The Intro
  The new year brings about many predictions, resolutions, goals and hopes, why should your outdoor life be any different. First Day hike is a national program that celebrates the new year , outdoors. It cultivates expanding past the customary norms , and kickstart your new year on a trail. Where do you begin? There are National Parks, State Parks, State Forests and many programs from guide led hiking to social group meet ups for the First Day hike.
   Let's get you prepared, planned and excited for your First Day Hike with our personalized trail recommendations. 

Prepare & Bring List:
  • Mother Nature:  Check the weather at your hike, especially centering on wind and precipitation. 
  • Water: Pretty simple , but mathematically speaking 1 liter per 2 hours of hiking.  Pro Tip: bring extra water and store in your car for the ride home.
  • Hiking Shoes: Grip, flexibility are noted needs, don't forget a rock plate, heel and toe protection and that there is a recipe for success.
  • Backpack: Another pretty simple item, however often overlooked. Make sure your day pack is carrying needs vs wants and use the chest strap to relieve any stress to your shoulders and back.
  • Printed trail map: Downloading a trail map is the age we live in. What happens if you lose your mobile? Have a printed copy in your pack as a just in case.
  • Printed Driving Directions: Yes google maps can pretty much get you anywhere. Pretty much. I print out To and From directions noting that most destinations have no wi-fi.
  • Clothing layers: Summits are notoriously five to ten degrees (if not more) cooler than the base, throw in winds and possible moisture and clothing layers become a vital cog to your trail experience.
  • Food: You are what you eat. Check out our Food Guide to keep that energy and performance going.
Appalachian Trail - Linden
Location: Linden, VA

TELL ME MORE:  A blessed way to start the new year with a rambling saunter amongst dense forest canopy. This trail lacks summits and water features but makes up for it with towering trees, nature's serenity and a perfect setting for a family day hike.
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Bears Den
Location: Bluemont, VA

TELL ME MORE:  This 1.9 miler is all about the view. A quick hike up to its boulder happy summit , and toast your new year to this vast view of the piedmont. Oh and there is a brewery less than a mile from the trailhead.
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BearFence Mountain
Location: Shenandoah National Park, VA

TELL ME MORE:  At 2.2 miles this little trail comes with rock scrambles and bountiful views. A great starter hike for the little ones in your family in this new year.
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Blue Ridge Tunnel
Location: Waynesboro, VA

TELL ME MORE:  Ready to be unique? check out Blue Ridge Tunnel for an amazing one of a kind trail experience under the earth. Yes, get your flashlight and enjoy a mile long trek at nearly 700 ft down under.
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Bottoms Creek Gorge
Location: Shawsville, MD

TELL ME MORE:  A passive trail experience to Virginia's highest waterfall at 350 ft. This trail is a bit off the main road but delivers with a casual hike and big summit view.
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Buzzard Rock
Location: Front Royal, WV

TELL ME MORE:  A fantastic four miler that navigates up to a perch view. The summit is a rocky one, a ridgeline ramble will provide ample opportunity for spots to bask in the view, take photos or share a bite.
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Compton Gap
​Location: Shenandoah National Park, VA

​TELL ME MORE: A geologic marvel, along this seven miler. Yes visit columnar joints, and a few peak a boo vistas views along this very manageable trail within SNP.
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Difficult Run
Location: Great Falls, VA

TELL ME MORE:  A heavily forested trail with mature trees & boulder hopping opportunities a plenty. Here is the skinny, this trail provides pockets to perch above the Difficult Run leading to the Potomac. Quite a scene.
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Hay Rock
Location: Daleville, VA

TELL ME MORE:  A highly popular area just north of Roanoke, Hay Rock is both summit view, and a wild piece of geography. Come find out why Hay Rock may just set your year off with a bunch of stunning photos.
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Mill Prong
Location: Shenandoah National Park, VA

TELL ME MORE:  This is a nature lovers dream. Nestled in Shenandoah National Park sits this robust trail, mixed with water crossings, waterfalls and a former Presidential Retreat this has all the fixings. Yes, a presidential retreat.
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Old Rag Mountain
Location: Syria, VA

​TELL ME MORE:   Your year must have a lot of expectations if you start with Old Rag. Ranked one of the world's best trails, Old Rag is the icon of Shenandoah National Park. Make sure you have reservations and then let the mountain take you.
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Paul's Creek Trail
Location: Wintergreen, VA

TELL ME MORE: Short, sweet and beautiful. Paul's is a forest haven, with a very family friendly topography this one will be enjoyed by all. At the end, enjoy the beauty of Paul's Creek with a multi shelf waterfall.
Sam Moore Shelter
Location: Bluemont, VA

TELL ME MORE: This one is a bit misleading because , who would think Sam Moore Shelter would yield any sort of excitement for a first day hike. Well , as I said misleading because this trail is part of the famed "rollercoaster" of the Appalachian Trail. Yes friends, this trail will work you, your hamstrings and your lungs. 
Stiles Falls
Location: Bluemont, VA

TELL ME MORE: A relatively quiet hike, with a stream crossing, a patch of mountain laurel and a 40 foot waterfall. Stiles is a new favorite because its set in a tiny wonderland and provides you an opportunity to sit at its base and soak in the serenity.
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Our Mission
Our philosophy is to encourage exploration of trails in Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia through experiential content and purposefully simplistic guided summaries. We aim to provide you the knowledge, the essentials and the confidence to hike a trail.
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