Kick off the new year by exploring the outdoors at Lake Lowndes State Park in Columbus, which will host First Day Hikes on Jan. 1, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hikers can choose a 3.5-mile route along the Opossum Trail or a 7-mile trek on the horse trail, which includes hills and creek crossings. Trail maps are available at the gate house and honor box, and participants can meet in the Equestrian Trail parking lot just past the gate house. Admission is free with park entry.
Lake Lowndes is part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks. On New Year’s Day, hundreds of guided hikes are held across all 50 states, giving participants a chance to enjoy local parks, scenic landscapes, and the calm of nature. Last year, nearly 55,000 people hiked a combined 133,000 miles in First Day Hikes across the country.
Hikes vary in distance and difficulty, accommodating a range of skill levels and ages. While guided hikes are available at some parks, self-guided options let visitors experience the park at their own pace. For the Columbus area, meteorologists are predicting temperatures around 59°F, so conditions are expected to be mild. Hikers should plan accordingly: dress in layers, keep water insulated, and be mindful of daylight hours.
Mississippi State Parks is also offering 50% off campsite reservations through January 2026, valid for all campsite types, including standard, full-hookup RV, primitive, and Gulf View sites at Buccaneer State Park. Reservations can be booked online at stateparks.ms using promo code WINTER50.
For more information about Lake Lowndes First Day Hikes, contact Penny Wyers at [email protected] or (662) 328-2110.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 45 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
