• 2 p.m. Meet at the Buffalo Point trailhead for a 1 mile round-trip hike to amazing views of Great Salt Lake and the wildlife below.
• 4 p.m. Meet at Ladyfinger Point for an easy 1/2 mile round-trip adventure through the rocks. This is a great trail for young families.

Leashed dogs are welcome on all of these trails – please plan to clean up after your dogs. No registration is required. Regular park entry fees apply. Contact tackley@utah.gov with any questions.

Jordanelle State Park

• Boardwalk Trail: Easy hike with various lengths depending on the route you take. Walk on the boardwalk alongside the river with views of the reservoir.
• 3 Rocks Trail: Moderate 1 mile round trip with steep incline and switchbacks, see the scenic overviews of the Rock Cliff area.
• The Perimeter Trail: ~300 ft elevation gain. Moderate, trail total length 15 miles but can do any portion and length desired, winding along the reservoir shoreline.

Wasatch Mountain State Park

Technically hosted on the second day of January, but for good reason. Snowshoe under the full moon at Wasatch Mountain State Park.

• 6:30 p.m. Meet at Wasatch Mountain Visitor Center Friday, Jan. 2.
• Split into difficulty groups. The easier route will stay near the pond and onto the golf course. The more difficult groups will hike nearby trails on the hillside.
• Reserve prior to attendance. Individuals can sign up here.

There is a minimum age requirement of 8 years old for participation and all children must be accompanied by an adult. No pets are allowed on the hikes.

Program cost is $7 per person. Snowshoes are available for rental at the Visitors Center for $6 a pair.

Willard Bay State Park

Enjoy the still winter waters at Willard Bay State Park for your first day hike. Travel north along Eagle Beach, along the park nature trail through the Willow Creek Campground and back along the nature trail and beach.

• 9 a.m. Meet at Willard Bay General Store. Easy, relatively flat trail. See views of the Wasatch Mountains, Willard Bay Reservoir, and get a chance to see and hear song birds, bald eagles, water fowl, and deer.

Eastern Utah

Dead Horse Point State Park

Spend your first day of 2026 overlooking the canyons of Dead Horse Point State Park. See the Bighorn Overlook, ephemeral pools, canyon walls and scenic white rim sandstone.

• 9 a.m. Meet at Dead Horse Point Visitor Center.
• Bighorn Overlook Trail. 4 mile round trip. Uneven surfaces, but little elevation gain. Snow and ice is possible.

Goblin Valley State Park

Want a otherworldly experience to start the new year? Hike through the Valley of the Goblins at Goblin Valley State Park.

• 12 p.m. meet at Observation Point
• Roughly 1 mile, a descent of about 50 steps and then uneven terrain, rated easy.
• Hike through orange hoodoos and see views of the Henry Mountains.

Southern Utah

Sand Hollow State Park

Down south? See the warm light of the first sunrise of 2026 over the blue waters and red rocks at Sand Hollow State Park.

• 7:30 a.m. Meet at the top of the Jetty by the main boat ramp.
• 3 miles total with a 1/2 way turn around point. Road base, flat, no elevation gain.
• Coffee provided.

Snow Canyon State Park

Enjoy the orange sandstone canyons of Snow Canyon State Park the first day of the year with a ranger led hike atop an extinct volcano.

• 2 miles round trip, difficult, steep slopes, loose uneven surfaces, switchbacks, 500 ft elevation gain.
• Hike among ‘lava clinkers’ as you corkscrew and switch back to the top of an extinct volcano where you can view a volcano crater and panoramic scenery of the park.
• Registration required. Please call the Snow Canyon Visitor Center at (435) 628-2255 for more information or to register. Registration opens two days prior to the event.