Start your New Year with Tennessee State Parks First Day Hikes

Eagle Point Trail at Mousetail Landing State Park (Alaina Broyles)

These Tennessee State Parks in South Central Tennessee will be welcoming the New Year on the trail:

• Head of the Crow State Park—Sewanee

• Mousetail Landing State Park – Linden

• Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park – Manchester

• Henry Horton State Park – Chapel Hill

• Tims Ford State Park – Winchester

• David Crockett State Park – Lawrenceburg

Each of these parks offers something different—waterfalls, river views, ancient history, quiet forests, and wide-open winter landscapes. Whether you’re walking beneath limestone bluffs, along a lake shoreline, or through a historic ceremonial site, January brings a peaceful stillness you don’t often find the rest of the year.

Why Start the Year on the Trail?

First Day Hikes aren’t about speed or distance. They’re about starting fresh. Kids and adults across the country will be doing the exact same thing on January 1—stepping outside, getting their hearts pumping, and welcoming the New Year with intention.

It’s also one of the easiest ways to experience a Tennessee State Park if you’re new to hiking. Rangers lead the way, share stories about the land, and help create an environment that feels welcoming rather than intimidating.

Plan Your Hike

For full details, including hike descriptions, start times, and updates, visit the official Tennessee State Parks First Day Hikes page:👉 https://tnstateparks.com/about/special-events/first-day-hikes/

So before you lock in a resolution you’ll forget by February, consider something simpler. Lace up your boots. Bring the kids. Bring a friend. Or come solo and let the trail do the talking.

The New Year starts one step at a time—and Tennessee’s State Parks are a pretty great place to take that first one.