Press Release
December 22, 2016
State Parks Press Office:
Randy Simons | Dan Keefe
(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov
New York State Parks Invites New Yorkers to Celebrate the New Year Outdoors
Annual First Day Hike on January 1, 2017 encourages families and friends to spend the holiday enjoying nature
The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) invites New Yorkers to celebrate the New Year by exploring the outdoors at one of the 50 sponsored hikes being held at state parks and historic sites across the Empire State. The guided hikes are part of the sixth annual First Day Hikes program taking place throughout the nation on January 1, 2017.
"The start of the new year is the perfect time to leave the hectic holiday pace behind and embrace the outdoors with a walk or hike in New York's breathtaking scenic settings," said State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey. "First Day Hikes are a family-friendly tradition that offers a fresh seasonal perspective of our state's natural treasures and the vast opportunities open year-round at State Parks."
Fifty hikes are being hosted, nine more than the previous year, at 44 New York state parks and historic sites with some facilities offering multiple hikes for different age groups, skill level and destinations within the park. State park staff and volunteers will lead these family-friendly walks and hikes, which range from one to five miles depending on the location.
"First Day Hikes offer families the opportunity to rejuvenate and reconnect with nature on guided outdoor adventures," National Association of State Park Directors President Domenic Bravo said. "There are shorter options for families with young children, to longer treks for adventure seekers. State parks offer stunning views, unique cultural and historical experiences, and wintering wildlife for everyone to enjoy."
This year's programs include a seal walk, winter woodlands, a walking history tour, a snowshoe waterfall hike, pet-friendly treks, gorge walks, canal artifacts, nature detectives and more. New entries for 2017 include the Jones Beach boardwalk, Gilbert Lake's wilderness trail, Green Lakes' hike around the lakes, Seneca Lake and the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, exploring Grafton's lakes and following along the Old Croton Aqueduct.
If weather conditions permit, some First Day Hikes may include snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Many hikes will be offering refreshments. The list of hikes can be found below. Additional details about the hike locations, difficulty and length, terrain, and registration requirements are available at www.nysparks.com.
Western New York
Allegany State Park- Red House, self-guided anytime 10am-2pm; 716.354.9101 x.236
DeVeaux Woods State Park, Niagara Falls; 11am-12:30pm; 716.282.5154
Evangola State Park, Irving; 10am-12pm; 716.549.1050
Fort Niagara State Park, Youngstown; 2pm-3pm; 716.282.5154
Genesee Valley Greenway State Park, York; 10am; 585.493.3614
Knox Farm State Park, East Aurora; 11am-1pm; 716.549.1050
Letchworth State Park, Castile; 1pm; (two hikes - one for families with young children); 585.493.3600
Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls; 1-3pm; 716.282.5154
Finger Lakes & Central New York
Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park, Westford; 10:30am; 607.638.5421
Catharine Valley Trail, Watkins Glen; 10am; 607.535.4511
Chenango Valley State Park, Chenango Forks; 1:00pm; 607.648.5251
Clark Reservation State Park, Jamesville; 11am; 315.415.8377
Fort Ontario State Historic Site, Oswego; 10am; 315.343.4711
Gilbert Lake State Park, Laurens; 10am & 1pm; 607.432.2114
Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville; 12pm; 315.637.6111
Seneca Lake State Park, Geneva; 1pm; 315.789.2331
Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg; 1pm; 607.387.7041
Two Rivers State Park, Waverly; 10am; 607.732.6287
North Country & Greater Capital District
Grafton Lakes State Park, Grafton; 1pm; 518.279.1155
Mine Kill State Park, North Blenheim; 11am; 518.827.8690
Moreau Lake State Park, Gansevoort; 10am; 518.793.0511
Peebles Island State Park, Waterford; 10am; 518-732-0187
Robert G. Wehle State Park, Henderson; 11am; 315.938.5302
Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, Sackets Harbor; 11am; 315.646.2321
Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs; 11am; 518.584.2000
Schodack Island State Park, Schodack Landing; 1pm; 518.732.0187
Wellesley Island State Park, Fineview; 1pm; 315.482.2479
Mid-Hudson Valley
FDR State Park, Yorktown; 11am; 914.245.4434 x8
John Jay Homestead State Historic Site, Katonah; 1pm; 914.232.5651 x 105
Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Peter's Kill, Kerhonkson; 9:30am & 1:30pm; 845.255.0752
Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Sam's Point, Cragsmoor; 9:30am & 2pm; 845.647.7989
Olana State Historic Site, Hudson; 11am; 518.828.0135 x303
Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park, Dobbs Ferry; 12pm; 914.862.4207
Rockland Lake State Park, Valley Cottage; 10am; 212.464.7109
Sterling Forest State Park, Tuxedo; 9am; 845.351.5907
Taconic State Park - Copake Falls, Copake Falls; 1pm; 518.329.3993
Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park; Poughkeepsie; 2pm; 914-489-3301
NYC & Long Island
Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale; 10am; 516.249.3560
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, Lloyd Neck; 12:30pm; 631.423.1770
Clay Pit Ponds, Staten Island; 1pm; 718.605.3970 x201
Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Oakdale; 1:30pm; 631.581.1072
Jones Beach State Park, Wantaugh; 10am; 516.785.1600 & 1:30pm 516.780.3295
Montauk Point State Park, Montauk; 2pm; 631.668.5000 x201
Nissequogue State Park, Kings Park; 10:15am; 516.721.0223
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 180 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 65 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter