Texas State Parks Welcomes 2025 with Record-Breaking First Day Hikes

Austin: On January 1, Texas State Parks had a fantastic start to the year. They broke records for the third year in a row during the First Day Hikes events.

A total of 83 parks hosted 178 events, with nearly 9,500 people hiking a whopping 18,932 miles. That’s a lot of hiking! Texas led the nation in participation, which is pretty impressive.

Rodney Franklin, the director of Texas State Parks, shared his excitement. He enjoyed the day at Pedernales Falls State Park, where he spotted fossils with first-time visitors. He mentioned how great the weather was and how it’s a wonderful way to spend time outdoors with family.

Mother Neff State Park near Waco had the highest turnout, with 781 participants. Other popular spots included Brazos Bend State Park and Dinosaur Valley State Park, which also saw great numbers.

Across the country, nearly 1,500 events took place, attracting over 68,000 hikers. If you want to see some photos from the hikes, check out the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Flickr page.

There’s plenty more fun to be had at Texas State Parks this year. Whether you’re looking for easy trails for a family stroll or challenging hikes, there’s something for everyone. You can find trail maps on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website or their app.