First Day Hikes

The new year is upon us and many of us are ready to put 2020 behind us. Most of our state parks are sponsoring First Day Hikes, some of them will even be lead by one of the Rangers.  Social distancing of course remains a courtesy we can all be mindful of and I am proud to see that our hiking community in central Florida has been consistently respectful of others while outdoors in a public venue. THANK YOU!

We have seen lots of wildlife this year and we are noticing more people are discovering the satisfaction that comes from getting out in the wild and joining us on the trails. We are not yet sure which park we will hike to ring in the new year, but we can say with certainty that we will enjoy starting off the new year with wilderness adventure and will not mind distancing ourselves from the chaos of front row celebrations.  If you have never been in the woods during celebrations that include fireworks, try to get away from the city celebrations and try one of the night hikes, or go camping. It will be an experience you will not forget, and if you love photography, the silhouette of the forest against a sky painted with fireworks is breathtaking. It’s a little surreal to be in the dark serenity of the forest and witness from afar, an event that you know is a stark contrast to your experience.