Guided First Day Hike at Garner State Park hosted by the park

If you want to start a good hiking habit in 2026, Texas state parks have just right plans for you. It is called FIRST DAY HIKE on January 1st every year. Park rangers will lead hikes, or self-guided. It’s a tradition of state parks to carry on the hikes for the public all over Texas.

Please join the hike at Garner State Park. This hike is not for beginners because of steep trail. I am posting this event well in advance so that members who are planning to attend can train and prepare themselves. You have to be physically fit to climb up and down the steep trail. I would like to suggest our Cardio Short Hike to train. You can experience the steepness although Old Baldy trail is much more longer,

The hike descriptions: Start 2026 off right with a dose of nature! This is a guided First Day Hike to the top of Old Baldy, elevation 1,849 feet, revealing scenic overlooks of the Frio River and Texas Hill Country.

This hike is considered challenging and steep. 450 ft of elevation gain. 0.5 mile to the top and 0.5 mile back down.

According to the park ranger who will guide, we will take 2 hours but this is a group hike and we will likely be going at the pace of the slowest person. Additionally, we may spend some time for trailside talks and at the top enjoying the view.

About Old Baldy Trail: The trail is considered steep and strenuous. There are limestone ledges and loose rocks that will need to be traversed. There is also an elevation gain of 450 feet from the base to the top in that short distance.

NOTE: You are in the wilderness once you left the trail head. There is no convenient facility along the trail.

What you have to do to join the First Day Hike:

1. Reserve a day pass, and pay fee if you don’t have an annual pass. Or carpool with a pass holder. Before paying, post your carpool messages to see if annual pass holders will offer a ride if you don’t have one. Click on Online Day pass reservations. Or Reserve by phone: (512) 389-8900.
2. Registration is not required for the guided hike, but you still need to get a day pass to enter the park and go hiking.
3. Sign up for our event here in this page so that we will know who will attend.
4. Show up. Allow sufficient time for check-in, restroom use. and driving time to the trailhead from the headquarters before 10:00am. There may be a line to wait. And meet at the Old Baldy trailhead at 10:00am. Click on Trails map.
   Bring water and snacks if you like.

Contact Ikuko at 210-241-9692 for questions or additional information.

Entrance fees: $8.00 without a Texas state parks pass; $4.00 with a Texas parklands passport for seniors. A Senior pass holder may extend this same benefit to one additional person in the car. If you are carpooling with a state parks pass holder, all passengers are eligible for free entry.

NOTE: Bring your picnic lunch if you like because many restaurants will be closed on New Year’s Day. For those who prefer, we’ll eat lunch after the hike so that we can leave lunch in the car while hiking.

If you want to participate in one of other First Day Hikes, and want to have hiking buddies, post your message. Someone may want to join you.

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