Start your New Year off right and fill your lungs with fresh air on one of many Upstate New York hikes planned around the state on January 1, 2022.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) host or partner with volunteer organizations on New Year’s Day for their popular First Day Hikes program.
This year’s walks and hikes mark the program’s 11th year anniversary.
From seal walks to fire tower treks, lakefront trails, boardwalks, towpaths, walks along waterfalls, historic estates, military forts and more, there are plenty of options in every corner of the Empire State. Some facilities are even offering multiple hikes for different age groups, skill level and destinations within the park.
With the Covid-19 pandemic still looming, hikes are also ranging from self-guided treks to small staff- or volunteer-led hikes. Most hikes range from one to five miles and First Day Hike events may include drawings for an annual Empire Pass, as well as keepsake giveaways.
Many guided hikes require pre-registration and interested participants are encouraged to check the event requirements with their chosen park ahead of time.
If you are working on completing your Ithaca Waterfall Challenge, there are also spots in the area which appear on the challenge and as a First Day Hike.
Other ideas to celebrate 2022 in the outdoors include finding a local park or trail. Locals are encouraged to try out the Empire State Trail, newly completed this year. With 750 miles of trailway, it’s the longest multi-use state trail in the nation.
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, 10am-2pm
- Beaver Island State Park, Grand Island; 9:30-11am
- Fort Niagara State Park, Youngstown; 2-4pm
- 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
- Knox Farm State Park, East Aurora; 10am-12pm
- Letchworth State Park, Castile; Guided: 7am; 10am; 10:30am; 1pm (2); self-guided: all day
- Reinstein Woods, Depew; 10am
- Swift Hill State Forest, Town of Centerville; 11am
- Tilman Road Wildlife Management Area, Clarence, 12pm
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
- Clark Reservation State Park, Jamesville; 11am
- Delta Lake State Park, Rome; 10am
- Fort Ontario State Historic Site, Oswego; 8am-2pm (self-guided)
- Glimmerglass State Park, Cooperstown; 10am-dusk
- Gilbert Lake State Park, Laurens; 9am-12pm
- Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville; 1pm
- Hemlock-Canadice State Forest, Canadice; 10am
- Herkimer Home State Historic Site, Herkimer; 1pm
- Rogers Environmental Education Center, Sherburne; 10am
- Rome Sand Plains Unique Area, Rome; 9am
- Seneca Lake State Park, Geneva; 10am
- Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg; 10am-4pm
- Two Rivers State Park, Waverly; 10am-12pm
- Veterans Memorial Park in Schulyer (*Jan 3), 9:45am
- Montezuma Wildlife Refuge (*Dec. 31), Savannah; 9pm-12am
North Country & Adirondacks
- Cheney Mountain, Champlain Area Trails; 10am
- Crown Point State Historic Site; 10am
- Little Ausable River Trail, Champlain Area Trails; 10am
- Paul Smith College Heron Marsh, Paul Smiths; 10am
- Point Au Roche State Park, Plattsburgh; 11am
- Prospect Mountain, Village of Lake George; 9am
- Robert G. Wehle State Park, Henderson; 10am
- Rome Sand Plains, Lauther and Hogsback Road, 9am
- Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, Sackets Harbor; 1-3pm
- SUNY ESF Newcomb Adir. Interpretive Center, Newcomb; 9:30am
- Thomas Mountain from Valley Woods Road Trailhead, Bolton; 10am
- Wellesley Island State Park, Fineview; 10am-2pm
- Winona State Forest, Lorraine; 10am
Capital Region
- Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Delmar; 10:30am; 1pm
- Grafton Lakes State Park, Grafton; 11am; 1pm
- Mine Kill State Park, North Blenheim; 11am
- Peebles Island State Park, Waterford; 10am; 1pm
- Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs; 10am
- Texas Schoolhouse State Forest, Town of Lisbon; 9:00am
- Thacher State Park, Voorheesville; 10am
- Vroman’s Nose, Middleburgh; 6:15am
Hudson Valley & Catskills
- Ashokan Quarry Trail, Olivebridge; 10am
- Little Stony Point/Hudson Highlands State Park, Cold Spring; 11am-2pm
- John Jay Homestead State Historic Site, Katonah; 1-3pm
- Meads Meadow Loop Trailhead, Woodstock; 9am, 12pm
- Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Peter’s Kill, Kerhonkson; 9:15am
- Olana State Historic Site, Hudson; 10-11am; 1-2pm
- Overlook Mountain Fire Tower, Woodstock; 7:45am
- Taconic State Park - Copake Falls, Copake Falls; 1pm
- Upper Esopus Fire Tower, Mt. Tremper; 9:30am-4pm
- Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park; Poughkeepsie; 2pm
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