Texas State Parks Soar to New Heights with Record Breaking First Day Hikes

Jan. 30, 2026

Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030

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AUSTIN - For the fourth straight year, Texas State Parks kicked off the new year by breaking historical participation numbers at First Day Hike events around the state.

On Jan. 1, 86 sites hosted 181 events where 12,835 participants hiked for a combined 28,154 miles. The number of sites, events, participants and miles are all new records for the fourth straight year. The number of participants increased by more than 3,000, and miles traveled were up by nearly 10,000 from last year's total. Texas also outpaced the nation with the most sites, events and participants.

"Texas led the nation once again in First Day Hike participation," said Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks. "We had wonderful weather, and it was a great way to spend time with family in the outdoors at one of your Texas State Parks. So many Texans have made this event an annual tradition. I enjoyed the day at one of Texas' newest state parks, Palo Pinto Mountains, and joined the first wave of visitors as we explored the trails during the sneak peek event. I hope to see you on the trail next year!!"

Dinosaur Valley State Park near Glen Rose had the most participants with 931, followed by Palo Duro Canyon State Park with 861.

Other parks that drew high visitation include Brazos Bend State Park with 830, Cedar Hill State Park with 624 and Palo Pinto Mountains State Park with 559 participants.

Find photos of First Day Hikes on Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Flickr page.

Fun and adventures await year-round at Texas State Parks. A wide range of trails include short, easy trails that are perfect for family-friendly scenic strolls and more strenuous ones to challenge experienced hikers. Trail maps for all Texas State Parks can be found on TPWD's website, the official Texas State Park app and individual park webpages.

Find more information about local Texas State Parks at http://texasstateparks.org.