Massachusetts is where the American Revolution began, and it is also where the First Day Hikes started. On New Years Day in 1992, 380 people gathered at Blue Hills Reservation to welcome the new year with a walk in the woods. That simple idea grew into something big. Today, all 50 states offer First Day Hikes on January 1. As we prepare to honor the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026, DCR is proud to celebrate this Massachusetts tradition that continues to inspire the nation.
Mt. Tom Reservation
January 1, 2026, 1:00pm-3:00pm
Meeting Location: 125 Reservation Road Holyoke
GPS: 42.26903335952047, -72.61654571569925
Registration required: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Fh2GPrdIDkqYBowE2Bt7Kmip39phsSVPm9-TaYv7LxNURDhYSzIxTFZPWFpFT1lZV1pWWEZaTDY3SC4u&route=shorturl
Celebrate the New Year at Mt. Tom Reservation in Holyoke on a First Day Hike! Meet at the warming hut for a guided 2-mile hike, about 1.5 hours in duration. Hike will start at Bray Lake parking area on our newly redone universal access trail and then we will turn onto the Bray Loop Trail. Hike will be easy to moderate at time with mixed surface of packed gravel, to rocky portions of the trail. There will be about 300 feet of elevation gain along the route. We may see some evidence of wildlife and the beautiful Bray Lake. Dress for the weather, leashed dogs are welcome. Space is limited; registration is required. For more information, please call (413) 534-1186
