New Year’s Day hikes are planned in North Olympic Peninsula state parks — and admission will be free.
Wednesday will be the first free admission day of the 12 planned at state parks in 2020.
More than 40 hikes are scheduled at dozens of state parks all over Washington. On the Peninsula, Fort Worden, Fort Flagler and Hoko River state parks will offer free hikes.
Fort Worden
Fort Worden State Park and the Friends of Fort Worden will host four special hikes as part of the statewide First Day Hikes program sponsored by Washington State Parks.
Each hike will start at about 1 p.m. from the USO Building parking lot next to Taps at the Guardhouse near the park’s main entrance.
The Friends and State Parks will provide free warm beverages and light snacks at the starting point. Visitors are encouraged to bring water and wear weather-appropriate attire and footwear.
Visitors will have a choice of three guided hikes and one self-guided hike.
• The self-guided hike, The Best of Fort Worden, will be along family-friendly roads through a forest canopy past several historic mortar batteries and main gun line while winding up and around Artillery Hill.
The 2.5-mile hike will include Memory’s Vault — a sculpture garden with columns of poetry.
Docents will provide information at several stations along the way. Rest benches and restroom facilities are available along the way.
The difficulty is rated as easy. Some parts are steep but the entire trial is paved.
All ages are welcome.
Dogs are allowed on leashes. Participants are asked to pick up after their pets.
The hike is not ADA accessible or stroller accessible.
• A Fort Worden park ranger will lead a history hike. Participants will learn about Fort Worden’s strategic military significance from the late 1890s through the early 20th century.
The Back to the Past Hike will follow the 2-mile Artillery Gun Line Trail.
Difficulty is rated as moderate. All ages are welcome.
Organizers warn that some of the trail is unpaved and may have tree roots.
The hike is not ADA accessible or stroller accessible. Dogs are not allowed.
• Another park ranger will guide a hike about habitat in urban areas. Participants will explore the plants and animals that thrive at Fort Worden State Park.
The 2.5-mile Back to Nature Hike will be on JFK and Artillery Hill rials.
Difficulty is rated as moderate.
The hike is not ADA accessible or stroller accessible. Dogs are not allowed.
• The third guided hike will be to Fort Worden’s major viewpoints.
Participants will see the best views in the park during the approximately two-mile hike, organizers said.
For more information about Fort Worden hikes, call 360-344-4412 or consult the First Day Hikes interactive online map on the Friends of Fort Worden website.
Fort Flagler
A hike at Fort Flagler on New Year’s Day will take participants through the military history of the fort’s buildings and gun batteries.
Volunteer Ron Raplee will open the newly refurbished Military History Museum at 10:30 a.m. and will then lead the Historic Fort Flagler Tour from about 11:15 .m. to 1 p.m.
The hike is over 2.5 miles and difficulty is rated as moderate.
All ages are welcome. Young children should be watched closely by parents, organizers said, because the hike involves climbing narrow stairways with no handrails.
The hike is not ADA accessible or stroller accessible. Dogs are not allowed.
Warm clothing, sturdy footwear and flashlights or headlamps are recommended.
For more information, call 360-385-1259.
Hoko River
In Clallam County, a guided hike is planned on the Little Hoko River Trail in Hoko River State Park near Clallam Bay and Sekiu in the West End.
Participants will meet at noon at the Little Hoko River gate on Hoko Ozette Road, south of the entrance to the Cowan Heritage Area.
The hike, which will be led by members of Friends of Hoko River State park, is described as an easy 1-mile walk through the rain forest. All ages are welcome.
Dogs are allowed on leashes and the hike is accessible for strollers. It is not ADA accessible.
Friends of Hoko River State Park volunteers will guide participants on a level walk along the Little Hoko River.
Participants are urged to wear sturdy walking shoes.
For more information, call 360-963-2442.
The state Parks and Recreation Commission will offer another free day on Jan. 20 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
During free days, visitors to state parks do not need a Discover Pass for day-use visits. The Discover Pass is a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on lands managed by Washington State Parks, the state Department of Natural Resources and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Other free days in 2020 will be:
• Thursday, March 19 — State Parks’ 107th birthday.
• Saturday, April 11 — Springtime free day.
• Wednesday, April 22 — Earth Day.
• Saturday, June 6 — National Trails Day.
• Sunday, June 7 — Free Fishing Day.
• Saturday, June 13 — National Get Outdoors Day.
• Tuesday, Aug. 25 — National Park Service Birthday.
• Saturday, Sept. 26 — National Public Lands Day.
• Wednesday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day.
• Friday, Nov. 27 — Autumn free day.
For more information about winter recreation permit requirements on state lands, visit parks.state.wa.us/winter.
Olympic National Park will have five free days in 2020: Jan. 20, April 18 — the first day of National Park Week — Aug. 25, Sept. 26 and Nov. 11.
