First Day Hike & Festival 2026

Spend the first day of the New Year amid nature and neighbors. Enjoy a winter hike along one of our three different recommended routes and come inside the Old Hook Mountain Bathhouse to warm up with complimentary coffee and cocoa, live jazz music by Peter Einhorn & Pablo Lanouguere, and some delicious treats from La Promenade. Edward Hopper House will lead crafting projects at the Bathhouse and a plen-air art activity that can be enjoyed while hiking.

This event is part of a statewide initiative led by NY State Parks and Dept. of Environmental Conservation to get the public outside to enjoy nature in State Parks on the first day of the year. Information about this event can also be found on the NYS Parks First Day Hike Page.

Conditions Alert: Due to the snow earlier this week and the cold weather of the last 48 hours, the trails at Nyack Beach State Park, Hook Mountain, and Riverhook Preserve are very icy. We strongly encourage all hikers to use microspikes or other traction gear due to the conditions, even along the flat Nyack Beach Shore Trail. 

Registration: Registration is closed. Thank you for all those who joined us!

Hiking Routes: There are three recommended hiking routes for our First Day Hike, all of which start at Nyack Beach State Park. All hikers should come prepared with a full water bottle, hiking boots, and microspikes given the extremely icy trail conditions.  A map of the three hikes are available here.

• Nyack River Trail: This is the easiest of our three hikes, an ADA-accessible out and back trail along the Hudson River of up to five miles. Hiking boots and microspikes are strongly encouraged.

• Boulder's Loop: An approximately four mile, 1.5 hour hike of medium intensity that traverses River Hook Preserve and Marydell Nature Preserve.  Hiking boots and microspikes are strongly encouraged.

Hook Mountain: This is the most challenging hike, an approximately six mile,  three+ hour hike passing through both Nyack Beach and Hook Mountain State Parks. Hiking boots and microspikes are strongly encouraged. Whether you are joining for the guided hike or not, be sure to arrive at the event promptly at 11 if you wish to do this trek!

Come Prepared with the following: 

• Warm layers - temperatures will be very cold with additional wind chill

• Hiking boots and microspikes for any trail walking.

• Hiking poles, backpacks, and any other preferred hiking gear

Hook Mountain Guided Hike: CURRENT STATUS TBD

***This guided hike is pending due to icy trail conditions. Information will be available the morning of the event at the Check In table.***

• Departs promptly at 11:15 AM

• Led by Erik Larsen, MD, Board Member of the Conservancy

• Meet outside the Bath House at the Nyack River Trail Head. 

• Come prepared with layers, hiking boots, a water bottle, microspikes, and any other hiking accessories you prefer. 

***Guided Hikes: Space is limited - join on a first come first serve basis.***

Raffle: Three lucky winners will be contacted in early January to receive gift certificates courtesy of Longpath Outfitters. The winners will be chosen from the list of emails collected from registrants via Eventbrite. If you’d like a chance to win a gift certificate, be sure to sign up for our event.

Parking: Parking is available on a first-come-first-serve basis at Nyack Beach State Park parking area (698 N Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960), with additional parking available at Marydell Faith & Life Center (640 N Midland Ave, Nyack, NY 10960) if the parking lot at Nyack Beach is full.