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First Day Hikers Log 8,000 Miles on New Year’s Day

Participation Triples Thanks to Warm Weather

Photo of Hikers at Gunpowder Falls State Park

First Day Hikers at Gunpowder Falls State Park

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources welcomed approximately 3,700 hikers on 36 hikes at 32 state parks this New Year’s Day as part of the annual First Day Hikes initiative. Hikers trekked about 8,500 miles on trails in every corner of Maryland.

Maryland Park Service rangers, staff and volunteers guided hikers of all experience levels joining the ever-growing ranks of hikers ringing in the new year on the trail. Among them was Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford, who hiked with Natural Resources Deputy Secretary Joanne Throwe at Patapsco Valley State Park.

“It was wonderful to start off the year hiking with fellow Marylanders at one of our treasured state parks,” Lt. Governor Rutherford said. “From the sandy shorelines of the Eastern Shore to high perches of Mountain Maryland, I encourage everyone to get outdoors in 2019 and experience all that our great state has to offer.”

With warm, mild weather for most of the day, participation nearly tripled over 2018, and miles hiked more than doubled the record set in 2017.

Maryland First Day Hikes 2019
State Park Participants Total Miles 
Assateague 158 158
Calvert Cliffs 250 900
Cedarville 85 170
Chapman 65 130
Cunningham Falls 49 147
Dans Mountain 8 8
Deep Creek 54 108
Elk Neck 73 146
Fair Hill 120 600
Fort Frederick 46 138
Gambrill 170 340
Greenbrier 150 225
Greenwell 133 199.5
Gunpowder – Jerusalem Mill 239 597.5
Gunpowder – Sweet Air 19 57
Harriet Tubman 147 220.5
Herrington Manor 18 18
Janes Island 60 180
Martinak 25 25
Merkle 42 147
New Germany 74 74
North Point 84 168
Patapsco – Daniels 158 474
Patapsco – McKeldin 159 397.5
Patapsco – Orange Grove 80 160
Patuxent River 210 462
Pocomoke 20 20
Rocks 58 58
Rocky Gap 26 78
Sandy Point 206 618
Seneca 167 434.2
Soldiers Delight 74 74
South Mountain 64 128
Susquehanna 340 680
Tuckahoe 65 130
TOTAL 3,696.0 8,470.2

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