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Begin 2025 outdoors with First Day Hikes in Mass.

Join an organized hike on January 1, 2025.

A winter hike at Walden Pond State Reservation. Department of Conservation and Recreation

By Kristi Palma

2 minutes to read

There are more than a dozen opportunities for fresh air and exercise at state parks across Massachusetts on the first day of the new year.

The Massachusetts First Day Hikes program is a free guided hiking event that began in Massachusetts in 1992 and was rolled out nationwide in 2012. This year, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), which manages more 150 state parks, will offer First Day Hikes at 14 locations across the state.

This year’s DCR hikes will take place at spots like Breakheart Reservation in Saugus, Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, Walden Pond State Reservation in Concord, and more. See a full list of DCR’s 2025 First Day Hikes.

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The 2025 First Day Hikes lineup:

Boston

— 10 a.m. at Pope John Paul II Park Reservation in Boston
Meet by the Kiosk at the Hallet Street entrance for a 1 mile hike.

North

— 10 a.m. at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus
Meet at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center at 177 Forest Street for a 2 or 3 mile hike.

— 10 a.m. at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport
Meet at the park entrance near the parking lot at 4 Gott Avenue for a 3 mile hike.

— 10 a.m. at Harold Parker State Forest in North Andover
Meet at Berry Pond Beach at 700 Middleton Road for a 2 mile hike.

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— 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Walden Pond State Reservation in Concord
Start at the Walden Visitor Center at 915 Walden St. for this self-guided hike that is under 2 miles.

South

— 10 a.m. at South Cape Beach State Park in Mashpee
Meet in the parking lot at 668 Great Oak Rd for a 1 mile hike.

— 11 a.m. at Blue Hills Reservation in Milton
Gather at Houghton’s Pond Visitor Center at 840 Hillside Street. There will be two guided hikes and one self-guided hike at noon. Parking and space are limited.

Central

— 10 a.m. at Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center in Worcester
Meet at the visitor center at 3 Paul Clancy Way for a 5 mile hike. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

— 10 a.m. at Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park in Uxbridge
Meet at the River Bend Farm Visitor Center at 287 Oak St for a 1.5 mile hike. Registration begins at 9 a.m.

— 10 a.m. at Dunn State Park in Gardner
Meet at the Pond House at 289 Pearl St. Registration begins at 9 a.m. There is also an accessible hike at 11 a.m. Register by noon on December 31 by calling 413-584-2052 or emailing [email protected].

— 10 a.m. at Pearl Hill State Park in Townsend
Meet at 105 New Fitchburg Rd. for a 2 mile hike. Registration begins at 9 a.m.

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— 11 a.m. at Wachusett Reservoir in West Boylston
Meet at Gate 22 at 167 Temple Street (Rt 140) starting at 10 a.m. for a 2.2 mile hike.

West

— 10 a.m. at Chester Blandford State Forest in Chester
Meet at Sanderson Brook Falls parking lot at 631 U.S. Route 20 for a 2 mile hike.

— 1 p.m. at Great Falls Discovery Center in Turner Falls
Meet at the Great Hall at 2 Avenue A for a 3 mile hike.

For those on Cape Cod, the region will host its own First Day Hikes with 18 free walks, talks, and hikes taking place across the region on Jan. 1, 2025. Check out the schedule.

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Kristi Palma

Travel writer

 

Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.

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