All Over Albany

First Day Hikes

One of the best ways to make winter more enjoyable is to actually get outside for some sort of activity. And here's an opportunity to do so...

A bunch of New York State parks, wildlife areas, and historic sites are hosting "First Day Hikes" on January 1. "Staff from State Parks and DEC, along with volunteers at many sites, will lead these family-friendly walks and hikes, which range from one to five miles depending on the location and conditions."

That's a State Parks map of the various sites offering First Day Hikes. They activities are free, but some of them require pre-registration.

Here's a quick overview of the hikes at sites around the immediate Capital Region...

See the link above -- or the map -- for the details.

Peebles Island State Park: A history hike around the perimeter of the park, about two miles.

Thacher State Park: An hour-long walk with views from the escarpment.

Grafton Lakes State Park: A walk on the Shaver Pond trail, about two miles.

Schodack Island State Park: A choice of two different hikes, one of them about the history of ice harvesting.

Five Rivers Environmental Education Center: You can join in the 38th annual New Year's Day bird survey. (And apparently you can even take part from inside.)

Saratoga Spa State Park: A two-mile guided hike of the park's "unique natural features."

Moreau Lake State Park: A hike around Moreau Lake, about 2.5 miles.