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OUTDOOR NOTEBOOK State parks host New Year's Day hikes Comment By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman Posted Dec. 18, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 18, 2015 at 9:35 AM By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman Posted Dec. 18, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 18, 2015 at 9:35 AM » Social News Oregonians looking to start the new year in the woods will again get a chance to take part in free guided hikes to shake those New Year's Eve cobwebs out of their belfries. For the fifth consecutive year, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is joining with the group America's State Parks to offer guided New Year's Day hikes at state parks across Oregon, drawing close to 1,000 first-of-the-year hikers, according to state parks officials. In Southern Oregon, the hike series includes Valley of the Rogue State Park off Interstate 5 near Gold Hill, TouVelle State Park along the Rogue River near White City, Harris Beach State Park near Brookings and Bullards Beach State Park near Bandon. The Valley of the Rogue hike was one of the original New Year's Day hikes when the program started and the TouVelle park hike is now in its third year, says Kirk Barham, park ranger supervisor for the agency's Rogue Management Unit, which includes both parks. "They are to get more people involved, starting the year right and recreating outdoors, and they are increasingly popular," Barham says. "Both events last year had more than 80 people." Last year, 29 parks had Jan. 1 hikes that drew 954 participants, up from 943 hikers in 28 events in 2013, Barham says. Participants in these hikes will have their day-use fee waived that day and dogs are invited, provided they remain on leashes no longer than 6 feet. This year's ranger-led hike will cover the River's Edge Trail at the upstream end of TouVelle State Park, with the walk focusing on the plants and animals that live at the park adjacent to the Denman Wildllife Area. Participants will meet at the park office off Table Rock Road for a 1.25-mile hike on a trail rated easy. All ages are welcome and participants should bring water and snacks if they want. At Valley of the Rogue, hikers will be led on an easy, one-mile hike on the park's nature trail while discussing the flora and fauna along the Rogue. The hike begins at 11 a.m. For more information, telephone 541-582-1118. Harris Beach State Park will host a moderate, two-mile hike along the new and old portions of the Brookings Bike Trail outside of Brookings. The hike leaves at 10 a.m. and includes hills. The new bike path follows a portion of old Highway 101, which also was known as the Roosevelt Military Highway during the 1920s. Part of the hike also includes the path used in the 1880s by George Harris, for whom the park is named. For more information, telephone 541-469-0224, ext. 223. Bullards Beach State Park's hike will be a moderate one covering about two miles along Pearl's Trail at the park near Bandon. The 10 a.m. hike will showcase the area's flora and fauna as well as highlight the boardwalk trail improvements there. Pearl's Trail traverses wetlands, a shore pine forest, dunes and will even hit the beach in the loop. Participants should dress in layers for unpredictable weather and the hike could be canceled if inclement weather sets in. For more information, telephone 541-347-2209, ext. 224. For a complete list of New Year's Day hikes, visit http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=thingstodo.calendar . Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman . By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman Posted Dec. 18, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 18, 2015 at 9:35 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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