FIRST DAY HIKES await those ushering in the New Year on the North Olympic Peninsula on Wednesday.
Free admission will be provided to state parks on New Year’s Day, so take advantage if you do not possess a Discover Pass.
Jefferson County has the most first day hikes planned, and they center on Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend and Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island.
At Fort Flagler, volunteer Ron Raplee will open the newly refurbished Military History Museum at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and will then lead a tour of the fort’s buildings and gun batteries from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The hike is 2.5-miles and listed as moderate on the difficulty scale. Participants will climb narrow stairways with no handrails, so young children should be monitored closely by their parents/guardians.
No dogs are allowed on the walk.
A flashlight or headlamp would be good to bring along as some of the spots visited will need some illumination.
For more information on the Fort Flagler hike, call 360-385-1259.
Fort Worden options
Two Park Ranger guided hikes are planned for Fort Worden on New Year’s Day.
A Back to the Past Hike will delve into Fort Worden’s military history and operations from the late 1890s through the early 20th century.
The fort’s artillery gun line will be visited during a 2-mile hike of moderate difficulty.
Dogs are not allowed on this hike and some of the trail is unpaved and may have tree roots.
Participants should meet at the USO Building parking lot, the west side of Taps at the Guardhouse pub, at 1 p.m.
A Back to Nature Hike will walk up the JFK Trail and Artillery Hill beginning at 1 p.m.
Walkers should meet at the USO Building parking lot.
This hike is 2.5 miles and parts of the trail are steep.
No dogs are allowed.
For more information on either hike, email Ranger John Whittet at john.whittet@parks.wa.gov or call 360-344-4412.
A self-guided Best of Fort Worden hike — and you can bring your dog on a leash — winds through a forest canopy past several historic mortar batteries and main gun line.
Hikers can stop at Memory’s Vault — a sculpture garden with columns of poetry. If the weather cooperates, mountain views can be seen. Park docents also will be along the trail to offer information and answer questions.
Benches and restroom facilities are available on the way.
The hike is 2.5-miles, with some steep parts on Battery Way Loop. The entire section is paved.
Hikers should park at the USO Building Parking lot.
Clallam County
A level, 1-mile walk along the Little Hoko River guided by Friends of Hoko River State Park is planned at noon Wednesday.
Organizers will meet at the Little Hoko River Gate south of the entrance to the Cowan Heritage Area along Hoko Ozette Road.
Hoko River State Park isn’t a full state park yet, but a group of properties that totals about 1,000 acres.
It includes freshwater areas along the Hoko and Little Hoko rivers and beach access on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Bring sturdy walking shoes and dogs on leashes to this hike.
For more information, email able@olypen.com or call 360-963-2442.
Razor digs continue
Evening razor clam digs continue through Sunday at the following ocean beaches:
•Today, 7:26 pm, -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
•Saturday, 8:05 pm, -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
•Sunday, 8:43 pm, -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
No digging is allowed before noon for allowed digs, when low tide occurs in the evening.
Bird count set
The Port Angeles edition of the Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird count is set Saturday.
For more information, email Barbara Blackie at blackie@olypen.com or call 360-477-8028.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
