Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian via AP

by Jamie Hale | The Oregonian, OregonLive

If your 2018 New Year's resolution is to get out and hike, there's no better way to start out on the right foot than by joining up with a First Day Hike.



State parks in Oregon are once again joining the national event, hosting 24 guided hikes at 22 park sites across the state on Jan. 1. Most hikes will be at parks in Portland, the coast and the Willamette Valley, with a few others in the Columbia River Gorge and farther-flung regions of the state.



New to the event this year is online registration, which is by no means required, but can be helpful for rangers leading the tours. Hikers going to Smith Rock State Park, however, should be sure to register as there will only be 35 spots available at the enormously popular park site.



The guided hikes are a good introduction to local park sites, and can be a good excuse to get out in the cold or rainy weather that's sure to come. Just be sure to keep that resolution alive long enough to visit the rest of Oregon's beautiful state parks.

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Tryon Creek State Park. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

PORTLAND

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Banks-Vernonia State Trail: 9 a.m. Meet at the Buxton Trailhead.

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Milo McIver State Park: 9 a.m. Meet in the Riverbend lower boat launch parking lot.

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Tryon Creek State Natural Area: 9 a.m. Meet at the Nature Center.

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Historic Columbia Highway State Trail. (Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian)

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

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Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail: Noon. Meet at the Mark O. Hatfield Visitors Center West Trailhead.

NOTE: While most of the trail is still closed due to the Eagle Creek fire, the trail going east from Hood River toward The Dalles is still open.

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Silver Falls State Park. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

WILLAMETTE VALLEY/CASCADES

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Champoeg State Heritage Area: There are two hikes, one at 10 a.m. and the other at 2:30 p.m. Meet at the Visitor Center.

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Elijah Bristow State Park: Noon horse ride. Bring your own horse and meet in the equestrian parking area.

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Silver Falls State Park: 10 a.m. Meet at the South Falls Lodge porch.

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State Capitol State Park: 10 a.m. Meet at the Capitol steps.

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Valley of the Rogue State Park. (Courtesy of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department)

SOUTHERN OREGON

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Collier Memorial State Park: 9 a.m. Meet at the Logging Museum Cookhouse.

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TouVelle State Park: 1 p.m. Meet at the Area F parking lot.

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Valley of the Rogue State Park: Hike and bicycle ride. Bicycle ride at 11 a.m. Meet at Rogue River bridge - John F. Fleming Veterans Memorial Park. Hike at 1 p.m. Meet at the Valley of the Rogue program area.

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South Beach State Park. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

OREGON COAST

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Cape Lookout State Park: Noon. Meet in the Cape Lookout Trail parking lot.

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Crissey Field State Recreation Site: 2 p.m. Meet at the base of the stairs adjacent to the parking lot.

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Darlingtonia State Natural Area: 1 p.m. Meet in the parking lot.

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Humbug Mountain State Park: 10 a.m. Meet at the campground flag pole.

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Oswald West State Park: 10 a.m. Meet in the main parking lot on the southern end near the shop.

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South Beach State Park: 10 a.m. Meet in the South Beach day-use area.

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Sunset Bay State Park (Coos Bay area): 1 p.m. Meet at the Sunset Bay gazebo.

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Sunset Beach State Recreation Site (Astoria area): 10 a.m. Meet in the Sunset Beach parking lot.

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William M. Tugman State Park: 10 a.m. Meet in the day-use area at the gazebo.

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Smith Rock State Park. (Jamie Francis/The Oregonian)

EASTERN/CENTRAL OREGON

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Emigrant Springs State Heritage Park: 11 a.m. snowshoe hike. Meet in the day-use parking lot to the right of the entrance.

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Smith Rock State Park: 10 a.m. Meet at the Welcome Center. Hike limited to 35 participants. Reserve your spot online here.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES

The most iconic landmarks in Oregon: These are the places we all know and love, the landmarks both natural and manmade that root us to our home.

Oregon's best roadside attractions: From the Oregon Vortex to the Enchanted Forest, here are the best roadside attractions in Oregon.

Portland's best holiday lights: Portland is a veritable wonderland during the holiday season. Here are the 10 best light displays around.



--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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