New Year’s Day in Upstate NY: Find First Day Hike events at state parks

Get a big gulp of fresh 2023 air on New Year’s Day in the great outdoors while participating in one of many First Day Hike events planned around Upstate New York.

This rings in the 12th year of the program, hosted by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). They also partner with volunteer organizations on New Year’s Day for several events.

Find self-guided treks to staff or volunteer-led hikes, across the state ranging from one to five miles depending on location and conditions. All walks and hikes are billed as family-friendly.

Hikes are planned at state parks and historic sites, and DEC State lands, wildlife areas, Forest Preserve trails, canal trails and towpaths, and environmental education centers. Some facilities are even offering multiple hikes for different age groups, skill level and destinations within the park.

Many guided hikes require pre-registration and interested participants are encouraged to check the event requirements with their chosen park ahead of time.

See the list below for Upstate New York parks offering First Day Hike and visit the NYS Parks website for the full state list and phone numbers to each park. All hikes are on January 1 unless otherwise noted.

Western New York

  • Allegany State Park- Red House, 11am and 1pm (two hikes)
  • DeVeaux Woods State Park, Niagara Falls; 10am
  • Evangola State Park, Irving; 9am
  • Fort Niagara State Park, Youngstown; 2pm
  • Genesee Valley Greenway, Hinsdale; 9am
  • Genesee Valley Greenway, Bull St., Cuba; 1p
  • Genesee Valley Greenway Hike/Snowmobile Ride, Avon, 11am
  • Hamlin Beach State Park, Hamlin; 1pm
  • Jersey Hill State Forest/Karr Valley Creek State Forest, 10:30 am
  • Knox Farm State Park, East Aurora; 10am
  • Letchworth State Park, Castile; 9am, 10am, 11am, 12:30pm, 1pm (five hikes)
  • Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls; 2pm
  • Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center, Depew; 11am
  • Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area, Holcomb Pond, Cattaraugus; 9am

Finger Lakes & Central New York

  • Bowman Lake State Park/McDonough State Forest, Oxford; 11am
  • Catharine Valley Trail, Watkins Glen; 10am
  • Chenango Valley State Park, Chenango Forks; 1pm (two hikes)
  • Clark Reservation State Park, Jamesville; 11am
  • Delta Lake State Park, Rome; 10am
  • Finger Lakes Trail Conference, Virgil; 10am
  • Fort Ontario State Historic Site, Oswego; 10am
  • Glimmerglass State Park, Cooperstown; 10am
  • Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville; 10am
  • Hemlock-Canadice State Forest, Canadice; 10am
  • Herkimer Home State Historic Site, Herkimer; 1pm
  • Montezuma Audubon Center, Savannah; 10am
  • Rogers Environmental Education Center, Sherburne; 10am
  • Seneca Lake State Park, Geneva; 10am
  • Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg; 1pm
  • Two Rivers State Park, Waverly; 10am
  • Utica Marsh, Utica; 11am

North Country & Adirondacks

  • Cheney Mountain, Champlain Area Trails; 10am
  • Crown Point State Historic Site, Crown Point; 1pm
  • Arab Fire Tower, Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest; 10am
  • Little Ausable River Trail, Champlain Area Trails; 10am
  • Paul Smith College Heron Marsh, Paul Smiths; 10am-12 pm
  • Paul Smiths Visitor Center, Paul Smith; 1pm
  • Goodnow Mountain, Newcomb; 9:30am
  • Point Au Roche State Park, Plattsburgh; 11am
  • Prospect Mountain, Village of Lake George; 9am
  • Robert G. Wehle State Park, Henderson; 11am
  • Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, Sackets Harbor; 1:30pm
  • SUNY ESF Newcomb Adirondack Interpretive Center, Newcomb; 10am (two hikes)
  • Thomas Mountain from Valley Woods Road Trailhead, Bolton; 10am
  • Wellesley Island State Park, Fineview; 1pm (two hikes)

Capital Region

  • Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Delmar; 9am
  • Grafton Lakes State Park, Grafton; 1pm
  • Mine Kill State Park, North Blenheim; 11am
  • Moreau Lake State Park, Gansevoort; 10am
  • Peebles Island State Park, Waterford; 10am
  • Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs; 10am
  • Schodack Island State Park, Schodack Landing; 1pm
  • Thacher State Park, Voorheesville; 11am

Hudson Valley & Catskills

  • Ashokan High Point, Olivebridge; 8am
  • Ashokan Rail Trail, West Hurley; 10am
  • Devil’s Path to Cod Fish Point, Hunter; 10am
  • Frick Pond Trail (snowshoe hike), Rockland; 2pm
  • Little Stony Point/Hudson Highlands State Park, Cold Spring; 11am (two hikes)
  • Meads Meadow Loop Trailhead, Woodstock; 9am, 12pm
  • Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Peter’s Kill, Kerhonkson; 1pm
  • Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Sam’s Point, Cragsmoor; 1pm
  • Olana State Historic Site, Hudson; 11am
  • Taconic State Park – Copake Falls, Copake Falls; 1pm
  • Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park; Poughkeepsie; 2pm

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