IOWA – What’s the best way to spend New Year’s Day? Take a First Day Hike in an Iowa state park or forest!

More than 40 parks including Union Grove State Park near Gladbrook (details below) are hosting either a guided group hike or suggesting a self-guided hike on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Hikers can expect to be surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, and experience spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s state parks.

“We are excited to host First Day Hikes again, helping visitors experience Iowa state parks and forests year-round,” Sherry Arntzen, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ State Parks, Forests and Preserves Bureau, said. “These hikes are a great way to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature and welcome the New Year with friends and family.”

Staff and volunteers will lead free, guided First Day Hikes in 26 participating state parks. Some hikes will include wildlife viewing and hot beverages. Hikes will average one to two miles, or longer, depending on location.

Union Grove State Park’s First Day Hike

Visitors to Union Grove State Park located south of Gladbrook and northwest of Garwin, are invited to enjoy this self-guided out-and-back South Trail Hike, which is about 1.5 miles in length.

Start at the parking lot near the spillway/waterfall area at 220th Street and C Ave. The South Trail starts across the bridge.

Hike to the dam, going across and up the hill near the dam parking lot. Turn right part way up the hill to stay on the trail, which continues below Union Grove’s cabins and campground. The bridge west of the campground is a great spot to turn around.

The trail is mostly grass and is considered a moderate hike.

For more information, call (641) 473-2556.

Union Grove State Park is located at 1215 220th Street in rural Gladbrook.

First Day Hikes throughout Iowa

Details about all the hikes can be found at www.iowadnr.gov/firstdayhikes.

Participating parks and forests are listed below; guided hikes are listed with an asterisk.

-Backbone State Park*

-Big Creek State Park

-Bellevue State Park

-Black Hawk State Park

-Brushy Creek State Recreation Area*

-Cedar Rock State Park*

-Dolliver Memorial State Park

-Elk Rock State Park

-Geode State Park*

-George Wyth State Park

-Green Valley State Park

-Gull Point State Park

-Honey Creek State Park*

-Lacey-Keosauqua State Park*

-Lake Ahquabi State Park

-Lake Anita State Park*

-Lake Darling State Park*

-Lake Keomah State Park

-Lake Macbride State Park*

-Lake of Three Fires State Park

-Lake Wapello State Park

-Ledges State Park*

-Lewis and Clark State Park

-Maquoketa Caves State Park

-Mines of Spain State Recreation Area*

-Nine Eagles State Park

-Palisades-Kepler State Park*

-Pikes Peak State Park*

-Pilot Knob State Park*

-Pine Lake State Park

-Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area*

-Prairie Rose State Park*

-Rock Creek State Park

-Springbrook State Park

-Stone State Park*

-Union Grove State Park

-Viking Lake State Park

-Volga River State Recreation Area

-Walnut Woods State Park

-Wapsipinicon State Park

-Waubonsie State Park*

-Wildcat Den State Park

-Yellow River State Forest*