FIRST DAY HIKES TO BE HOSTED ON NEW YEAR’S DAY 2022 BY GEORGIA STATE PARKS AND HISTORIC SITES, AS WELL AS ROME-FLOYD PARKS AND RECREATION AND TRED OF ROME/FLOYD

If being active is among your New Year’s resolutions for ’22, then take a hike! First Day Hikes are scheduled for this Saturday, January 1st around this state, including in our own backyard.

According to Kim Hatcher, the Public Affairs Coordinator for Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, all of these First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative to get people outdoors. She indicates that she always enjoys seeing hikers’ pictures on social media.

For a complete list of the ranger-led hikes to be held at the parks and historic sites around Georgia, visit www.gastateparks.org.

Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation and TRED of Rome/Floyd County invite the public to their First Day Hike set for Saturday, January 1st at 11 am at the Lock and Dam Park, 181 Lock and Dam Road in Rome.

This will be 3rd annual hike at Lock and Dam. It is being held a little later in the day this year, as indicated by Mary Hardin Thornton, the Special Services Manager for Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation. She hopes that the weather forecast will improve significantly between now and Saturday; forecasters at the National Weather Service predict showers and maybe a thunderstorm for this New Year’s Day in Rome.

This will be a rain or shine event, adds Thornton. The fee to participate is $5; that includes a hot dog lunch to follow the hike. Participants will meet at the Coosa River Trading Post.

Thornton attests that the annual First Day Hike is a great way to showcase the campground at Lock and Dam, which has been quite busy as of late.

Hikers are encouraged to bring their dogs out for the event, asserts Thornton. For additional information, visit www.rfpra.com.