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First Day Hike at Assateague State Park
January 1, 2017 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Meeting Location: Meet at the Assateague State Park concession building
Degree of Difficulty: Easy to moderate hike for families of all ages. Opportunities available for self-guided hike or group hike along the beach toward the north end of the island.
Length of Trail: One mile round trip
Things to Bring: Participants are asked to wear clothes and shoes appropriate for the weather (rain, snow or shine), and bring water for drinking. Hot chocolate will be served on the concession deck following the walk. To save on disposables, please bring a mug for your hot chocolate.
Additional Information:Join us as we celebrate the beauty of Assateague Island. Hikers can enjoy walking at their own pace while enjoying the scenic beauty along the coast or participate in a fun “Scavenger Hunt” to learn more about their fascinating finds on the beach. Or stop by the interpretive stations set up along the route to discover more about how the island is changing and what planning is occurring as we continue to study this fragile environment.
The first Assateague Beach Walk was held on January 1, 1970. The newly formed Committee to Preserve Assateague Island hosted the inaugural event to draw attention to Assateague’s wild beauty. The committee was created by Ilia Fehrer, Judy Johnson and a few friends who had organized to rally against early plans for development of Assateague Island, which included a 25-mile highway and a number of commercial enterprises, and the Ocean Beach resort, much like Ocean City. A series of 1962 nor-easters interrupted construction, and eventually National and State Parks were established. The committee became the organization, Assateague Coastal Trust, who along with Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague State Park sponsor the New Year’s Day walk each year. Dogs on a leash are welcome only as far as the boundary of the State Park (to the north of the boundary, dogs are not permitted).