First Day Hikes are a New Year’s Day tradition.
This info is for First Day Hikes taking place on New Year’s Day, 2022, in GA State Parks.
Some parks are also offering Last Day Hikes on Dec. 31st, 2021.

For more general info on free-and-cheap ways to enjoy Georgia State Parks, click here.

All across the state, park rangers are inviting Georgians to start the New Year with an energizing First Day Hike on New Year’s Day. At Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites, these guided treks are free or cheap — many cost just $5 for parking while others have a small fee on top of the parking charge. It’s a chance to put your best foot forward for the new year, by connecting with nature (and the friends or family members you hike with).

Below, we’re listing all the Last Day and First Day Hikes that are closest to metro Atlanta. (Scroll down to the bottom of this page for a complete list of Georgia State Parks)

But you can find a complete list of ranger-led hikes here, throughout the entire state, for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Want to take a First Day Hike on your own, without traveling to a Georgia State Park?
Two of our favorite walking trails in the metro Atlanta area are the Peachtree Creek Greenway and the loop around the lake at Murphey Candler Park.

You may also be interested in:

• Lights of Life drive-thru holiday attraction in Marietta
• Discounts for Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens
• Discounts for Stone Mountain Christmas
• Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Last Day Hikes on Dec. 31st

Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site

Hike starting at 3:30 p.m.
This short walking tour will include both history and nature features of the site.
Etowah Indian Mounds is located in Cartersville, north of Atlanta.
Fee: $2 to $6
It appears no advance registration is needed, but we suggest calling 770-387-3747 for more info.
More info here

First Day Hikes near Atlanta

To identify  these hikes, we searched the GA State Parks events page for hikes taking place within a 70-mile radius of zip code 30303, which is downtown Atlanta.
If you’d like to search for a hike within a certain number of miles from you, click here.

NOTE: Please click thru for registration info, because ALL have limited capacity and some require an RSVP this year.

For all hikes, please dress for the weather (layers are a good idea), wear good hiking shoes, and bring water and snacks.
Pets are not allowed.

Parking fees noted below apply to those who don’t have annual Park Pass.

First Day Hike at Hard Labor Creek

Hikes starting at 11 a.m. and 2p.m.
Hard Labor Creek State Park, in Rutledge
$3 for the hike, plus $5 for parking
Scenic, two-mile hike along the creek. Recommended for active adults and kids over 8 years old.
This year, capacity is limited to just 20 people and pre-registration is required by 5 p.m. the day before.
Plan to arrive 15-20 minutes early, as participants will caravan to the starting point.
Call 706-557-3001 to register.
More info here

First Day Hike at Panola Mountain

Hikes starting at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.
Panola Mountain State Park, Stockbridge
$10 for hike, plus $5 for parking
The hike is 3 miles up the mountain and moderately strenuous.
Recommended for ages 10 and up.
Call 770-389-7801 to register.
More info here

First Day Hike at Red Top Mountain

Jan. 1st: Hikes at 10 a.m.
Red Top Mountain State Park, Acworth
FREE with $5 parking pass
The walk is 3.5 miles on moderate terrain and takes about 90 to 120 minutes.
More info here

Etowah’s First Saturday Hike (Jan. 2nd)

Saturday, Jan. 2nd from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
The hike is FREE with the price of admission — which ranges from $2 to $6 for kids and adults.
Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site, Cartersville
This is a short 1.5-mile guided hike around and to the top of the mounds, with a talk about the history and nature of the site.
The climb is moderately strenuous.
Dress for wind. Bring binoculars for watching wildlife.
Call 770-387-3747  to register.
More info here

First Day Hike at Chattahoochee Bend State Park
9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
$5 admission, $5 parking fee
Chattahoochee Bend State Park, Newnan
This is a 2-mile hike on the Riverside Trail. It includes a snack.

First Day Hike at Sweetwater Creek
Hikes at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Sweetwater Creek State Park, Lithia Springs
$5 admission plus $5 for parking
A super-easy, half-mile hike on the Red Trail, including a rare opportunity to go inside the gated area that encloses the ruins of the old mill.
Call 770-732-5871 to register.
More info here

Find a Georgia state park or historic site

Tallulah Gorge State Park (photo courtesy of GA Dept of Natural Resources)

You can find a Georgia state map of park locations by clicking here.

Here’s a list of our 50 state parks and 14 state historic sites.

State Parks, in alphabetical order — the parks nearest to Atlanta are in bold text

A.H. Stephens
Amicalola Falls
Black Rock Mountain
Chattahoochee Bend
Cloudland Canyon
Crooked River
Dames Ferry Campground

Don Carter
Elijah Clark
F.D. Roosevelt
Florence Marina
Fort McAllister
Fort Mountain
Fort Yargo

General Coffee
George L. Smith
George T. Bagby
Georgia Veterans
Gordonia-Alatamaha
Hamburg
Hard Labor Creek

Hart
High Falls
Indian Springs
James H. Floyd
Kolomoki Indian Mounds
Laura S. Walker
Little Ocmulgee

Magnolia Springs
Mistletoe
Moccasin Creek
Panola Mountain
Providence Canyon
Red Top Mountain
Reed Bingham

Reynold’s Mansion on Sapelo Island
Richard B. Russell
Seminole
Skidaway Island
Smithgall Woods
Stephen C. Foster
Suwannee River Eco-Lodge

Sweetwater Creek
Tallulah Gorge
Tugaloo
Unicoi
Victoria Bryant
Vogel
Watson Mill Bridge

State historic sites

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