Take a hike: 10 places to get some exercise on New Year's Day
Those who commit to a healthier lifestyle for 2023 can get off to a good start by taking a hike.
The annual First Day Hikes program, run by the state Depratment of Conservation and Recreation, has several guided hikes mapped for Sunday, New Year's Day. The program, in state parks, is in its 32nd year, dating to a single hike at Blue Hills Reservation in Milton. Many states have similar health initiatives to kick off the year.
“DCR is excited to once again organize popular First Day Hikes, which provide excellent opportunities for residents and visitors to get outside with their friends and families, and to connect with the natural world that surrounds us,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Doug Rice. “The popularity of this program has been felt throughout the country and has encouraged us to expand to new locations across the Commonwealth.”
Central Region:
Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park
287 Oak St., Uxbridge
10 a.m.
Meet at the Visitor Center. Co-sponsored by the Blackstone Heritage Corridor.
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation
198 Purgatory Road, Sutton
2 p.m.
Meet at the Visitor Center.
Wachusett Reservoir
167 Temple St., West Boylston
11 a.m.
Meet at Gate 22 on Route 140 in West Boylston
North Region:
Breakheart Reservation
177 Forest St., Saugus
10 a.m.
Meet at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center. Two hikes will be offered, both beginning at 10 a.m. One hike will be two miles, the other three miles. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Breakheart.
Halibut Point State Park
4 Gott Ave., Rockport
10 a.m.
Meet at the parking lot. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Halibut Point State Park.
Middlesex Fells Reservation
4 Woodland Road, Stoneham
10 a.m.
Meet at the Botume House. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Middlesex Fells.
Walden Pond State Reservation
915 Walden St, Concord
10 a.m.
Meet at the Visitor Center.
West Region:
Great Falls Discovery Center
2 Avenue A, Turners Falls
1 p.m.
Meet at the main entrance. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center.
Mount Greylock State Reservation
30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough
9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Meet at the Visitor Center. Two hikes will be offered.
South Region:
Blue Hills Reservation
840 Hillside Street, Milton
Noon
Meet at Houghton’s Pond. Two hikes will be offered, both beginning at noon. One hike will be an hour, the other two hours.
More:Trail maps for state parks in Massachusetts
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 10 places to hike on New Year's Day, including Blue Hills, Wachusett
