Embrace the outdoors this winter and explore Otsego County in the snow during this year’s Winter Octet Challenge presented by Otsego Outdoors!

Get outside and enjoy some time exploring the beauty of Otsego County in winter during the Winter Octet Challenge! Hike along wooded trails, try cross county skiing. go snowshoeing or just go skating or sledding with family and friends. Winter is just a great time to enjoy some fun outside and Otsego Outdoors has put together a few fun things to do to earn your 2023 Winter Octet Patch.

You can earn the Winter Octet Otsego Outdoors patch by completing eight featured activities between December 21, 2022 and March 19, 2023.

Some trails are a mile long and will take about an hour, other trails could take several hours, especially in deep snow.

For one of the Octet requirements, you can choose your own winter outdoor activity (ice skating, sledding, ice fishing, winter biking, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing) anywhere in Otsego County. You also can earn Octet credit by participating in local outdoor events.

Winter Octet “First Day” Hikes

To help kick of the New Year, the Winter Octet Challenge has added some “First Day” Hikes at 3 locations in Otsego County on January 1st 2023. You can find details for these First Day Hikes at Winter Octet Challenge.

• First Day Hike – Glimmerglass State Park
  10 am – dusk, self-guided
• First Day Winter Octet Hike – Gilbert Lake State Park
  9 am – noon, self-guided
•  First Day Hike – Rogers Center 10:00am until 11:30am. Guided Hike – No dogs please.

Participation is open to all, and patches are free. Donations are welcome and appreciated. To keep track of your completed Winter Octet Challenge activities download the Winter Octet Challenge Log.

About Otsego Outdoors

Otsego Outdoors is a collaborative effort of three leading environmental organizations in Otsego County, New York. Our goal is to provide residents and visitors with comprehensive information on Otsego County’s publicly accessible, year-round opportunities to experience the outdoors and connect with nature.

Otsego 2000, Otsego County Conservation Association (OCCA), and Otsego Land Trust have come together to make a comprehensive and searchable listing of every publicly accessible trail in Otsego County, New York.