Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Ring in the New Year with an easy, yet invigorating walk along Genesee Valley Greenway’s most recent open section heading east along Oil Creek. Pre-registration required! Please include number in party and hike location as there is more than one hike that day. Send email to: Kristine.Uribe@parks.ny.gov with “First Day Hike Regi” in the subject line OR Leave a message at: (585)493-3614

Meet Up Location: 8:45 am Hinsdale United Methodist Church - Main St. (42.167278, -78.387766)

*In case of severe weather, a posting will be made on Facebook advising the event is cancelled.* *Dress weather appropriate**Parking is available at the meet up location*The Hinsdale Historical Society will lead this hike. Hot chocolate will be served afterwards. Bathrooms will be available at meeting location. "

Hike for Birds- 9am–10:30am: New Year’s Day birding trips are a tradition among many birders to start their annual bird list. We will explore a variety of habitats in search of many different species of birds. 1½ miles or less.

Hikes for Families- 10am-11:30am: This winter wander explores the forest between Trout Pond & Pine Pond. 1½ miles. 12:30pm-1:30 pm: Journey a wooded loop less than one mile on nearly level terrain near the Humphrey Nature Center, observing frozen bogs & Trout Pond. Less than 1 mile.

Hike to Learn- 1pm-3pm: A slower paced hike to Inspiration Point, the Glen Iris Fountain & Middle Falls with more than 200’ descent and 200’ ascent along trails, roads & stairs. This hike enjoys breathtaking views as well as state and national champion trees. 2 miles.

Hike to Hike- 11am-1:30 pm: This is a longer, faster paced hike to view the Park’s deepest canyon from several vantage points along the Gorge Trail. 3-4 miles.

Self-Guided Hike- 10am-3pm: Walk at your own pace through the woods on the proposed route of The ANT, a nature trail that will be uniquely suited to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and others with social and cognitive disabilities yet will enhance the visitor experience for all who walk the Trail. 1¼ miles.

Hike for Birds- 9am–10:30am: New Year’s Day birding trips are a tradition among many birders to start their annual bird list. We will explore a variety of habitats in search of many different species of birds. 1½ miles or less.

Hikes for Families- 10am-11:30am: This winter wander explores the forest between Trout Pond & Pine Pond. 1½ miles. 12:30pm-1:30 pm: Journey a wooded loop less than one mile on nearly level terrain near the Humphrey Nature Center, observing frozen bogs & Trout Pond. Less than 1 mile.

Hike to Learn- 1pm-3pm: A slower paced hike to Inspiration Point, the Glen Iris Fountain & Middle Falls with more than 200’ descent and 200’ ascent along trails, roads & stairs. This hike enjoys breathtaking views as well as state and national champion trees. 2 miles.

Hike to Hike- 11am-1:30 pm: This is a longer, faster paced hike to view the Park’s deepest canyon from several vantage points along the Gorge Trail. 3-4 miles.

Self-Guided Hike- 10am-3pm: Walk at your own pace through the woods on the proposed route of The ANT, a nature trail that will be uniquely suited to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and others with social and cognitive disabilities yet will enhance the visitor experience for all who walk the Trail. 1¼ miles.

Hosted by Saw Mill River Audubon and led by SMRA Board Member Larry Trachtenberg. Now an annual Saw Mill River Audubon tradition! Start off the year and your 2020 bird list with an invigorating walk along the Hudson River shoreline at Rockwood Hall. Dress warmly since it is often cooler by the river. Bring binoculars if you have them. SMRA will also have spotting scopes to share. Meet up location: Parking lot near Rockwood. Beginners encouraged! Pre-registration is not required. Please call 914-666-6503 for more information.

Meet at the Picnic Area for this 10am hike (5 miles). For additional information please call 516-249-3560.

Come join us on a New Year’s Day hike through Bethpage State Park. Look for signs of rabbits, hawks, fox and owls along the trail. Bring water & snack; hike: rain, snow, or shine, only blizzard cancels.

Picnic area parking lot by rest rooms. From Rt 135: Take exit 8 to Powell Ave, Bethpage; go east; the first road on the north side is the entrance to the Polo Field and Picnic area. Go to the end of the road and you will be at the Rest Rooms and Play ground area. GPS 40.753023, -73.466590

Registration is preferred, but not required. To confirm attendance, call 516-249-3560 and leave information on answering machine. If you wish to have someone return your call, please say your phone number twice.

Meet at the CVT Trail at Fairgrounds Lane. This easy 3.25 mile walk follows the old Chemung Canal Towpath through the Queen Catherine Wildlife Management Area. Dress in easy layers. There is parking on either side of Fairgrounds lane adjacent to CVT before you enter Frog Hollow Marina. This area is often cold and windy but once you are out on the CVT the weather becomes milder and you may be taking off at least one layer.

For inquires please contact the Watkins Glen Office at 607-535-4511.

Join us for an easy 1 - 1.5 mile hike at Glimmerglass State Park. The park will supply warm beverages and snacks following the hike. Registration is not required but preferred.

