If you are looking to start the New Year on the right foot, bundle up and head out to one of Wisconsin’s state parks. Newport State Park, Peninsula State Park and Whitefish Dunes State Park are among more than two dozen Wisconsin state parks featuring events that encourage the public to get outside and be active in 2026.
The Friends of Peninsula State Park will host their First Day Hike from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., with hikers leaving from the White Cedar Nature Center to get up close to the Niagara Escarpment before returning for a bonfire and refreshments.
The Friends of Whitefish Dunes State Park welcome hikers from 10 a.m. to noon for First Day Hike festivities, complete with refreshments and a warming fire.
At Newport State Park, from 1 to 4 p.m., hikers can explore trails near the shelter building, with the Newport Wilderness Society hosting hot cocoa and cookies for those looking to warm up afterward.
Park Superintendent Eric Hyde says this is a quiet time for Wisconsin’s state parks but adds that winter can bring out the best in them.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is wrapping up its 125th anniversary of the state park system, which kicked off the celebration at a First Day Hike event at Mirror Lake State Park last New Year’s Day. More details about all of the First Day Hikes can be found at this link.
