Start the New Year with First Day Hike on Honeymoon Island

Honeymoon Island State Park is one of only nine in Florida offering a free, guided hike on New Years Day. 

The First Day Hike is part of a national campaign among state parks to encourage healthy living and outdoor recreation.

The program began at a state park in Massachusetts more than 20 years ago. This marks the first year all 50 states came together for the initiative, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Honeymoon Island is the only park in the Tampa Bay area that is participating in the Florida Park Service-sponsored hike on New Year's Day.

A staff member or volunteer for the Florida State Park Service, a branch of the Department of Environmental Protection, will lead a one-mile hike (with the option for the longer, two-mile version) along the Osprey Trail at on Sunday.

The Osprey Trail is a 2.5-mile-long walking trail among Florida slash pines and contains about three-quarters of a mile of uneven terrain, according to eligibility criteria posted on the Florida State Parks Honeymoon Island website. The tour is about 45 minutes. Leashed dogs are allowed on the nature trail, the website says.

The First Day Hike begins at 11 a.m.

Visitors should bring their own water, sunscreen and binoculars and wear appropriate shoes and clothing for the weather conditions, DEP recommends.

The National Weather Service predicts a mostly sunny day, with light winds and a high near 75 for Sunday.

Call 727-738-2903 for more information.