Call ahead if heavy snow fall is forecasted.

Join us for an easy 1.9 miles or 2.9 miles hike at Green Lakes State Park! Come explore the Environmental Education Center and learn why the lakes at Green Lakes State Park so special. Dress for the weather. Due to the possibility of large crowds, we will be offering self-guided hikes around one or both lakes (Green Lake and Round Lake). Be sure to stop back at the Environmental Education Center for some hot chocolate to celebrate a great start to 2020.

Ring in the New Year with a history hike starting at 10:00am on Wednesday, January 1, 2020 around the perimeter of picturesque Peebles Island. Meet at the Peebles Island Visitor Center. The Perimeter Trail is an easy two mile hike.

Learn about the Native American presence on the Island, view existing earthwork fortifications from 1777, and discover the history of this strategic site. Dress for the weather and bring cameras and binoculars for a chance to see wildlife. Well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome.

This program is free and open to the public. Please send an email to friendsofpeebles@gmail.com or call (518) 268-2188 with questions. Registration is not required but an email to the above address with the number of people in your group would help us to plan accordingly.

Check our website for any changes due to the weather: https://sites.google.com/view/friendsofpeeblesisland/home

Join us as we kick off the New Year with a hike to explore the forest of Sunken Meadow. Discover the changes in the forest during the winter and search for signs of wildlife. Breathe in the fresh air and embrace a new start to 2020! This is a moderate 3 mile hike. Meet at Field 4.

We will be offering two hikes:

Blacksnake Mountain Trail: A moderate 3 mile hike.

Science Lake Trail: An easy 1 mile hike.

Guided hikes will be at 11:00am at Blacksnake and 1:00pm at Science Lake, however, feel free to hike either trail at anytime throughout the day. Non-guided First Day Hikes will run from 10:30am to 2:00pm

Free Chili dinner at 12pm sponsored by the Friends of Allegany State Park afterwards. For inquiries call 716 354 9101 ext 232.

Fellow snowmobilers! Ring in the New Year with your comrades on the Greenway’s First Day Hike Ride from the Avon area heading south to Cuylerville. Pre-registration required! Please include number in party and hike location as there is more than one hike that day. Send email to: Kristine.Uribe@parks.ny.gov with “First Day Hike Regi” in the subject line OR Leave a message at: (585)493-3614

20-30 miles for snowmobiling // 2 miles for hiking

Meet Up Location: Erie-Attica Trail Parking Lot – State Route 5 to Farmers Rd. in Avon (42.922842, -77.756422)

**Registered snowmobiles are the only motorized form of transportation permitted on the Greenway. Please, no ATV’s, UTV’s etc. ** *In case of severe weather, a posting will be made on Facebook advising the event is cancelled* *Dress weather appropriate* *Parking is available at the meet up location.* **This ride is supported by the Caledonia Trailblazers and the Henrietta Hill & Gully Snowmobile clubs. If there is no snow, there will still be a hike. If there is snow, hikers are still encouraged to attend to hike, ski or snowshoe. The clubs will offer hot dogs, hamburgers and snacks afterwards. Please bring beverage. *There will be a porta-john available in the parking area.*

There will be short hikes and then hot cocoa, snacks and songs at the grand opening of our new Volunteer Center at Little Stony Point (3011 Route 9D, 10516). 2 choices: 1 mile on Little Stony Point and 3 mile on Cornish Estate Trail

Meet up location: Park Office and Volunteer Center, 3011 Route 9D, Cold Spring NY 10516

Call 845-225-7207 for additional information.

Join us for this easy 2 mile hike! We will be going down the Wehle road to the snakefoot trail and following it along the lake to the picnic area and back up the Whele road to the maintenance building. We will have lunch after the hike.

Pre-registration is required.

The event will start with a short presentation at the Hallock Visitors Center about local marine life and the dangers from humans they face in Long Island waters. The group will then take a one-mile hike (sandy and inclined grades) to and along the Hallock State Park Preserve beachfront on Long Island Sound to check for cold-stunned sea turtles and to pick up beach trash blown in by the winter storms.

Meet at the Visitors Center. Call 631-315-5475 or email hallocksp@parks.ny.gov for additional information.

We will start at Montauk Point for a hike through Camp Hero's magnificent pristine maritime forest, spectacular ocean views and dramatic bluffs overlooking the ocean. Breathe in the fresh air and embrace a new start to 2020!

Start the New Year right with a First Day Hike! First, we will hike to Ellis Swamp then circle around to Clay Pit Road and conclude with the Orange Trail which passes through New York City’s only Pine Barrens habitat. This easy hike will be 2 miles long.

Event is weather permitting; the hike will be cancelled in heavy rain or snow and/or temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit

Start the New Year right with a First Day Hike! First, we will hike to Ellis Swamp then circle around to Clay Pit Road and conclude with the Orange Trail which passes through New York City’s only Pine Barrens habitat. This easy hike will be 2 miles long.

