The Flathead and Mission Valleys are great places to get outside and start your new year off with a First Day Expedition. On the first day of 2025, all FWP State Park sites: Flathead Lake (all units), Lone Pine, Whitefish, Lake Mary Ronan, Les Meson, Logan, Thompson Chain of Lake and Somers Beach State Parks invite you to go outside and discover your state parks.

To help guide your winter expedition, you have an opportunity to win some prizes!  To earn points, you must take a photograph of each activity and submit via email to [email protected]. All activities must occur at one of the participating parks listed above on January 1, 2025. Photos, names of participants, and miles hiked/ran must be submitted via email to [email protected] by 6 p.m. on January 3 to be entered to win prizes.

What: First Day Expedition

Minimum age: Children of all ages are encouraged to attend with their families.

What to bring: A plan for every activity to get the most points.

Location: All trails at Flathead Lake State Park, Lone Pine State Park, Somers Beach State Park, Whitefish State Park, Les Mason State Park, Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park, Logan State Park, and Lake Mary Ronan State Park

Point breakdown:

1-Point categories:

Wildlife Pictures
-1 point species and extra point for proper identification.

Tree/shrub Identification
-1 point per species you correctly ID with picture.

2-Point categories:

-Per mile, per person hiked/ran/skied/snowshoed.

-Per snow angel (or other angel if no snow is present).

-Per snow creature, extra points are awarded for creativity.

5-Point categories:

-Having a picnic

-Sunrise Picture
 Must be time stamped with January 1, 2025

-Sledding

-Fishing
Ice fishing (if safe ice available) or gear fishing or fly fishing.

-Making a campfire (where permitted and only in designated fire rings) and having S’mores
Please remember to drown your fires before you leave to your next adventure.

10-Point Categories:

-Per person for wading into a lake at least ankle deep.

-Utilizing one of the archery ranges, Big Arm unit of Flathead Lake State Park or Lone Pine State Park.

-Per Park that you travel to.
Picture of you at the entrance signs as proof.

How to enter:

Photos, names of participants, and miles hiked/ran must be submitted via email to [email protected] by 6 PM on January 3 to be entered to win prizes.

Prizes:

-1st place - Two nights at either Big Arm Unit of FHLSP yurt or Finley Point Unit of FHLSP cabin

-2nd place - Two nights of camping at Logan State Park or Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park

-3rd place - $40 at either Lone Pine State Park or Flathead Lake Ranger Station gift shop