CRISFIELD — This weekend when the old year goes out and the new year comes in Janes Island State Park encourages you to get outdoors with three opportunities planned.

If you don’t want to wait for New Year’s Day for the first time there will be a ranger-led beginner birding hike on New Year’s Eve at the Irish Grove Sanctuary on Rumbly Point Road near Marion.

Meet at the state park’s camper check-in parking lot at 9 a.m. and the group will caravan to the Maryland Ornithological Society’s largest sanctuary. At 2,326 acres there are easy trails to follow through salt marsh and loblolly pine woods.

The stroller-friendly hike will be 2 miles and teach the basics of birding. Leashed pets are welcome, and restrooms are at the park with outhouses at Irish Grove. Proper clothing and shoes as well as binoculars are recommended.

Also new and offered at the park will be the first ever First Day "Bike” starting Sunday at 10 a.m. This ranger-led bike ride will cover 5 miles through the park, onto Canal Drive and Jacksonville Road to the Terrapin Run recreational rail-trail along Crisfield Highway then loop back to the park.

While a limited number of bicycles will be available for rent for $5 participants are encouraged to bring their own. Helmets and reflective clothing are encouraged.

On New Year’s Day the White Tail Trail at Janes Island will be available for self-guided hikes. This 1 mile loop through loblolly pine and mixed deciduous forest also covers the waterside along Daugherty Canal Creek.

Those who participate Sunday can pickup a First Day Hike sticker at the trailhead. Restrooms will be open and the route is stroller friendly with leashed pets welcome as well.

If you can’t make this weekend, visitors are always welcome at Janes Island to hike and bike on their own. For more information contact Ranger Mark Herring by email mark.herring@maryland.gov or call 410-968-1565.

In addition to Janes Island, located off Jacksonville Road at 26280 Alfred J. Lawson Drive, Pocomoke River State Park at 3461 Worcester Highway offers a self-guided multi-trail loop starting at the nature center. The route of approximately 2.5 miles is easy to moderate and loops back to the nature center.

Along the way hikers will pass through the cypress swamp and see changes from the season and other improvements to the park itself.

For more information contact Ranger Bernard Schuler at bernardr.schuler@maryland.gov or call 410-632-2566 or 443-614-2894.