Event is weather permitting; the hike will be cancelled in heavy rain or snow and/or temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit

Ring in the new year with an easy, yet invigorating winter walk along the Greenway, heading west along Griffin Creek and Olean Creek, where an abundance of wildlife can typically be seen. Pre-registration required! Please include number in party and hike location as there is more than one hike that day. Send email to: Kristine.Uribe@parks.ny.gov with “First Day Hike Regi” in the subject line OR Leave a message at: (585)493-3614

Meet Up Location: Bull St., Cuba (42.216592, -78.283329)

*In case of severe weather, a posting will be made on Facebook advising the event is cancelled* *Dress weather appropriate* *Parking is available at the meet up location. *At this time we are only offering a hike, however, if there is snow feel free to bring snow shoes / skis* *There are no bathroom facilities available, however, The Palmer Opera House, located at 12 W Main St, Cuba, NY 14727 is less than a ½ mile away from the meet up location and will be open at 11:00 am and after the hike to offer hot beverages, snacks, and handicapped accessible restrooms. .

Come celebrate the New Year in the outdoors! Hike the 2 mile moderate Shaver pond trail and enjoy picturesque views of water and woods. Spots fill up quickly! Pre-register and reserve your snowshoes at 518-279-1155, ext. 2. This event is weather permitting and will be cancelled in the event of heavy snow or extreme cold. Meet at the Welcome Center.

Please dress for the weather; waterproof boots or shoes are suggested. Snowshoes available on a first-come, first-served basis; please be sure to pre-register to reserve a pair. Enjoy some hot cocoa and warm up in our Welcome Center after the hike! This event is weather permitting and will cancelled in the event of heavy snow or extreme cold.

Kick off the New Year in the outdoors! Join us for this annual event held across New York State. We will have two woodland hike options available – a short family-friendly half-mile hike and a longer two-mile trek. We will keep an eye out for porcupines, white-tailed deer, and other winter wildlife. Meet inside the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center.

Weather permitting. Please, dress appropriately with footwear for varied winter terrain and possible ice. Snowshoes will be provided if conditions allow.

Pre-registration recommended in case of cancellation due to inclement weather.

Begin 2020 with a First Day Hike at Minnewaska! Join us for a two-and-a-half-mile snowshoe hike to Awosting Falls. Starting from the Peter's Kill Area, participants will hike briefly on the Awosting Falls Connector Footpath and then journey up the scenic Awosting Falls Carriage Road, which has a gentle incline as it approaches Awosting Falls. If weather conditions are cold enough, a frozen volcano-like structure forms at the base of the waterfall. A limited number of snowshoes are available for participants to borrow for this program from the education department, located at the Peter's Kill Area. When these run out, snowshoes may be rented for $5 per person. Early arrival is suggested if you would like to borrow snowshoes. If there is insufficient snow cover, this program will be offered as a hike. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Meet in the Peter's Kill Area. Pre-registration is required by calling Minnewaska at 845-255-0752.

Difficulty: Easy (slowly sloping hills, consistent terrain)

Meeting time: 1:00 pm

Meeting place: Peter’s Kill Office Porch

Pre-registration: Yes

Contact: Laura Conner

Phone: 845-255-0752

Kick off the New Year in the outdoors! Join us for this annual event held across New York State. We will have two woodland hike options available – a short family-friendly half-mile hike and a longer two-mile trek. We will keep an eye out for porcupines, white-tailed deer, and other winter wildlife. Meet inside the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center.

Weather permitting. Please, dress appropriately with footwear for varied winter terrain and possible ice. Snowshoes will be provided if conditions allow.

Pre-registration recommended in case of cancellation due to inclement weather.

Join us as we kick off the New Year with a hike to explore the preserve. Discover the changes in the forest during the winter and search for signs of wildlife. Breathe in the fresh air and embrace a new start to 2020! Meet at the Main House for this 1:30pm hike. Call 631-581-1072 for additional information.

Happy New Year! Our winter visitors are here! Come join us for a short walk along the shore line where we will view the seals in the Bay. Don't forget to bundle, and bring binoculars if you would like a closer view. Event is weather permitting, dress warm, wear shoes that you can walk in the sand wearing. Meet at Field 10.

Happy New Year! Our winter visitors are here! Come join us for a short walk along the shore line where we will view the seals in the Bay. Don't forget to bundle, and bring binoculars if you would like a closer view. Event is weather permitting, dress warm, wear shoes that you can walk in the sand wearing. Meet at Field 10.

Join us for an easy and invigorating two-mile trek through an old growth forest to the gorge rim trail where’ll we’ll see the Whirlpool and rapids in their winter splendor. Follow parts of the Battlefield’s nationally recognized History Trail and Village’s War of 1812 Bicentennial Trail, beginning and ending at the Visitors Center. Pause to read interpretive panels about the War of 1812 and Sackets Harbor history. You might even see a bald eagle or deer along the way. It’s a great opportunity to meet up with people who enjoy, and appreciate, a winter day’s walk in Northern New York.

Icy conditions mean the hike is cancelled. For more information, call the Visitors Center at (315) 646-2321

Free NYS Parks “First Day Hike” cool keepsake!