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Some families watch the ball drop. Others want to be on a trail at sunrise on January 1. If that is you, the state parks around Eastland have some of the best New Years Day hikes in north central Texas. Our holiday RV camping page covers staying here over the holidays; this post covers the hikes.
Quick answer: First Day Hikes are free New Years Day hikes in Texas State Parks, held every January 1. In 2027 that falls on a Friday. Near Eastland, Lake Brownwood State Park has already listed a self-guided hike for January 1, 2027, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. Palo Pinto Mountains, Abilene, Possum Kingdom and Lake Mineral Wells have hosted hikes in past years.
A First Day Hike is a guided or self-guided walk held in a state park on January 1 to start the new year outdoors. Texas Parks and Wildlife describes them as anything from short forest walks and boardwalks to mountain climbs, with some bike rides, paddles and horseback rides. Self-guided hikers can stop at the park table for a map and, at many parks, a sticker afterward.
Five state parks within about an hour and a quarter of Exit 343 have run First Day Hikes. The table shows what each park listed most recently. Only one had a 2027 listing when we checked on October 11, 2026, so check the TPWD calendar before you go.
| State park | Drive from Eastland (est.) | Most recent First Day Hike listing | 2027 status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Pinto Mountains, near Strawn | about 35 minutes | Jan 1, 2026: beginner-accessible ranger-guided hike at 10 AM, registration required | Not posted yet |
| Lake Brownwood | about 1 hour | Jan 1, 2027: self-guided hike, 9:30 to 11:30 AM, Texas Oak Trailhead, free with park entrance | Listed |
| Abilene State Park | about 1 hour 15 | Jan 1, 2026: Late Risers hike, 2 to 3 PM, 2.5 miles from the Abilene Lake Trailhead, leashed dogs welcome | Not posted yet |
| Possum Kingdom | about 1 hour 15 | Jan 1, 2025: guided summit hike at 10 AM, Possum Plunge at noon, second hike at 2 PM | Not posted yet |
| Lake Mineral Wells | about 1 hour 15 | Jan 1, 2026: Penitentiary Hollow Wild Walk, 10 AM to noon, strenuous, registration required | Not posted yet |
Sources: TPWD event pages for Lake Brownwood, Abilene, Possum Kingdom, Lake Mineral Wells and Palo Pinto Mountains, read October 11, 2026. Drive times are our estimates from Exit 343.
It is the newest state park in Texas and the closest one to Eastland, about 35 minutes east near Strawn. On January 1, 2026, before it opened, the park gave visitors a first look with ranger-guided hikes. It opened to visitors on March 1, 2026, with an official ribbon cutting on April 10, according to FOX 7 Austin.
The park covers more than 4,800 acres with more than 16 miles of multi-use trails and the 90 acre Tucker Lake. January 1, 2027 will be its first New Years Day as an open park. Watch the TPWD calendar for the 2027 listing, and register early if it is a guided hike. Spots went to people who reserved ahead last year.
Stay central, so you can choose the hike on New Years Eve instead of a week before. Inez Spring is one minute off I-20 at Exit 343 in Eastland, about 35 minutes from Palo Pinto Mountains and about an hour from Lake Brownwood. Fort Worth is about 1 hour 35 away and Dallas about 2 hours, so DFW families can drive out on December 31.
Nightly RV sites start at $40 with full hookups and 30 and 50 amp power, tent sites at about $31, and the barndominium sleeps 11 for families who want a warm house after a cold hike; see rates on the booking page. The rebuilt shower house and laundry are on site, and the river trails is right in the park for a short walk on January 2.
Making a long weekend of it? New Years weekend RV camping in Texas has the rest of the weekend plan, and the Fort Worth Stock Show 2027 RV base camp guide covers the next big event on the calendar.
Some hikers are here for the whole winter. Winter Texans who want a quiet base near DFW family can see our winter Texan page, and anyone staying a month or more can use our monthly RV sites: $500 for a back-in or $650 for a pull-through, plus your own metered electric at 17 cents per kWh, a $200 refundable deposit and month to month terms.
First Day Hikes are New Years Day events in Texas State Parks. Parks run guided and self-guided hikes, and some add bike rides, paddles or a cold water plunge. Most are free with park entrance. Texas Parks and Wildlife lists each park's events on its calendar.
First Day Hikes are held on January 1. In 2027 that is a Friday, so the hike starts a three day weekend. Lake Brownwood State Park already lists a self-guided First Day Hike for January 1, 2027, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM at the Texas Oak Trailhead.
It depends on the park. Self-guided hikes like the one at Lake Brownwood need no sign-up; you check in at the trailhead. Guided hikes often require registration, as the 2026 hikes at Palo Pinto Mountains and Lake Mineral Wells did. Check each event listing on the TPWD calendar.
The hikes are usually free, but you pay the park's daily entrance fee unless you have a Texas State Parks Pass. On busy days, TPWD suggests reserving a day pass online ahead of time.
Parks within about an hour and a quarter of Eastland that have held First Day Hikes include Palo Pinto Mountains near Strawn, Lake Brownwood, Abilene State Park, Possum Kingdom and Lake Mineral Wells. Only Lake Brownwood had a 2027 listing posted as of October 11, 2026.
Inez Spring Riverfront RV Park is at Exit 343 on I-20 in Eastland, central to all five parks. RV sites start at $40 a night, tent sites at about $31, and the barndominium sleeps 11. Call (254) 629-1197 to book New Years Eve.
January 1, 2027 is a Friday, so a First Day Hike can open a full three day weekend. Pick your park, check the TPWD listing, and stay where you can reach all five.
Check sites and the barndominium on our booking page, or call (254) 629-1197. Inez Spring Riverfront RV Park, 10505 Interstate 20, Eastland, TX 76448, Exit 343.
