New Yorkers are encouraged to celebrate the New Year safely by spending time outdoors this holiday season at state parks, historic sites, wildlife areas, trails, and public lands across the state beginning January 1, 2021. Families across the state can register for one of the many walks and hikes being held across the state as part of the 10th Annual First Day Hikes program, a partnership between the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation.
“In these challenging times, getting out into nature has been a major outlet for safe and healthy recreation for New Yorkers,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said.”Whether you’re taking a self-guided hike at a favorite park or discovering a new local trail this holiday season, New Yorkers have unparalleled options and destinations to embrace the outdoors this winter and bring in the New Year while remaining COVID safe and COVID smart.”
With the Empire State Trail near completion, residents along the 750-mile route – the longest multi-use state trail in the nation- can enjoy the great outdoors while supporting tourism and community revitalization across the state. Information about the trail, including an interactive map detailing the route, designated parking areas, and nearby attractions is available on the project website.
Walks and hikes are family-friendly, and typically range from one to five miles and are being offered at more than 60 state parks, historic sites, DEC state lands, wildlife areas, Forest Preserve trails and environmental education centers.
A list of New York State First Day Hikes, location details, format, pre-registration requirements and additional information can be found online at parks.ny.gov and dec.ny.gov. Interested participants are encouraged to check the details of their preferred host site and pre-register where required.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and requirements for safe outdoor recreation, there will be no large group hikes this year. The event options for hikes range from self-guided treks to staff- or volunteer-led hikes with a limited number of participants. All hikes are subject to regional COVID-19 limitations. Masks or face-coverings are mandatory, and capacity restrictions may limit participation so have some alternate locations in mind. Hikes will span Friday, Saturday or Sunday of January, allowing participants the time and space to social distance while still enjoying nature’s winter wonders.
Here is a list of First Day Hikes by region, along with contact information:
Western New York
Allegany State Park- Red House; 716.354.9101 x.232
DeVeaux Woods State Park, Niagara Falls; 716.282.5154
Evangola State Park, Irving; 716.549.1050
Fort Niagara State Park, Youngstown; 716.282.5154
Genesee Valley Greenway, Hinsdale; 585.493.3614
Genesee Valley Greenway, Cuba; 585.493.3614
Genesee Valley Greenway Snowmobile Ride, Avon; 585.964.3614
Hamlin Beach State Park, Hamlin; 585.964.2462
Knox Farm State Park, East Aurora; 716.549.1050
Letchworth State Park, Castile; 585.493.3680
Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls; 716.282.5154
Plumbottom State Forest, Amity; 585.415.1521
Reinstein Environmental Education Center, Depew; 716.683.5959
Finger Lakes & Central New York
Bowman Lake State Park/McDonough State Forest, Oxford; 607.334.2718
Catharine Valley Trail, Watkins Glen; 607.535.4511
Chenango Valley State Park, Chenango Forks; 607.648.5251
Clark Reservation State Park, Jamesville; 315.415.8377
Delta Lake State Park, Rome; 315.337.4670
Finger Lakes Trail, Naples; 585.727.6495
Finger Lakes Trail Peaceweavers Loop, Naples; 607.227.7957
Fort Ontario State Historic Site, Oswego; 315.343.4711
Glimmerglass State Park, Cooperstown; 607.547.8662
Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville; 315.637.6111
Herkimer Home State Historic Site, Herkimer; 315.823.0398
Montezuma Audubon Center, Savannah; 315.365.3580
Norwich Greenway North, Norwich; 607.336.4628
Rogers Environmental Education Center, Sherburne; 607.674.4733
Rome Sands Plains Unique Area, Rome; 315.866.6330 ext. 119
Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg; 607.387.7041 ext. 131
North Country/Adirondacks
Goodnow Mountain, Newcomb; 518.582.4551 ext. 104
John Brown Farm State Historic Site, Lake Placid; 518.744.7112
Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center, Paul Smith’s, 518-327-6241
Point Au Roche State Park, Plattsburgh; 518.563.6444
Robert G. Wehle State Park, Henderson; 315.938.5302
Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, Sackets Harbor; 315.646.2321
Wellesley Island State Park, Fineview; 315.482.2479
Wildway Overlook, Essex, 518.962.2287
Greater Capital District
Five Rivers Environmental Education Area, Delmar; 518.475.0291
Grafton Lakes State Park, Grafton; 518.279.1155 x2
