Fort Hunter, NY –  Plan to start your New Year off right, come to the 2nd Annual First Day Hike at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site.  We will host this five-mile hike starting at 1:00pm on Wednesday, January 1st. Participants will meet at the Visitor Center, 129 Schoharie Street in Fort Hunter, and hike along the old Erie Canal towpaths.

Our route will be along “Clinton’s Ditch” of the 1820’s, then the Enlarged canal of the 1840’s. The turn around will be at Yankee Hill Lock before returning to the Visitor Center and Museum. Along the way, we’ll see remnants of these eras of canal, some wildlife and birds, and perhaps fluttering snowflakes as we welcome in 2025.

This event starts our yearlong celebration of the Erie Canal Bicentennial. Completed and opened in 1825, the Erie Canal transformed New York State and the early nation.  Help us recognize and celebrate while welcoming in a new year.

There will be light refreshments after the hike, and a fire to warm ourselves by if the weather permits.  Heavy snow or thunderstorms cancel this event. Please dress appropriately for the weather, with warm sturdy footwear, hat, gloves, etc. For more information, please contact Schoharie Crossing via email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov or call (518) 829-7516.  Find us on Facebook for more events and programs.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 84.1 million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call (518) 474-0456. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the OPRHP Blog.