Lory State Park offering Jan. 1 “First Day Hikes”

Lory State Park is one of the 12 Colorado State Parks offering New Year’s Day Hikes to start off a healthy 2012. The two hikes at Lory are part of America’s State Parks’ “First Day Hikes” nationwide initiative. At Lory and other state parks across the country, the naturalist-guided hikes and other events throughout the day on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012 will offer a great way to start the New Year by getting outdoors to exercise, enjoying nature and welcoming the New Year with friends and family.

The two hikes at Lory State Park:

Hike #1: 11 a.m.
Meeting place: Arthur’s Rock parking lot
Description: Celebrate the beginning of the year at Lory State Park with a fun and social 4.6-mile run on the valley trails. The run will start out going north on West Valley, then cross the Main Park road and continue south on East Valley Trail, finally running the South Valley loop and back to the parking lot. If we have a good snow storm we will have a 2.7-mile snowshoe tromp instead on South Valley Trail.

Hike #2: 11 a.m.
Meeting place: Arthur’s Rock parking lot
Description: Join us for a moderate 3.4-mile hike up to Arthur’s Rock. If we have a good snow storm, we will have a 2.7-mile snowshoe tromp instead on South Valley Trail. After the hike, everyone is welcome to stop by the Lory State Park Visitor Center for some hot cider or tea.

Lory State Park, located in beautiful Bellvue north of Fort Collins, offers visitors a variety of rugged terrain and stunning vistas from the northern Colorado Front Range. The park covers almost 2,600 acres and features 26 miles of trails that lead through forest, meadows and rock-outcroppings, offering visitors great terrain for mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, bouldering, and horseback riding. Additional information on Lory State Park is available at: www.parks.state.co.us/Parks/Lory.

“We are excited to host First Day Hikes as part of this national effort to get people outdoors and into our parks,” said Rick Cables, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director. “First Day Hikes are a great way to cure cabin fever, burn off those extra holiday calories and start off the New Year with an invigorating walk or hike in one of our beautiful state parks.”

America’s State Parks is committed to promoting outdoor recreation in state parks as a way to address obesity, especially among children. Getting kids outside and unplugged from video games and other electronic media creates a unique connection with nature that promotes physical and mental well-being and encourages creativity and stewardship of our shared resources.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife gets everyone outdoors! Attracting more than 12 million visitors per year, Colorado’s 42 State Parks are a vital cornerstone of Colorado’s economy and quality of life. Colorado State Parks encompass 224,447 land and water acres, offering some of the best outdoor recreation destinations in the state. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a leader in providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, protecting the state’s favorite landscapes, teaching generations about nature and partnering with communities. Colorado State Parks also manage more than 4,300 campsites, and 63 cabins and yurts. For more information on Colorado State Parks or to purchase an annual pass online, visit www.parks.state.co.us.