New Yorkers can spend time outdoors this holiday season and celebrate the New Year at State Parks, historic sites, natural areas, environmental education centers, canal trails, and public lands across the Empire State on January 1. The 14th annual First Day Hikes program offers varied hike options for people at nearly 100 locations across the state to enjoy. Governor Hochul waived parking fees at all State Parks to increase access to these events on New Year’s Day. Admission to State Park grounds is always free.
“There’s no better way to kick off the New Year than with family and friends at a First Day Hike to experience and enjoy the winter beauty of New York’s amazing scenic landscapes,” Governor Hochul said. “This year, I’m waiving parking fees at every State Park and Historic Site to encourage all New Yorkers to join in on this fantastic tradition.”
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Canal Corporation are partnering to host the many walks and hikes taking place throughout the state as part of the 14th Annual First Day Hikes program.
Most walks and hikes are family-friendly and typically range from one to five miles depending on the location and conditions. More than 120 individual hikes are being offered at state parks, historic sites, canal trails, and DEC natural areas and environmental education centers.
Western New York
Allegany State Park – Red House Area, Salamanca; 716.379.6941
Brockport Welcome Center, Brockport;
Clear Lake Wildlife Management Area (DEC), North Collins; 716.379.6389
DeVeaux Woods State Park, Niagara Falls; 716.282.5154 register here
Evangola State Park, Irving; 716.282.5154 register here
Fort Niagara State Park, Youngstown; 716.282.5154 register here (2 hikes)
Genesee Valley Greenway, Avon; 585.493.3614
Genesee Valley Greenway, Cuba; 716.378.1923
Genesee Valley Greenway, Fillmore; [email protected]
Genesee Valley Greenway, Hinsdale; 585.493.3614
Genesee Valley Greenway, Mt. Morris; 585.493.3614
Genesee Valley Greenway, Nunda; 585.493.3614
Genesee Valley Greenway, Rochester; register here
Genesee Valley Greenway, Scottsville; 585.493.3614
Genesee Valley Greenway, York; 585.493.3614
Hamlin Beach State Park, Hamlin; 716.638.7179 (2 hikes)
Knox Farm State Park, East Aurora; 716.282.5154 register here
Lakeside Beach State Park, Waterport; 716.638.7179
Letchworth State Park Humphrey Nature Center, Castile; 585.493.3688 (3 hikes)
Letchworth State Park Highbanks Picnic Shelter, Mt. Morris; 585.493.3688 (2 hikes)
Macedon Canal Park, Macedon;
Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls; 716.282.5154 register here (2 hikes)
Phillips Creek State Forest (DEC), West Almond; 607.382.9770 (4 hikes)
Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (DEC), Depew; 716.683.5959
Whirlpool State Park, Niagara Falls; 716.282.5154 register here
Wilson Tuscarora State Park, Wilson; 716.282.5154 register here
Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area (DEC) – Ross Pond, Gowanda; 440.983.0023
Finger Lakes and Central New York
Bowman Lake State Park / DEC’s McDonough State Forest, Oxford; 607.334.2718
Catharine Valley Trail, Watkins Glen; 607.329.2982
Cayuga-Seneca Trail / Lock CS-4, Waterloo
Chenango Valley State Park, Chenango Forks; 607.648.5251 (2 hikes)
Clark Reservation State Park, Jamesville; 315.559.7341
Delta Lake State Park, Rome; 315.337.4670
Fort Ontario State Historic Site, Oswego; 315.832.8285
Gilbert Lake State Park, Laurens; 607.432.2114
Glimmerglass State Park, Cooperstown; 607.547.8662
Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville; 315.637.6111
Hemlock-Canadice State Forest (DEC), Canadice; 585.374.8366 (2 hikes)
Herkimer Home State Historic Site, Herkimer; 315.823.0398
Lorenzo State Historic Site, Cazenovia; 315.655.3200
Montezuma Audubon Center, Savannah; 315.539.5089; register here
Newtown Battlefield State Park, Elmira; 607.379.7645
Rogers Environmental Education Center, DEC’s Friends Support Group, Sherburne; 607.674.4733 (3 hikes)
Selkirk Shores State Park, Pulaski; 315.298.5737
Seneca Lake State Park, Geneva; 315.789.2331
Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg; 607.795.6631
Two Rivers State Park, Waverly; 607.379.7645
North Country/Adirondacks
Cat Mountain, DEC’s Lake George Wild Forest, Bolton Landing; 518.338.8173
Crown Point State Historic Site, Crown Point; 518.597.4666
Jabe Pond Trail (DEC), Hague; 518.897.1242
John Brown Farm State Historic Site, Lake Placid; 518.527.0191
Lost Pond (DEC), Ticonderoga; 518.681.2232
Mt. Van Hoevenberg via the MVHE Trail, Lake Placid; 518.897.1283
Northwest Bay Trail, DEC’s Lake George Wild Forest, Bolton Landing; [email protected]
Paul Smith’s Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC), Paul Smiths; 315.832.2695
Point Au Roche State Park, Plattsburgh; 518.563.0369
Robert G. Wehle State Park, Henderson; 315.938.5302
Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, Sackets Harbor; 315.646.2321
Silver Lake Mountain (DEC), Black Brook; [email protected]
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Adirondack Interpretive Center, Goodnow Mountain, Newcomb; 518.582.2000; register here
Wellesley Island State Park/ Minna Anthony Common Nature Center, Fineview; 315.482.2479 (2 hikes)
Winona State Forest (DEC), Lorraine; 315.376.3521 (taking place on 12/31/2024)
Greater Capital District
Adirondack Ultra Cycling, 160 Broad St., Schuylerville; 518.583.3708
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (DEC), Delmar; 518.475.0291 (3 hikes)
Grafton Lakes State Park, Grafton; 518.279.1155 (3 hikes)
Moreau Lake State Park, Gansevoort; 518.793.0511
Mine Kill State Park, North Blenheim; 518.593.4393
Peebles Island State Park, Cohoes; register here (2 hikes)
Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs; 518.810.6906
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, Fort Hunter; [email protected]
Thacher State Park, Voorheesville; 518.872.0800 (4 hikes)
Hudson Valley/Catskills
Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain; [email protected]
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, Yorktown; 914.245.4434
Huckleberry Point Trail (DEC), Elka Park; 845.688.3369
Little Stony Point/Hudson Highlands State Park, Cold Spring; 917.658.4526
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, DEC’s Kaaterskill Wild Forest, Haines Falls; 518.303.6050
Nyack Beach State Park, Upper Nyack; register here
Croton Gorge Park, Cortlandt; 646.303.1448; register here
Rockwood Hall, Sleepy Hollow; 914.370.9352; register here
Staatsburgh State Historic Site/Mills Norrie State Park, Staatsburg; register here
Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center, DEC’s Friends Support Group, Wappingers Falls; 845.831.3800; register here
Taconic State Park – Copake Falls, Copake Falls; 518.912.7387
Tremper Mountain Fire Tower from Willow Trailhead (DEC), Phoenicia; [email protected]
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, Poughkeepsie; 845.392.7800
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