First Day Hikes

What better way to kick off the New Year than with a visit to one of our South Carolina State Parks!

On New Year’s Day, the South Carolina State Park Service will once again be celebrating with First Day Hikes. These hikes provide a means for individuals and families to welcome the coming year in the outdoors, exercising and connecting with nature. For many, it has become a tradition. Events include traditional hikes, horseback rides, bike rides, and 5Ks.

Share your 2026 First Day Hike moments with us by using #SCStateParks and #FirstDayHikes on social media!

Visitors will receive a commemorative sticker and a car decal while supplies last.

Check out a list of events below and visit our Program and Events page for all events!**

First Day Hikes- January 1, 2026
- First Day Hikes- January 1, 2026
- Andrew Jackson
- Battle of Musgrove Mill
  - Horseshoe Falls Accessible Trail
  - Battlefield Trail
  - British Camp Trail
- Battle of Rivers Bridge
- Caesars Head
  - Wildcat Wayside
  - Raven Cliff Falls
- Calhoun Falls
- Cheraw
- Chester
- Colleton
- Colonial Dorchester
- Croft
- Devils Fork First Day 5K Ranger Run
- Dreher Island
- Edisto Beach
- Goodale
- Hampton Plantation
- Hickory Knob
- Hunting Island
- Huntington Beach
- Keowee-Toxaway
- Kings Mountain
  - Kings Mountain Horseback ride
  - Kings Mountain Hike
- Lake Greenwood
- Lake Hartwell
- Lake Wateree
- Landsford Canal
- Lee
  - Lee First Day Hike
  - Lee First Day Horseback Ride
- Little Pee Dee
- May Forest
- Myrtle Beach
- Oconee
- Oconee Station
- Paris Mountain
- Pine Island
- Poinsett
  - Poinsett Bike Ride
  - Poinsett Scout Trail Hike
  - Poinsett Coquina, Laurel, and Splice Trails Hike
- Redcliffe Plantation
- Rose Hill Resistance Run
- Sadlers Creek
- Santee
  - Sinkhole Pond Nature Trail
  - Limestone Nature Trail
- Sesquicentennial
- Table Rock
  - CCC Lakeside Trail
  - Stool Mountain
First Day Plunge
- Friends of Paris Mountain Paris Plunge
- Friends of Hunting Island Pelican Plunge

**Please note there may be other events that are listed later. Check our Programs & Events, or contact the park you are interested in, directly.

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Use #SCStateParks and your content could be featured here! You can also upload your photos for us to use across South Carolina State Parks' Marketing by using the Public Uploader and agreeing to the Terms & Conditions.