First Day hikes set at Mount Spokane, Riverside state parks

HIKING/SNOWSHOEING — Get 2016 off on the right foot with a group winter hike or snowshoe trek on Jan. 1 at a Washington state park.

First Day Hikes are catching on across the country, some among friends and a growing batch organized by America’s State Parks .

If you’re visiting another part of Washington on New Year’s Day, check to see of one of the state’s two dozen First Day Hikes is scheduled at nearby park at bit.ly /1 Qw 8k6R .

New Year’s Day also is a Washington State Parks ‘Free Day ,’ one of the dozen days a year that Discover Passes are not required for vehicle access to a state park.

However, if the state park also is a winter recreation Sno-Park area, a Sno-Park permit is still required any day during the winter season, said Steve Christensen, Mount Spokane State Park manager. Sno-Park Permits can be purchased in Spokane at stores such as Fitness Fanatics, Mountain Gear and REI. Get a permit online .

Spokane-area trekkers have two moderately strenuous First Day guided group hike choices on Jan. 1:

- Mount Spokane State Park — Snowshoe hike, 2-4 miles round trip on Trail 130. Meet 10 a.m . at the snowmobile parking lot. Seasonal Sno-Park Permit required. If you use a one-day Sno-Park Permit, a Discover Pass also is required. Bring daypack , layered clothing, water, food, snowshoeing gear, sunscreen and sunglasses. Info: (509) 238-4258

- Riverside State Park — Take a casual hike with a ranger through the ponderosa pines and down the Deep Creek Interpretive Trail. If the snow is deep, the trek will stay on the Centennial Trail. Meet 1 p.m . at Deep Creek parking lot, N. State Park Drive (off of 7 Mile Road). Bring daypack , layered clothing, water, food, sunscreen, sunglasses and possibly snowshoes depending on conditions. Pets OK on leash. Info: (509) 465-5064 or to contact the on-duty ranger the day of the hike call (509) 850-5109.