Massachusetts First Day Hikes to Ring in the New Year

Posted by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

There’s no better way to ring in the new year than to get outside and explore one of Massachusetts’ many trails. First Day hikes is a decades-long Massachusetts tradition for both individuals and families. Find trails for avid hikers and beginners alike below, and learn more about First Day Hikes in Massachusetts at the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s site.

NORTH OF BOSTON | SOUTH OF BOSTON  |  CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS | CENTRAL MASS | WESTERN MASS

North of Boston

Breakheart Reservation

177 Forest Street, Saugus, MA

January 1, 2024, 10 a.m.

Hikes range from 2-3 miles. Meet at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center. Hot chocolate and clam chowder by the fire in visitor center after hike. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Breakheart.

 

Halibut Point State Park

4 Gott Avenue, Rockport, MA

January 1, 2024, 10 a.m.

Meet at parking lot starting at 9 a.m. 3-mile hike. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Halibut Point State Park.

 

Middlesex Fells Reservation

4 Woodland Rd, Stoneham, MA

January 1, 2024, 10 a.m.

Two hikes and a bike ride. Hikes 1.5 or 3 miles. Meet at the Botume House for hikes, Marjam Lot for ride. Hot chocolate will be served in Botume House after.

 

Walden Pond State Reservation

915 Walden St, Concord, MA

January 1, 2024, 12 p.m.

1-mile hike. Meet at the Thoreau House Replica. Hot chocolate will be served in Thoreau House Replica after hike.

 

CraneOutdoors: First Day Hike in the Dunes

Crane Beach on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA

January 1, 2024, 1 – 3 p.m.

Join us to celebrate the New Year by getting out in nature! Winter at The Crane Estate has much to offer, and while just about everybody on the North Shore has probably been to Crane Beach, the dunes of Castle Neck are a much less-explored world unto themselves. Offering one of the most accessible dune ecosystems north of Cape Cod, Castle Neck has over six miles of trails, traversing the dunes, maritime scrub forest, and beautiful beaches on both the Ipswich Bay and Essex/Castle Neck River estuary sides of the peninsula. These trails take you through Pitch Pine forests, up huge dunes offering stunning views of Choate Island, and by the varied landscapes of Castle Neck, including naturally occurring cranberry bogs.

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South of Boston

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

131 Waquoit Hwy, East Falmouth, MA

January 1, 2024, 10 a.m.

Meet at the visitor center 1 mile hike Hot chocolate in visitor center after hike.

 

Blue Hills Reservation

840 Hillside St, Milton

January 1, 2024, 12 p.m. Gather at Houghton’s Pond Recreation Area at 11 a.m.

Two guided hikes and one self-guided hike at 12 p.m. Enjoy hot chocolate Co-sponsored by Friends of the Blue Hills. Parking and space are limited. There is no parking outside DCR property.

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Cape Cod and the Islands

First Day Hike at Menemsha Hills

Menemsha Hills, Chilmark, MA 02535

January 1, 2024, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Kick off 2024 outdoors! A new year is an opportunity to refresh, reflect, and seek new possibilities. Join us outside to reconnect with nature as we pause and reflect on the last year and welcome a new one with a fresh start. We will meet at Menemsha Hills parking lot and from there we will walk, observe, breathe, listen, and connect with your intentions for the time ahead. Start a new year by taking time for yourself!

 

Sunrise Mindful Beach Stroll with Andrea Higgins

Host: Harwich Conservation Trust

Red River Beach, Harwich. Parking at the east end of the parking lot.

January 1, 2024, 6:30 a.m.

Celebrate the first light of the first day of the New Year with Harwich Conservation Trust on a Sunrise Mindful Beach Stroll. Join Naturalist and Mindful Outdoor Guide Andrea Higgins at Red River Beach in South Harwich to witness the Earth waking up to a new day, a new year, and a new beginning. Enjoy a gentle stretch, a slow beach stroll to admire the gifts of the sea, and a mindful outdoor experience while connecting with nature, self, and each other as we start the new year. This walk will be approximately one mile, mostly in soft sand. Please register here.

