More than 265 individuals took part in the First Day Hike at Palisades-Kepler State Park Thursday, Jan. 1.

The event started at noon, and parking to get to the Palisades-Kepler Lodge was backed up to at least a quarter of a mile from the trails.

Hikers this year were urged to follow a portion of the Woodland Trail and then select whichever other trails in the trail system they wanted to explore. The Friends of the Palisades-Kepler State Park provided hot chocolate, hot dogs and s’more making materials back at the lodge from noon until 2 p.m.

Dogs were welcome on the trails this year as well as humans, and temperatures were slightly brisk at 20 degrees outside, but with less snow and ice, trails had some muddy and slick spots.

The First Day Hikes are offered at state parks across the state of Iowa on New Year’s Day, with each group trying to keep track of counts of people participating.