Start 2024 on right foot with volunteer-led interpretive hikes at Battle Ground State Park

Thanks to two new books that explore its history and geology, Battle Ground Lake has enjoyed a recent star turn in local historical and scientific circles — as well as in the pages of The Columbian.

On Jan. 1, Battle Ground Lake State Park will be the site of two free volunteer-led interpretive hikes, titled “Walking in Volcanic Wonderland.” The hikes are set for 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. and limited to 20 participants each. Preregistration is mandatory at https://parks.wa.gov/find-activity/activity-search/first-day-hikes.

Not a joiner? Private exploration and enjoyment will be equally free at Battle Ground Lake on New Year’s Day, which is one of 12 free-admission days at all of Washington’s 140-plus state parks.

State park admission usually requires a Discover Pass. A single-day pass costs $10. Frequent park visitors know the better deal is the annual version, which costs $30. But the best deal of all is a state park Free Day, when it doesn’t cost a dime to explore natural beauty, history, science and culture in every corner of our state. By law, admission to all state parks is free on those days:

• Jan. 1, New Year’s Day.
• Jan. 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
• March 9, Billy Frank Jr.’s birthday. (Frank was a Nisqually tribal fishing-rights activist.)
• March 19, Washington State Parks’ birthday.
• April 22, Earth Day.
• June 8, National Get Outdoors Day.
• June 9, Free fishing weekend.
• June 19, Juneteenth.
• Sept. 28, National Public Lands Day.
• Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day.
• Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
• Nov. 29, Autumn Day.

Not all parks offer organized activities on Free Days, so a pair of guided First Day Hikes at nearby Battle Ground is something to celebrate.

All First Day Hike participants will receive a collectible Washington State Parks 2024 First Day Hikes pin.

Go farther

Interested in going beyond Battle Ground? Check the state parks website for statewide free-day information and First Day Hike opportunities.

In Southwest Washington, ranger-guided hikes are available at several sites, including Cape Disappointment State Park and the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Seaquest State Park. East of Chehalis, Ike Kineswa State Park will host a Free First Day Paddle — providing free kayaks and life jackets, while they last — on Lake Mayfield.

Out in the Columbia River Gorge, a guided 3-mile out-and-back hike is planned on the scenic Klickitat State Park Trail, starting at 10 a.m. in Lyle (about 75 miles east of Vancouver).

Also in the Gorge, but much closer to home (about 30 miles east of Vancouver), is Beacon Rock State Park. It’ll be free on Jan. 1, but without organized activities.

Bring essentials

You’ll find many lists of “10 essentials” for hiking circulating on the internet. Ten may sound like a lot of items, but the lists are commonsensical and adaptable, depending on the length and difficulty of your hike.

Here’s a useful list culled from suggestions by Washington State Parks and the National Park Service.

• Sun protection — hat, sunglasses, lip balm.
• Extra clothing — warm synthetic or wool layers (not cotton, which retains moisture and gets cold), rain pants, wool or synthetic socks, hat, gloves or mittens.
• First aid kit or supplies.
• Repair kit or supplies. This could be as simple as duct tape and twisty-ties or as complete as screwdriver, scissors and Swiss Army knife.
• Hand and foot warmers and/or fire starters (matches, lighter).
• Nutrition. Bring more than you need. Ideal are easy-to-carry, easy-to-digest snacks such as granola bars, trail mix, apples.
• Hydration. In winter, Washington State Parks suggests at least 1 liter of water per person per 4 miles. In summer, bring even more.
• Navigation. Most navigation these days is as effortless as the GPS app on your cellphone. But cell service doesn’t reach everywhere in the wilderness. If you’re going far, bring a map and compass.
• Illumination. Phone flashlights are OK — until they run out of juice. Head lamps are longer lived and leave your hands free.
• Emergency shelter. It’s the survival gear one hopes never to use, Washington State Parks points out — but if you need it, it could save your life. An emergency shelter can be anything from a couple of big garbage bags to keep you dry; a reflective emergency blanket; a Bivy sack or suit; or a tent.