 

First Sunrise Walk at West Dennis Beach

Hosts: Dennis Conservation Land Trust and Friends of Bass River

Public Parking Lot at 1 West Dennis Beach Rd, West Dennis

January 1, 2024, 6:45 a.m.

Start 2024 off right – outside! – for the year’s first light. Join the Dennis Conservation Land Trust and the Friends of Bass River at West Dennis Beach for the first sunrise of 2024. Walk along the barrier beach for views of Nantucket Sound and Bass River while learning about the natural and cultural history of the area. The 1-mile walk will start at 6:45 a.m. and proceed along flat, sandy substrate. Registration is limited. Email [email protected]  for more info or to reserve your spot.

 

Sunrise at Sandy Neck

Host: Barnstable Land Trust

Sandy Neck Beach Park Parking Lot; 425 Sandy Neck Road, West Barnstable; walk starts promptly on the beach but leader will be in the parking area by 6:30 am

January 1, 2024, 6:45 a.m.

Ring in the New Year with a sunrise hike at Sandy Neck Beach, a barrier beach and park.  Watch the sky come alive as the world awakens to 2024 and join Barnstable Land Trust’s Executive Director, Janet Milkman, as she guides you across smooth sand, rolling dunes, and marshland trails. This endangered area is comprised of freshwater wetlands, a salt marsh, and has been recognized by the state of Massachusetts as an area of critical environmental concern. Please note, this hike will cover 1.6 miles of moderate to difficult terrain, consisting of mostly loose sand and last approximately 1.5 hours. Please only register if you are an experienced hiker and bring layers, water, and anything else you need for a successful hike. Hike will last approximately 1.5 hours. Pre-registration is recommended.

 

First Day Hike at Bourne Farm

Host:  Salt Pond Areas Bird Sanctuaries

Bourne Farm, 6 North Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth

January 1, 2024, 9 a.m.

Bourne Farm is not a place where important events happened or famous people lived; and it is not a place of outstanding architectural distinction. But it is a rare survivor of an endangered species, an eighteenth-century farm of modest size in an area that is rapidly being swallowed up by half-acre lots and condominiums. Bourne Farm is 50-acre historic property bound by stone walls and Crocker Pond, a deep 7 ½ acre freshwater pond.  The Penn Central Railroad (which is now the Shining Sea Bikeway) traverses the property from north to south, and a cattle pass that had been cut under it is still useable.  The 3.7-mile loop trail begins at the parking lot of Bourne Farm.  It is considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1h 12 min to complete. We ask that no dogs are on the walk today for this hike. Please pre-register via email at [email protected].

 

More Walk, Less Talk with Pat Sarantis

Host:  Harwich Conservation Trust

Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands, Harwich

January 1, 2024, 9:30 a.m.

Join Harwich Conservation Trust for a More Walk, Less Talk adventure. Pat Sarantis will lead a moderately paced exercise walk to explore Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands from all sides of the West Reservoir including the newest link in the emerald necklace. Peek at the tidal East Reservoir and pause at the footbridge over the Herring River. Visit the herring run and enjoy the views. Maybe even catch sight of a bald eagle which has been seen at this scenic town-owned conservation destination. This walk will cover approximately 3 miles. Directions to the East Trailhead Parking are: From Great Western Road, take Bell’s Neck Road (dirt) south. Drive 0.25 mile and on the left will be a small trailhead kiosk and parking area or click here for Google Maps navigation. Please register here.

 

Frost Fish Creek Trail Walk

Host: Chatham Conservation Foundation

Frost Fish Creek Trail, North Chatham, MA 02633 (Directions:  From the traffic light in North Chatham, travel 0.7 miles north on Route 28. The entrance to the trail is a dirt road on the left.)

January 1, 2024, 10 a.m.

Join Chatham Conservation Foundation (CCF) Executive Director Lauren Arcomano in welcoming 2024 with a guided walk along CCF’s Frost Fish Creek Trail. The trail meanders along the eastern edge of Frost Fish Creek, offering walkers glimpses of an old cranberry operation which has reverted to open wetlands. Bring your binoculars to get a good view of the “winter locals” of Frost Fish Creek, including buffleheads and other ducks!  Walk repeats at Noon.  Preregistration is required here.

