Press Release
December 17, 2018
Randy Simons | Dan Keefe
(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov
Celebrate the New Year Outdoors with First Day Hikes at State Parks, Historic Sites, Wildlife Areas and Public Lands on New Year’s Day
8th annual event encourages families and friends to spend Jan. 1 holiday enjoying nature
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invite New Yorkers to celebrate the New Year exploring the outdoors at one of the 80 hikes being held at state parks, historic sites, wildlife areas, trails, and public lands across the Empire State. The guided hikes are being held as part of the annual First Day Hikes program taking place throughout the nation on January 1, 2019.
State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said, "First Day Hikes are a popular annual tradition and the perfect elixir to a hectic holiday season. Spending time in nature among such scenic wintry settings is a great way to start off the New Year. With hike options from the tip of Long Island to Niagara Falls, the Adirondacks to the Finger Lakes - and more, there are plenty of destinations across the state to embrace the outdoors and welcome 2019 with loved ones."
DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "Start the New Year right by participating in an annual First Day Hike at one of New York's magnificent outdoor destinations. DEC is proud to partner with State Parks to help New Yorkers of all ages and abilities enjoy this growing tradition, which brings friends and families together in our State's great outdoors."
Hikes are being offered at 19 DEC State lands, wildlife areas, Forest Preserve trails and environmental education centers, and 52 state parks and historic sites with some facilities offering multiple hikes for different age groups, skill levels and destinations within the park. Staff from State Parks and DEC, along with volunteers and partners at many sites, will lead these family-friendly walks and hikes, which range from one to five miles depending on the location and conditions.
A sample of this year's programs feature a seal walk, walking history tour, snowshoe waterfall hike, pet-friendly treks, gorge walks, military musicology, fire towers, and more. New entries for 2019 include hikes along Lake Ontario, Delta Lake, Lake Champlain, the western edge of the Tug Hill Plateau, and recently added trails at Overlook Mountain in Woodstock.
If weather conditions permit, some First Day Hikes may include snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Many host sites will be offering refreshments and giveaways. A list of the hikes follows, and details about hike locations, difficulty and length, terrain, pre-registration requirements and additional information are listed at parks.ny.gov and dec.ny.gov.
Western New York
Allegany State Park- Red House, self-guided anytime 10am-2pm; 716.354.9101 x.232
DeVeaux Woods State Park, Niagara Falls; 10am; 716.282.5154
Evangola State Park, Irving; 9am; 716.549.1050
Genesee Valley Greenway, Canawaugus Park, Scottsville; 1pm; 585.493.3614
Genesee Valley Greenway, Bull St., Cuba; 1pm; 585.493.3614
Hamlin Beach State Park, Hamlin; 10am and 1:30pm (2 hikes); 585.964.2462
Knox Farm State Park, East Aurora; 10am; 716.549.1050
Letchworth State Park, Castile; 1pm; (4 hikes); 585.493.3600
Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls; 2pm; 716.282.5154
Reinstein Woods, Depew; 11am; 716.683.5959
WAG Trail, Willing; 1pm; 585.415.1521
Finger Lakes & Central New York
Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park, Schenevus; 10am; 607.638.5421
Bowman Lake State Park/McDonough State Forest, Oxford; 11am; 607.334.2718
Camillus Forest Unique Area, Camillus; 10am; 315.376.3521
Catharine Valley Trail, Watkins Glen; 10am; 607.535.4511
Chenango Valley State Park, Chenango Forks; 1pm; (2 hikes) 607.648.5251
Clark Reservation State Park, Jamesville; 11am; 315.415.8377
Delta Lake State Park, Rome; 10am; 315.337.4670
Finger Lakes Trail, Corning; 9:30am; dn13@cornell.edu
Fort Ontario State Historic Site, Oswego; 10am; 315.343.4711
Gilbert Lake State Park, Laurens; 10am; 607.432.2114
Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville; 11am; 315.637.6111
Hemlock-Canadice State Forest, Canadice; 10am; 585.374.8366
Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, Savannah; 10am; 315.365.3588
Rogers Environmental Education Center, Sherburne; 10am; 607.674.4733
Seneca Lake State Park, Geneva; 10am; 315.789.2331
Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg; 1pm; 607.387.7041 ext. 131
Two Rivers State Park, Waverly; 10am; 607.732.6287
North Country/Adirondacks
Crown Point State Historic Site, Crown Point; 1pm; 518.597.4666
Prospect Mountain, Lake George; 10am; 518.623.1268
Point Au Roche State Park, Plattsburgh; 11am; 518.563.0369
Poke-O-Moonshine Campground, Keeseville; 10am; 518.897.1276
Robert G. Wehle State Park, Henderson; 11am; 315.938.5302
Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, Sackets Harbor; 1:30pm; 315.646.2321
Wellesley Island State Park, Fineview; 1pm; 315.482.2479
Winona State Forest, Lorraine; 10am; 315.376.3521
Greater Capital District
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Delmar; 9am; 518.475.0291
Grafton Lakes State Park, Grafton; 1pm; 518.279.1155
Mine Kill State Park, North Blenheim; 11am; 518.827.6111
Moreau Lake State Park, Gansevoort; 11am; 518.793.0511
Peebles Island State Park, Waterford; 10am; 518.268.2188
Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs; 10am; 518.584.2535
Schodack Island State Park, Schodack Landing; 1pm (2 hikes); 518.732.0187
Thacher State Park, Voorheesville; 11am; 518.872.0800
Hudson Valley/Catskills
Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest - Kelly Hollow, Margaretville; 10:30am; 845.586.6273
Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower, Margaretville; 9:30am; 845.926.2182
FDR State Park, Yorktown; 10:30am; 914.245.4434
Little Stony Point/Hudson Highlands State Park, Cold Spring;11am (2 hikes); 845.745.0647
John Jay Homestead State Historic Site, Katonah; 1pm; 914.232.5651
Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center, Mt. Tremper; 3pm; 845.688.3369
Meads Meadow Trailhead, Woodstock; 9am & 12pm (2 hikes); 845.256.3083
Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Peter's Kill, Kerhonkson; 9:30am & 1pm (2 hikes); 845.255.0752
Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Sam's Point, Cragsmoor; 1pm; 845.647.7989
North South Lake Campground, Haines Falls; 10am; 518.357.2068; haliagrace@hotmail.com
Olana State Historic Site, Hudson; 11am; 518.828.0135 x303
Old Croton Aqueduct, Dobbs Ferry; 12pm; 646.303.1448
Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville; 9am; 914.631.1470 x107
Sterling Forest State Park, Tuxedo; 11am; 845.351.5907
Taconic State Park - Copake Falls, Copake Falls; 1pm; 518.329.3993
Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park; Poughkeepsie; 2pm; 845-834-2867
NYC & Long Island
Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale; 10am; 516.249.3560
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, Lloyd Neck; 11am; 631.423.1770
Clay Pit Ponds, Staten Island; 1pm; 718.605.3970 x201
Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Oakdale; 1:30pm; 631.581.1072
Hallock State Park Preserve, Wading River; 11am; 631.315.5475
Jones Beach State Park, Wantaugh; 10:30am; 516.780.3295
Montauk Point State, Montauk; 10:30am; 631.668.5000
Mount Loretto Unique Area; Staten Island; 10am; 718.313.8591
Ridge Conservation Area, Ridge; 1pm; 631.444.0347
Sunken Meadow State Park, Kings Park; 10am; 631.581.1072
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which are visited by 71 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.parks.ny.gov, connect with us on Facebook, or follow on Instagram and Twitter.