Hiking is one of the most popular activities at York River State Park
We offer dramatic views of the broad, historic river from high bluffs and quiet walks along marshes and streams. Our multi-use trails are great for meeting other adventurers on bikes or horseback. And we have trails that are reserved for hikers only.
Everyone enjoys hiking to a shoreline beach
A walk in the woods is generally a safe activity for even beginners. But, there are some hazards that all hikers should be aware of this time of year. Bugs, heat, hydration, and snakes are things to keep in mind when enjoying the outdoors in the summertime. Novice and experienced hikers should observe a few tips:
Be aware of the Copperhead snakes
- Hike early in the day.Temperatures can easily be 20-25 degrees cooler in the morning than in the afternoon. The day will cool off toward sunset but temperatures will still be much hotter than in morning.
- Pay attention to weather forecasts.Sites likeWeather.comlet you check forecasts by location and ZIP code. The site offers hourly temperature predictions for the current day and every three hours for the following day.
- Start the hydration process before you go out.Begin to hydrate a couple of hours before you hit the trail.
- Drink frequently.Instead of guzzling a bunch of water all at once, take smaller and more frequent drinks of water.
- Eat snacks with salt.Salt in foods can help restore sodium levels in the bloodstream. So in addition to drinking plenty of fluids on hot days, be sure to snack frequently on foods with salt, such as nuts, pretzels, and trail mix.
- Stay on the trail. Snakes prefer places to hide and hunt. If you see one on a trail, simply stay back and give it room to slither away.
- Wear insect Repellant.Always check for ticks after a day in the outdoors.
"Hike Safe: There and Back" is a very good resource for hikers at all levels.
There is information about equipment, clothing, and hiking with kids and with dogs. There are other websites and periodicals that are also useful for exploring year-round. Don't enclose yourself from the outdoors, with a little planning, summertime is a great time to hike!
Come out and join us!
Directions to Click here for a Google map!