 

Turtle-riffic Walk and Talk

Host:  Orenda Wildlife Land Trust, Inc.

The far end of Meadow Lane in West Barnstable; please carpool if possible, and drive slowly out of respect for our neighbors and the wildlife. Staff will be on hand to help with parking.

January 1, 2024, 10 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.

Join Orenda Wildlife Land Trust as we kick off the new year with First Day Hikes Cape Cod, for a turtle-riffic walk-and-talk at our Margaret Wyman Turtle Garden Sanctuary! We will trace the slow-but-steady steps of Diamondback Terrapins from our sanctuary to Barnstable Great Marsh, while we highlight the efforts of local wildlife organizations to protect the well-being of this threatened species.

We will also introduce participants to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on goals #13 – Climate Action, #14 – Life Below Water and #15 – Life on Land. Capacity/parking is limited and registration is first-come, first-served. The event is free and family-friendly, and the walk-and-talk is rated “easy,” and can be modified to meet the needs of varying ages and physical abilities.

Dress for the weather and wear boots, as we will venture out to explore the marsh at low tide. This walk will be repeated at 11:30 a.m. Pre-registration is required here.

 

The Gut to the Herring River Overlook

Host: Wellfleet Conservation Trust and Friends of Herring River

Herring River Overlook, Wellfleet

January 1, 2024, 10 a.m.

Join this 1st of January walk featuring Wellfleet Conservation Trust’s Herring River Overlook and the Herring River Restoration project. The walk will include short talks on recent research of Native American land use in the area, geology of the area, an update on the restoration project, and the acquisition by the Wellfleet Conservation Trust of the beautiful land overlooking the river.  The out and back 2-mile, 2-hour walk will be mostly on rolling dirt paths with a short section over the temporary walking bridge and on Chequessett Neck Road.  Walking shoes or boots are recommended.

Free registration is limited to 20 people and will be on a first come/first served basis.  Please email [email protected] to enroll with the names of participants (maximum 4) and contact telephone number.  Parking directions will be e-mailed to registrants.

 

Hikin’ for Lichens with Tom Walker

Host:  Provincetown Conservation Trust

Beech Forest Trail, Race Point Road, Provincetown, MA

January 1, 2024, 11 a.m.

Join the PCT and naturalist Tom Walker as we commence with our First Hike of the year by exploring the great variety of lichens in Beech Forest. Lichens are symbiotic organisms formed from the union of fungi and algae. They stabilize and add nutrients to our soils, provide nesting material for birds, shelter for invertebrates, and promote soil formation on bare rock. While they may be found all over the world and in the harshest conditions, they are vulnerable in areas with poor air quality. Alternatively, they thrive in areas with low pollution, high humidity and moderate temperatures. Cape Cod’s constant sea breezes create the ideal conditions for lichen abundance and diversity. Pre-registration is required here.

 

Frost Fish Creek Trail Walk

Host:  Chatham Conservation Foundation

Frost Fish Creek Tail, North Chatham, MA 02633 (Directions:  From the traffic light in North Chatham, travel 0.7 miles north on Route 28. The entrance to the trail is a dirt road on the left.)

January 1, 2024,12 p.m.

Join Chatham Conservation Foundation (CCF) Executive Director Lauren Arcomano in welcoming 2024 with a guided walk along CCF’s Frost Fish Creek Trail. The trail meanders along the eastern edge of Frost Fish Creek, offering walkers glimpses of an old cranberry operation which has reverted to open wetlands. Bring your binoculars to get a good view of the “winter locals” of Frost Fish Creek, including buffleheads and other ducks! First walk is at 10 a.m. Preregistration is required.

 

First Day Hike at Calf Field Pond

Host:  Brewster Conservation Trust

From Stony Brook Road, turn on to Run Hill Road and travel 1.2 miles where the road will dead-end into the trailhead parking lot on the left.

January 1, 2024, 1 p.m.

