First Day Hikes in the Catskills come with a deadline most people miss: the sign-up closes before the year does. Every January 1, the Department of Environmental Conservation, State Parks and a roster of hiking clubs and guides lead free hikes across New York's public lands. The 2026 edition was the 15th, with more than 115 locations statewide, and the Catskills list ran from a half-mile loop to a nearly seven-mile day on Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain. The 2027 edition, the 16th, is being assembled; State Parks says host locations are still being added.
The list changes each year. The shape of it doesn't. What follows is how the 2026 Catskills hikes ran, which is the clearest guide to what January 1, 2027 will look like.
The easy ones
Catskills Visitor Center, Mount Tremper. The center on Route 28 in Mount Tremper led a half-mile interpretive loop that included its fire tower, 11 AM to noon, family-friendly with leashed pets allowed. Registration was required by December 30. For a group with small kids or a reluctant uncle, this is the one.
Frick Pond, Willowemoc Wild Forest. Morgan Outdoors led a 2.2-mile loop from the Frick Pond trailhead on Beech Mountain Road, 1 PM to 2:30 PM, rated relatively easy, ages 18 and up, no pets. The DEC listing noted there is usually a waitlist. The trailhead is a short drive from Route 17's Livingston Manor exit by way of DeBruce Road, and cell service there is limited.
The middle of the range
Red Hill Fire Tower, Claryville. A guide from the New York State Outdoor Guide Association led about 3.5 miles round trip from the Denning Road parking lot, 8 AM to noon, moderate, all ages, leashed pets allowed. The fire tower is the payoff, on a day when the leaves are long gone and the views run farthest.
Mullet Falls, Neversink River Unique Area. The Outdoor Guide Association and Catskill Mountainkeeper led 3.3 miles with about 492 feet of climbing from the end of Katrina Falls Road, 9 AM to 11:30 AM, ages 8 and up, leashed pets allowed. The listing asked hikers to arrive early and carpool, which says something about the parking.
The hard ones
Balsam Mountain from Rider Hollow. The Catskill Mountain Club led a 5.2-mile loop with about 1,600 feet of elevation gain, 9 AM to 2 PM, moderate to difficult, winter experience required, ages 12 and up, no pets.
Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain. The Catskill 3500 Club led 6.9 miles from the Giant Ledge parking area, 9 AM to 3 PM, strenuous, experienced hikers only, snowshoes or crampons required, no pets.
Both summits carry extra weight on January 1. The 3500 Club requires members to climb Slide, Blackhead, Balsam and Panther a second time in winter, which the club defines as December 21 through March 21. A New Year's Day ascent counts, which is part of the draw for hikers working on their winter four.
The Greene County side
The 2026 statewide list also included three hikes on the northeastern escarpment: Huckleberry Point in Elka Park, and the Kaaterskill Rail Trail and North-South Lake Campground area in Haines Falls, both in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest. That cluster sits a few minutes from Tannersville, and it is the logical choice for anyone spending New Year's week on the mountaintop.
Getting a spot for 2027
- Watch for the list in December. The DEC posts its regional hikes and State Parks updates parks.ny.gov/events/first-day-hikes as hosts sign on.
- Register the day it posts. In 2026, Catskills sign-ups closed between December 29 and December 31, and Frick Pond usually runs a waitlist.
- Read the requirements. Age minimums, pet rules and gear requirements are set by each host and enforced at the trailhead.
- Plan for a cancellation. Hosts call off hikes for weather on the morning of January 1. Check the listing before leaving.
- Carry traction. Even the easy routes can be ice by January. Microspikes are the minimum on anything with a grade.
- Count the daylight. The longest hikes end at 3 PM for a reason. There is not much afternoon left in early January.
The state waived the normal parking fee at state parks and historic sites on January 1, 2026; confirm the 2027 policy when the list posts.
For adults 21+
Every hike above runs on DEC land, a state facility or Forest Preserve, and New York state law prohibits cannabis consumption on state-owned land and in public spaces. That covers trailheads, fire towers, summits and campground loops alike.
Licensed shops along the routes include Canna Planet Liberty and Canna Planet Monticello off Route 17, Herbal Woodstock on Tinker Street, and Wintergreen in Tannersville, which was not yet operating at last check. Many shops trim hours on New Year's Day. Verify licensed status via the OCM QR code at cannabis.ny.gov, and keep purchases sealed in the car; driving impaired on a winter mountain road is illegal and a bad idea in equal measure.
Addresses for every licensed shop are on the dispensary map, and New Year's week happenings across the region are on the events calendar.
FAQ
When are the 2027 First Day Hikes in the Catskills?
On January 1, 2027. The DEC and State Parks post the host list in December, and as of 2026 locations were still being added.
Are First Day Hikes free?
Yes. The hikes are free, though most Catskills hikes in 2026 required advance registration with the host.
How do I sign up for a First Day Hike in the Catskills?
Each listing names a host and a registration method, usually an online form or an email to the hike leader. In 2026 the deadlines fell between December 29 and December 31.
Does a First Day Hike count toward the Catskill 3500 Club winter peaks?
January 1 falls inside the club's winter window of December 21 to March 21, so a Balsam or Panther summit that day counts as a winter ascent under the club's rules.
Are dogs allowed on First Day Hikes?
It depends on the host. In 2026, leashed dogs were allowed at Red Hill, Mullet Falls and the Catskills Visitor Center, but not on Frick Pond, Balsam or Giant Ledge.
