NEWS

State parks office to sponsor New Year's Day hikes

John Ferro
Poughkeepsie Journal

Looking for some inspiration to kick-start that physical fitness new year's resolution?

The state parks system will sponsor 28 guided hikes in parks and historic sites around the state on New Year's Day, including two local hikes.

The events are part of the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation's fourth annual First Day Hikes program.

Locally, hikes will be held at Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County and Walkway Over The Hudson state park beginning at both the Highland and Poughkeepsie sides.

At Minnewaska, park Educator Nick Martin will lead an approximately two-mile snowshoe outing in the Peter's Kill Area at 10 a.m. on Jan. 1.

The hike will feature views of the Rondout Valley and Clove Valley from cliff-top ledges.

The route will take participants along some modest hills, which some people may find challenging on snowshoes.

The state parks office cautions that this event is for physically fit adults and children older than eight years old. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18.

Pre-registration is required and early sign up is suggested as the program may fill to capacity.

At the Walkway, walkers, cyclists, runners and skaters are invited to meet at either the west or east entrance gates to the Walkway at 2 p.m on New Year's Day.

No pre-registration is necessary.

All participants will be entered in a raffle to win two tickets to Walkway's 4th of July Firework Celebration in 2015, as well as a Walkway membership and Walkway apparel.

The raffle will be held at the center of the Walkway at 2:30 p.m.

Elsewhere in the Hudson Valley, First Day Hikes will be held at the John Jay Homestead State Historic Site in Katonah, Rockland Lake State Park in Congers and Taconic State Park in Copake Falls.

John Ferro: 845-437-4816; jferro@poughkeepsiejournal.com; Twitter: @PoJoEnviro

MORE INFORMATION

To register for the Minnewaska hike, call 845-255-0752

For more information on the Walkway Over the Hudson hike, email soneil@walkway.org or call 845-454-9649