Folks looking to start 2026 on the right foot are invited to James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park for the park’s annual First Day Hikes on Thursday, January 1, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Park rangers will lead hikers on three different options, giving participants an easy, moderate, or strenuous way to kick off the New Year outdoors:

Option 1: Storybook Trail
An easy 1.2-mile hike around the lower lake. Participants should meet at the park office by 10:00 a.m.

Option 2: Marble Mine Trail
A moderate 1.5-mile hike up-and-back to the Marble Mine. Participants should meet at the trailhead in the Day Use area by 10:00 a.m. Park officials note this meeting location has changed from previous years.

Option 3: Jenkins Gap Loop Trail
A strenuous 4-mile hike going up Jenkins Gap and coming down the Marble Mine Trail. Participants should meet at the park office by 10:00 a.m.

After the hikes, visitors are invited to stick around for a warm New Year’s tradition. The Friends of James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park will host a Black-Eyed Pea Luncheon from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Picnic Shelter 4. The meal will include black-eyed peas, cornbread, greens, and rice — foods traditionally associated with good luck and prosperity for the New Year.

A $10 park pass is required. For questions or to register, contact the park office at 706-857-0826.