Are you looking forward to a fresh start in 2023? Celebrate the new year outdoors with a First Day Hike! Join Brewster Conservation Trust for a fun, informal group hike at Calf Field Pond. Calf Field Pond area is distinctly different from other trails in the Punkhorn Parklands. Geologically, it is hilly and rocky and full of kettle holes typical of high moraines. The trail system passes through beech groves, which are unusual on the Cape and by areas where large granite boulders were quarried in centuries past. The walk covers 2.5 miles of moderate difficulty (modest hills and occasional uneven terrain). Registration is required.

 

First Day Hike at Mashpee River Woodlands

Host:  Native Land Conservancy  www.nativelandconservancy.org

Mashpee River Woodlands, southern parking lot on Mashpee Neck Road (Directions: For Woodlands South—From Mashpee Rotary take Rt 28 toward Hyannis. Take first right onto Quinaquisset Ave, then right onto Mashpee Neck Rd. Parking area is 1.1 mi on right at Conservation Area Sign.)

January 1, 2024, 1 p.m.

Join the Native Land Conservancy for a First Day Hike where you will be welcomed by Gail Melix, NLC Board Member, and member of the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe who will share her indigenous perspective of the land, and NLC Executive Director Diana Ruiz, PhD who will share her knowledge as a conservation scientist. NLC is a Mashpee-based non-profit Native American-run land conservation organization dedicated to rescuing restoring and protecting land to foster healthy natural environments to provide safe spaces for people to re-connect with nature. The walk will last about 2 hours on easy terrain. Registration is required.

 

First Day Hike at Great Neck Wildlife Sanctuary

Host:  Wareham Land Trust  www.warehamlandtrust.org

Great Neck Wildlife Sanctuary at Stockton Shortcut. Directions: From Exit 39 off Rt 195, go southeast on Rt 28 towards Wareham. Stay right before the light onto Tremont Road and follow as it merges with Main St., curves right, and becomes Rt 6 through downtown. Stay left on Rt 6 over bridge to the light. Turn right onto Narrows Rd. Take the 2nd right onto Indian Neck Road, which becomes RD Stillman Memorial Dr. At the T-intersection, turn right onto Great Neck Rd and follow for 1.4 miles. Turn right onto Stockton Shortcut, keep straight and continue on paved driveway past the stone walls. Follow this one-way road to the parking area.

January 1, 2024, 1 p.m.

Join the Wareham Land Trust for a walk around the Great Neck Wildlife Sanctuary with a beautiful scenic view of Buzzard’s Bay. Relax after the holiday rush in the peaceful pine forest while getting a head start on those New Year’s Resolutions to be more active and get outdoors. Dress in layers for the weather and wear sturdy walking shoes. The walk is approximately 1.8 miles, and is easy to moderate difficulty. Registration is required.

 

New Year’s Hike in Beebe Woods

Host:  300 Committee Land Trust (Falmouth)

January 1, 2024, 1 p.m.

Park and meet in the Hiker’s Lot for Beebe Woods in Falmouth. Take Depot Avenue to Highfield Drive. Go past both Highfield Hall and the Cape Cod Conservatory, continuing to the large mostly unpaved lot for Beebe Woods. The trailhead and kiosk are to your left.

Join The 300 Committee Land Trust (T3C) for a New Year’s trek in Falmouth’s beloved Beebe Woods. T3C’s walk leaders will guide participants on leisurely-paced hikes over a variety of trails. Each group will go in a different direction, with everyone experiencing the delights that Beebe Woods has to offer. There will be several options: Moderate, 3 miles; more challenging, 3 miles; mostly flat, 1 mile; more challenging, 1.25 miles. (Hiking poles are recommended for the more challenging loops. Please leave dogs at home.) No registration required.

 

First Day Family Fun: Open House and Campfire

Host:  Barnstable Land Trust

January 1, 2024, 1 – 3 p.m.

Barnstable Land Trust Conservation Center, 1540 Main Street, West Barnstable

Kick-off 2024 on the right foot with some fun, family-friendly activities during BLT’s First Day Open House!  Add your wish for 2024 to BLT’s first “Wishing Tree,” have fun exploring nature through special games and hands-on crafts, and enjoy s’mores by a roaring campfire (weather permitting).  This program is supported in part by Cape Cod 5. NOTE:  No need to register for this drop-in event which lasts from 1 – 3 p.m.