Mine Kill State Park, North Blenheim; 518.827.6111
Moreau Lake State Park, Gansevoort; 518.793.0511
Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs; 518.584.2000 x16
Hudson Valley/Catskills
FDR State Park, Yorktown; 914.245.4434
Little Stony Point/Hudson Highlands State Park, Cold Spring; 845.224.7207
John Jay Homestead State Historic Site, Katonah; 914.232.5651
Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Peter’s Kill, Kerhonkson; 845.255.0752
Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Sam’s Point, Cragsmoor; 845.647.7989
North-South Lake, Haines Falls; 518-935-3735
Olana State Historic Site, Hudson; 518.751.0344
Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park, Dobbs Ferry; 646.303.1448
Red Hill Fire Tower Trailhead, Denning; 845.256.3083
Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville; 914.666.6503
Sterling Forest State Park, Tuxedo; 845.351.5907
Taconic State Park – Copake Falls, Copake Falls; 518.329.3993
Tivoli Bays Wildlife Management Area, Tivoli; 845.625.7198
NYC & Long Island
Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale; 516.249.0701
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve, Staten Island; 718-605-3970 ext. 201
Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Oakdale; 631.581.1005
Cupsogue Beach County Park, Westhampton; 631.444.0450
Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh; 516.785.1600
Hallock Preserve, Wading River; 631-315-5475
Montauk Point State Park, Montauk; 631.668.5000
Mt. Loretto Unique Area, Staten Island; 718.313.8591
Ridge Conservation Area, Ridge; 631.444.0350
Shirley Chisholm State Park, Brooklyn; 212.866.3100
Sunken Meadow State Park, Kings Park; 631.269.4333
“First Day Hikes have grown into a popular tradition for many New Yorkers and we look forward to welcoming families and friends out on the trail at many of our parks and historic sites,” State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said. “While this year’s program may look a little different from previous events, exploring the outdoors is still the perfect way to enjoy the winter landscapes, unwind with loved ones and kick off the coming year.”
“One unexpected, yet welcome result of the COVID-19 pandemic is the increase in the number of New Yorkers heading outdoors to explore world-class recreational opportunities close to home,” State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “As we get ready to turn the page on 2020 and enter the New Year, DEC and our partners at State Parks are encouraging visitors to keep discovering New York’s abundant lands and parks and to do so safely and responsibly by observing social distancing and other guidelines to ensure an enjoyable and healthy experience for everyone.”
“This year gave New Yorkers a new opportunity to discover the wonders and adventures that await them just outside their doors,” I Love New York Executive Director Ross Levi said. “New York State is not just an amazing destination for visitors; it is a world-class getaway in our own backyard. First Day Hikes and the new year will offer New Yorkers another chance to find what they love here in our own amazing state.”
Get Outside Safely, Responsibly, and Locally
New York State’s PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE * PLAY LOCAL campaign encourages residents to engage in responsible recreation during the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. New York State Parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation recommendations for getting outside safely incorporate guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Department of Health for reducing the spread of infectious diseases. PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE * PLAY LOCAL encourages New Yorkers to recreate locally, practice physical distancing, show respect for all outdoor adventurers, and use common sense to protect themselves and others. Wear a mask, even when visiting the outdoors. For more information, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/covid19/
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 77 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit www.parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer mobile app or call 518.474.0456. Also, connect on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
See:
Driveable Getaways: Hiking the Hudson River School Art Trail in the Great Northern Catskills
Driveable Adventures: Hiking/Camping in the ‘Grand Canyon of the East’ –NY’s Letchworth State Park
New York’s Empire State Trail Comes Together: Biking the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail in Hudson Valley
Catching the Peak Fall Foliage in New York State’s Adirondack Mountains
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