Free Guided First Day of the New Year Hikes Offered, Dec. 31

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) invites the public to ring in 2015 by participating in one of 31 guided hikes to take place in state parks on New Year’s Day. This is the fourth year that OPRD has participated in First Day Hikes, a nationwide initiative sponsored by America’s State Parks (www.americasstateparks.org) to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors and celebrate the New Year by getting out for a walk in a state park. Last year, more than 940 people participated in First Day Hikes in Oregon. OPRD will waive the day-use parking fees on Jan. 1 for all visitors to participating state parks that normally require a permit. 29 parks are participating in First Day Hikes this year: Coast – * Beverly Beach State Park, 10 a.m.-noon–meet at day-use parking area; * Bullards Beach State Park, 10-11:30 a.m.–meet at the campground amphitheater; * Cape Lookout State Park, noon-3 p.m.–meet at Cape Trail trailhead parking lot 2.75 miles south of campground; * Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park, 1-2 p.m.–meet in front of campground host site and wood bin; * D River State Recreation Site, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.–meet in wayside parking area near beach entrance; * Ecola State Park, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.¬–meet at the Ecola Point parking lot near Indian Beach trailhead. * Fort Stevens State Park, 9-11 a.m.–meet at Coffenbury Lake north parking lot; * Harris Beach State Park, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. –bring your bike and meet at booth parking lot. * Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park, noon -2 p.m.–meet at West Woahink Meeting Hall; * South Beach State Park, 9-10:30 a.m.–meet at day-use parking area; * Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, 10-11 a.m.–meet at Lake Marie day-use parking lot.