On New Year’s Eve, Ilse Dunbar will be in bed well before midnight.

That’s because she’ll be up at 4:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day to hit the trail.

“I would never skip Jan. 1 as a hiking day,” the Rumford resident said. “Because that sets the stage for the year.”

And Dunbar has a big year ahead. She’s 28 peaks shy of completing what’s known in the White Mountains of New Hampshire as “a grid,” which can take years to achieve. When she’s done, she will have hiked all 48 of the 4,000-footers at some point in all 12 months. That’s 576 peaks summited in total.

“I’m going to finish it,” she said. “There’s no doubt.”

Many Mainers ring in the New Year by getting outside. Across the country, state parks, including those in Maine, offer free events to encourage people to start January with their best foot forward — maybe in a warm sock and an insulated hiking boot. Whether you bundle up for a stroll around the block or scale a remote peak, these Mainers offered up their tips for hiking on the first day of 2026.

Ilse Dunbar, 58, Rumford

Where she’s getting outside on Jan. 1: The forecast looks blustery, so she and her husband are thinking about heading up New Hampshire’s Mt. Garfield, which has an elevation of about 4,500 feet.

Why she hikes: “It’s an emotional break for me. You’re focusing only on where you’re putting your feet, where you’re putting your hands. All the day-to-day worries are gone.”

What she’s packing in her bag: Safety is paramount, so Dunbar always carries what hikers call “the 10 essentials.” These items, including a headlamp, extra clothes and a first aid kit, would help if she had an emergency or had to spend the night on the trail. Beyond those basics, her must-have is a thermos of hot cocoa for the summit.

Her advice for new hikers: “We were all new, novice hikers. How you get started is by starting small.” Choose a trail at a local land preserve or a small mountain before attempting a big peak, Dunbar said.

Maxim Higgins, 28, Auburn

Where he’s getting outside on Jan. 1: Higgins, who works as a pipefitter at Bath Iron Works, has summited the region’s biggest peaks. This year, he’s thinking about a smaller trip, maybe to Bradbury Mountain in Pownal. That’s because he’ll be carrying his 10-month-old son. Higgins hasn’t been hiking as much this year with a newborn at home, but he’s excited to get back on the trails in 2026 with his partner Becky and baby Forrest. “I can’t wait to climb the 4,000-footers in Maine and New Hampshire with him,” he said. “I’m getting an Osprey backpack where I can carry him.”

Why he hikes: Higgins said he has been sober since November 2019. “Hiking saved me from myself,” he said. “Instead of going out to the bars at nighttime, I was out climbing Mt. Washington or out in the Presidential Range or up in Baxter State Park. It gets me out of my head.”

What he’s packing in his bag: He recently got a portable cooking system called a Jetboil, and he plans to use it on the hike Thursday to heat up hot chocolate for Becky. On big hikes, he also packs a laminated map of the area and a GPS system as backups in case his phone dies or he has an emergency.

His advice for new hikers: Check the forecast in advance to make sure you’re wearing the right layers and footwear for the conditions. Pack your 10 essentials. “It’s really important to know the weather, know the terrain.”

Charlotte Clews, 50, Blue Hill

Where she’s getting outside on Jan. 1: Clews, a social worker, plans to hike up the closed road to Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park to watch the first sunrise of the year with her two daughters. “It’s amazing to be in this national park that has 4 million visitors a year, and you can see nobody,” she said.

Why she hikes: “It’s pretty easy on a day off to sit around and look at your phone, but none of us want that to be our lives. So I think there’s something about the first day of the year saying, ‘That’s not my priority. My priority is to get out and see the world.'”

What’s she’s packing in her bag: Her daughters, Georgia and Lucinda, are now 18 and 19, respectively. When they were little, Clews always packed M&M’s to entice them up the trail. These days, they plan to treat themselves to a hot tea and a bagel sandwich at the end of the hike.

Her advice for new hikers: Clews is a Registered Maine Guide and has a lot of backpacking experience with kids. For families, she said, getting out of the door can be the biggest hurdle. “Stick to your goal of getting out the door and getting to the parking lot, and that’s a huge win,” Clews said. “Then whatever happens is the adventure.”

FIRST DAY HIKES IN MAINE STATE PARKS

For those looking to hit the trails, here are some options.

Admission to all Maine state parks is free on Jan. 1. Visitors can still make donations at the park gates. State parks are open year round, but amenities, such as restrooms, might be shut down in the winter.

The state recently highlighted online resources for self-guided hikes and activities at five locations — Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal, Camden Hills State Park, Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg, Reid State Park in Georgetown and Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport. Visit maine.gov/dacf/parks for information about access to parks, to download guides and for more information about trails.

The state Bureau of Parks and Lands will also host at least four guided walks on Jan. 1.

Two Lights State Park, Cape Elizabeth

Meet at High Head at the rose garden at 6:30 a.m. to catch the sunrise. Naturalists will lead a winter plant and animal adaptation walk from 7:30-9 a.m. on an easy three-quarter-mile loop of the shoreline and woodland paths. Pets must be leashed and parents must accompany children under 12 years old. For more information, call 207-799-5871.

Camden Hills State Park, Camden

Meet park ranger Erik Hallsey at the visitor center at 9 a.m. for a 2.6-mile hike on the Megunticook and Adams Lookout Trails. The Megunticook Trail is moderately difficult and leads to the easy Adams Lookout Trail. Both have scenic views of Penobscot Bay. Leashed pets are welcome. For more information, call 207-236-0849.

Holbrook Island Sanctuary, Brooksville

Warm beverages, water and snacks will be on hand at the start and finish of this 2.85-mile walk. Meet at the Backshore Trail parking lot on Indian Bar Road at 1 p.m. for the guided walk at 1:30 p.m., or explore on your own. Organizers said there will be several options to turn back for a shorter hike if desired. Leashed pets are welcome. For more information, call 207-326-4012.

Sebago Lake State Park, Naples

Enjoy a 1-mile walk at 1 p.m. starting at the campground booth on the Naples side of the park, where snacks and beverages will be provided. The trail is an easy-to-moderate path around Horseshoe Bog, mostly flat and slightly rocky. Parents must accompany children under 12 years old and no pets are allowed on the hike. For more information, call 207-693-6231.