Kick off 2026 with a bit of outdoor activity at a First Day Hike at one of Iowa’s state parks this New Year’s Day.

First Day Hikes are being offered all throughout Iowa, with 23 parks hosting guided hikes where park staff and volunteers lead the way.  That includes Lake Darling State Park near Brighton. Hikers will meet at 9 a.m. at the Lake Darling Lodge, and then proceed south toward the pedestrian bridge along the paved trail. Light refreshments will be served by the Friends of Lake Darling. The trail is wide, flat, and paved.

Other state parks in eastern Iowa that are offering guided hikes include Lacey-Keosauqua State Park in Keosauqua, or Palisades-Kepler State Park near Mt. Vernon.  Other state parks have recommended trails for self-guided hikes. Parks in the southeast Iowa area with recommended trails include Geode State Park in Danville, and Lake Keomah State Park in Oskaloosa.