This year, the winter solstice officially begins at 12:04 p.m. on Sunday.

Where will you be to mark the shortest day of the year?

How about spending a few hours enjoying the glories of winter?

Because Sunday is also the first day of winter.

And while just about every culture in the world celebrates the winter solstice, mainly because it means the days will begin getting longer and we can begin thinking about the rebirth of spring, you can also celebrate winter on Sunday with a hike through Money Rocks County Park.

"Winter is really my favorite season to hike," says Mary Ann Schlegel, of the Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation Environmental Education Center, who will be leading the hike, running from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

"One of the marvelous advantages of winter is you can really see the rocks, the green plants. And it is much easier to walk through the woods," says Schlegel.

The 377-acre Money Rocks County Park, located in East Earl and Salisbury Township, is a lot different than the other county parks.

"You can feel like you are really away from the roads," Schlegel says. "Money Rocks is one of the rougher spots around in terms of hiking. It's really not for young children. We'll be hiking two or three miles in rough terrain so you want to dress for that, wear appropriate footgear. Parts of it are really rocky."

But the rewards are terrific, Schlegel says.

"The soil is very acidic, so you have very different plants there than other parks," she says.

One of Schlegel's favorites, witch hazel, will be easy to find on the hike.

"It has the audacity to bloom in late fall and early winter," she explains. "I love it for that."

Other plants that will catch hiker's eyes include striped wintergreen, trailing arbutus, Christmas ferns, rhododendron and rock polypody, a fern that grows on rocks.

"Identifying trees by twigs is fun and this is the time of year to do it.," Schlegel says. "There's a lot of sweet birch out at Money Rocks and it's really nice to scrape it a little and there's this wintergreen scent."

No matter what the season, animals are always busy.

"It's a great time for animal tracks and scat," she says. "We'll probably see deer tracks, maybe possum, red foxes and of course, squirrels."

 And without leaves on the trees, it will be easier to see the birds who stay throughout the winter or drop by for a visit.

"Winter is the best time of the year to start identifying birds," Schlegel says. "There is a shorter list of who is likely to be out there."

Owls are particularly active this time of year.

"They are very vocal now because they are finding their mates and are concerned with their territory," Schlegel says.

Owls have their babies earlier than most other birds, but Schlegel explains it's for rather brutal reasons.

"They want their young to have maximum advantage by starting to hunt when the other birds are still helpless."

And Schlegel says hikers can expect to see — and hear — woodpeckers.

"Winter is a fun time to watch them," she says.

So celebrate winter on the day it begins. Nature still has plenty to show off.

Winter Solstice Walk

Sun. 10-12:30 a.m.

Free

Money Rocks County Park

Narvon Road, near Narvon

295-2055 to register