Long Islanders can kick off 2026 with a healthy start by joining First Day Hikes at Ridge Conservation Area and Wildwood State Park, events sponsored by the New York Department of Conservation (DEC).
The Ridge hike begins at 10 a.m., and Wildwood’s event in Wading River starts at 9 a.m. Participants are advised to dress in layers and bring water and snacks.
“We all make resolutions to eat healthy and exercise more on Jan. 1. Then what better day is there to start than Jan. 1 itself?” said Bill Fonda, spokesman for the DEC, which sponsors First Day Hikes across the state.
This marks the 15th year of First Day Hikes in New York. The hikes are family-friendly and include a variety of locations, from canal trails and towpaths to historic sites and wildlife areas, according to the DEC website.
Ridge Conservation Area’s attraction is its multiple eco-systems, said Ranger John Scott, who has been leading the hike for approximately five years.
“The hike is at one of our main properties so it’s easy for us to meet at the hunting station there. It has quite a few different eco-systems along the way. For a two-mile hike we get to see a lot. We chose that area to show the diversity we have in Long Island.”
Besides creating healthy habits, he said introducing Long Islanders to their parkland is another goal of the First Day Hike.
“A big part of the goal is to get more people out so that they can see what properties we (the DEC) have in Long Island so they can go back and hike themselves later on,” he said.
The two-mile hike is described as suitable for beginners, but those not up to the trek might appreciate the opportunity to stop early at the one-mile cutoff.
“It’s a pretty easy hike,” Scott said. “The worst part is just the cold for the time of the year.”
The trail passes a pond, open grasslands, brush forests, and a white pine patch. Hikers may see deer, turkey, squirrels, and birds.
Participants should register online by Dec. 30.
“People who register are eligible to get a gift certificate and also get some other gift items,” Fonda said. The meeting spot is the hunting station at Ridge Conservation Area, 484 Randall Road, with arrivals requested 15 minutes early.
Those unable to attend can follow interpretative posts along the trail.
“If people can’t make the hike, there’s interpretative posts along the way. So, they can scan the QR code at one of the kiosks and go through the hike themselves,” Fonda said.
Wildwood State Park, 790 Hulse Landing Road in Wading River, offers a 2.2-mile hike along the orange trail through undeveloped hardwood forest, starting at 9 a.m. The trail includes paved asphalt, sand, and packed dirt with some inclines and declines.
Benches are available at each map kiosk. Hikers should meet at the main parking lot, Field 1. No registration is required. The park’s 600 acres include views of Long Island Sound from a high bluff.
For more information, visit the DEC website.