Get off to healthy start Jan. 1 with First Day Hikes at SC parks

If you’ve declared war on your bad health habits with a New Year’s resolution or two, you’re not alone.

According to The Nielsen Company, which studies and reports on worldwide trends, most New Year’s resolutions involve improving health by losing weight.

You could get up, grab your new or rarely used membership card and join the crowd of first-day resolution-keepers making their way to the gym. Option B is to sleep in – nothing unhealthy about that – eat a balanced breakfast and make your way to Sesquicentennial State Park, where rangers will be on hand all afternoon to lead hikes around the park’s 2-mile loop.

The guided walks are part of First Day Hikes, a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks. The goal of the program is to encourage Americans to enjoy their state parks, and get a bit of exercise at the same time. Bring water and a (healthy) snack; leashed, friendly dogs are welcome.

Sesqui isn’t the only area park participating in First Day Hikes. Rangers and staff members also will be on hand at Lake Wateree, Andrew Jackson, Poinsett and Dreher Island State Parks; note that since all of its trails are currently under water, Congaree National Park will not be participating, but Congaree Park rangers will be at Sesqui to answer questions about the park and promote upcoming events.

For a complete list of participating parks, times and types of hikes, visit www.southcarolinaparks.com

Katie McElveen, Special to The State

This story was originally published December 31, 2015 at 12:09 PM.