by Karen Kratz

This morning, 32 adventurous hikers (plus a few furry friends) kicked off the New Year in style at our First Day Hike! The Friends of Raven Rock kept everyone energized with a buffet of fruits, granola bars, donuts, water, coffee, and hot cocoa. (A little something for every kind of hiker, right?)

Our amazing park ranger, Lindsey Baker, came through with some cool park giveaways and then led the hike on the American Beech Trail. Along the way, she inspired us to pause, breathe, and soak in the beauty around us.

But wait—there’s more! After wrapping up the trail, the group wasn’t ready to stop just yet. Ranger Baker took an encore tour to the park’s namesake Rock! Together, we conquered the 130 steps down to the river for a breathtaking view of the rock from below.

Thanks to everyone who joined us—it was a fantastic way to start 2025! Can’t wait to see you out on the trails again soon.

Happy hiking, friends!