January 6th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources welcomed approximately 3,700 hikers on 36 hikes at 32 state parks this New Year’s Day as part of the annual First Day Hikes initiative. Hikers trekked about 8,500 miles on trails in every corner of Maryland.

Maryland Park Service rangers, staff and volunteers guided hikers of all experience levels joining the ever-growing ranks of hikers ringing in the new year on the trail. Among them was Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford, who hiked with Natural Resources Deputy Secretary Joanne Throwe at Patapsco Valley State Park.

“It was wonderful to start off the year hiking with fellow Marylanders at one of our treasured state parks,” Lt. Governor Rutherford said. “From the sandy shorelines of the Eastern Shore to high perches of Mountain Maryland, I encourage everyone to get outdoors in 2019 and experience all that our great state has to offer.”

With warm, mild weather for most of the day, participation nearly tripled over 2018, and miles hiked more than doubled the record set in 2017.

Maryland First Day Hikes 2019
State Park	Participants	Total Miles
Assateague	158	158
Calvert Cliffs	250	900
Cedarville	85	170
Chapman	65	130
Cunningham Falls	49	147
Dans Mountain	8	8
Deep Creek	54	108
Elk Neck	73	146
Fair Hill	120	600
Fort Frederick	46	138
Gambrill	170	340
Greenbrier	150	225
Greenwell	133	199.5
Gunpowder – Jerusalem Mill	239	597.5
Gunpowder – Sweet Air	19	57
Harriet Tubman	147	220.5
Herrington Manor	18	18
Janes Island	60	180
Martinak	25	25
Merkle	42	147
New Germany	74	74
North Point	84	168
Patapsco – Daniels	158	474
Patapsco – McKeldin	159	397.5
Patapsco – Orange Grove	80	160
Patuxent River	210	462
Pocomoke	20	20
Rocks	58	58
Rocky Gap	26	78
Sandy Point	206	618
Seneca	167	434.2
Soldiers Delight	74	74
South Mountain	64	128
Susquehanna	340	680
Tuckahoe	65	130
TOTAL	3,696.0	8,470.2