 

First Day Family Fun: GeoCaching 101

Host:  Barnstable Land Trust

January 1, 2024, 1 – 3 p.m.

Fuller Farm, 995 Route 130, Marstons Mills

Discover the two newest geocaches on Cape Cod!  Meet Liz and Cassie, two Cape Cod champions who will share how they play the Geocaching game with their own families while exploring nature trails across the Cape. We recommend downloading the app (AppStore or Google Play) and creating a user name in advance so they can show you how easy – and fun – it is to log your first ‘find’ of the new year! Rain or shine, this dynamic duo will guide you through an interactive exercise so that you can be among the first to discover Fuller Farm’s newest ‘hidden treasures.’ This program is supported in part by Cape Cod 5. NOTE:  No need to register for this drop-in event which lasts from 1:00 – 3:00 pm.

 

First Day Hike: Portanimicut Greenbelt

Host:  Orleans Conservation Trust

January 1, 2024, 3 p.m.

Portanimicut Greenbelt in Orleans; Parking information will be provided to registrants.

Join OCT for a short, easy walk to celebrate the new year. Part of First Day Hikes Cape Cod, we’ll start at the new trailhead at the recently preserved Portanimicut Greenbelt, and we’ll meander about half a mile through old fields, wooded forests, and along the edge of a white cedar swamp on the Town-owned Christian Conservation Area. Group size will be limited and registration is required.

 

First Day Hike at Lyman Reserve

Lyman Reserve

Head of the Bay Road and Red Brook Road, Bourne, Plymouth & Wareham, MA

January 1, 2024, 9:30 – 11 a.m.

Begin 2024 on the scenic trails of Lyman Reserve. Outdoor Educators will share what’s happening in nature during January, and save space for storytelling and meditating on the year ahead.

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Central Massachusetts

Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park

287 Oak Street, Uxbridge, MA

January 1, 2024, 10 a.m.

Meet at the River Bend Farm Visitor Center. Registration begins at 9 a.m. 2-mile hike. Hot chocolate and fire after hike.

 

Dunn State Park

10 a.m. 289 Pearl Street, Gardner, MA. Meet at the Pond House.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. 1.5-mile hike.

Hot chocolate and fire after hike in Pond House.

 

Willard Brook State Forest

599 Main Street, Townsend, MA

January 1, 2024, 10 a.m. Registration begins 9 a.m.

Meet at the Headquarters. 1.5-mile hike Hot chocolate will be served after hike in Headquarters.

 

Wachusett Reservoir

167 Temple St (Rt 140), West Boylston, MA

January 1, 2024, 11 a.m. Meet at Gate 22 on Rt 140 starting at 10 a.m.

2-mile hike.

 

First Day Hike at Fruitlands Museum

Fruitlands Museum

102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard, MA

January 1, 2024, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 – 3 p.m.

Kick off a healthy, active, nature-filled New Year with this First Day Hike on the trails of Fruitlands Museum! Museum staff will lead this guided hike on the Fruitlands trails. Learn about the history of the site as you stroll about 2 miles on moderate terrain with some uphill climbs.

Program is recommended for ages 10 and up. Be sure to dress for the weather! We will proceed in cold temperatures.

 

Western Massachusetts

Great Falls Discovery Center

2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA

January 1, 2024, 1 p.m.

3-mile hike Hot chocolate in visitor center after hike Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center. Meet at the Great Hall.

 

Chester Blandford State Forest

631 U.S. Route 20, Chester, MA. Meet at Sanderson Brook Falls Parking Lot.

January 1, 2024, 1 p.m.

Co-sponsored by the Western MA Hilltown Hikers. 2-mile hike.

 

Mount Greylock State Reservation

30 Rockwell Rd, Lanesborough, MA

January 1, 2024, 10 a.m.

Open House followed up with self-guided hike. 2-mile hike Hot chocolate and fire after hike in visitor center.
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