Want to get outdoors on New Year's Day? Try First Day Hikes Cape Cod

Heather McCarron | Cape Cod Times

Conservation groups all around Cape Cod have a plan to help residents and visitors alike get the new year off on the right foot — have them take in the fresh, ocean air and explore the Cape's landscapes brought into sharper focus by Old Man Winter.

That's the aim of #FirstDayHikesCapeCod, a collaboration of 10 Cape Cod conservation groups that have organized a schedule of free outdoor explorations on Sunday.

Coordinated by the Barnstable Land Trust, the initiative is inspired by a state park First Day Hike program first created in Massachusetts in 1992 under the Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation and Recreation before it went nationwide in 2012, supported by America's State Parks alliance.

Sue Sullivan, director of communications for the Barnstable Land Trust, stands at the observation deck at the Pogorelc Sanctuary in West Barnstable, behind the trust’s conservation center. Sullivan first suggested the idea of a Cape-wide First Day Hikes program. Merrily Cassidy | Cape Cod Times

The #FirstDayHikesCapeCod programs — with 11 walks, talks and hikes — began last year.

More than 400 people participated.

“It is a perfect time to explore Cape Cod’s parks, trails, and natural resources and to appreciate how the efforts of the conservation community are protecting and conserving the natural places that make Cape Cod so special," said Janet Milkman, executive director of Barnstable Land Trust.

The Barnstable nonprofit is joined by similar conservation groups in Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Falmouth, Harwich, Orleans, and Wellfleet/Truro. Planned activities include two "first light" sunrise hikes, a turtle conservation education program, family walks and geocaching for families, a history talk, and more.

Sue Dahling Sullivan, Barnstable Land Trust director of communications, first suggested the idea of a Cape-wide First Day initiative last year. Usually, in other parts of the country, the initiative focuses on one park only.

Sullivan said the organizers only had a few months before the inaugural First Day Hikes that took place Jan. 1, 2022.

Sue Sullivan walks along one of the trails in the Pogorelc Sanctuary in West Barnstable. The sanctuary is behind the Barnstable Land Trust conservation center on Route 6A.Merrily Cassidy | Cape Cod Times

"People loved it," Sullivan said. "We even had people drive down from the Boston area to attend events, as well as people who took the opportunity to explore different parts of the Cape. What better way to start off the New Year than taking in the Cape's natural beauty and celebrating nature?"

What hikes and programs are planned?

This First Day, three walks will explore new trails or properties: The Harwich Conservation Trust, Chatham Conservation Foundation and Orleans Conservation Trust.

"We also have two family-friendly events — last year we had one — with Barnstable Land Trust and Orenda Wildlife Land Trust," she said.

Wellfleet will host a unique historical talk at the Atwood-Higgins House on Bound Brook Island, which is the oldest house within the confines of the Cape Cod National Seashore, hosted by the Friends of Herring River."

Additionally, Brewster Conservation Trust and the 300 Committee Land Trust of Falmouth are both offering hikes exploring unique forest properties — Calf Field Pond in Brewster and Beebe Woods in Falmouth — that give an interesting insight into the Cape's past.

The "First Light" hikes to greet the rising sun both take place on the shore, but with different perspectives. "Barnstable Land Trust will be on the Cape Cod Bay side at Sandy Neck Beach. Dennis Conservation Trust is partnering with the Friends of Bass River to explore the Nantucket Sound side," Sullivan said.

Later in the morning, the Barnstable Land Trust is hosting a family-oriented event at the Pogorelc Sanctuary, where visitors will get a chance to meet Get Outside Cape Cod founder and local author Lissy Perna, who will guide family hikes and then sign copies of her new book, "50 Cape Cod Hiking Trails: The Best Family-Friendly Nature Trails on Cape Cod."

Geocaching experts will be at the Pogorelc Sanctuary in West Barnstable

Geocaching leaders Liz Tickell Hanchuruck and Cassie Madeiros, who last year launched a geocaching site called "Otterbox Lookout" at the overview deck on the trail at the sanctuary, will also be on hand to share how they play the geocaching game with their own families while exploring nature trails across the Cape. It is recommended that anyone interested in this download the app and create a user name in advance so Hanchuruck and Madeiros can show how to log finds.

A historical talk at the Atwood-Higgins House on Bound Brook Island in Wellfleet is planned on New Year’s Day. Eric Williams | Cape Cod Times File

Perna said she plans to lead families on two hikes through the woods at Pogorelc, pointing out different plants and any animals they might observe.

"It's a great way to start the new year to spend some time outside," she said. "A lot of people spend the majority of their time outside on the Cape, probably, during the summer. But, really, getting outside when it's cold can be fun, too. And always it's beneficial."

There's an opportunity to learn about turtles at Margaret Wyman Sanctuary in West Barnstable

A Turtle-riffic Walk and Talk is planned as well at the Orenda Wildlife Land Trust's "turtle garden sanctuary" in the Margaret Wyman Sanctuary in West Barnstable, where there are ongoing conservation efforts for diamondback terrapins, a threatened marshland species.

It's a special opportunity to learn about the turtles in their habitat, said Trust Vice President Meghan Douglass Hill, since they rarely invite the public onto the sanctuaries because of the focus on wildlife protection.

"This time of year there's not a lot of turtle action, so we won't be disturbing them, per se," she said. "We are basically going to trace the steps of diamondback terrapins as they hatch and make their way to the marsh. We will be able to explore the marsh at low tide."

The program, Hill said, has limited capacity because of parking, but lest anyone gets discouraged if they are not able to register for the Jan. 1 program, there are plans for additional programs in the coming weeks, as well as opportunities to get involved as a volunteer.

Sullivan said most of the events will be held rain, snow or shine, "unless the weather is really awful."

"But we always tell people to check the individual links of the program hosts, since they ultimately will make the call," she said.

What's on tap for First Day on Cape Cod

The schedule of events follows. For full details on each, visit https://blt.org/firstdayhikescapecod

FIRST SUNRISE WALK AT WEST DENNIS BEACH, 6:45 a.m., hosted by Dennis Conservation Land Trust (www.dennisconservationtrust.com) and Friends of Bass River (www.friendsofbassriver.org). Registration is limited. Email info@dennisconservationlandtrust.org to reserve a spot.

SUNRISE AT SANDY NECK, 6:45 a.m., hosted by Barnstable Land Trust (www.blt.org). Pre-registration highly recommended through https://blt.org/events. For more information, contact sue@blt.org

MORE WALK, LESS TALK, 10 a.m., hosted by Harwich Conservation Trust (www.harwichconservationtrust.org) at Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands, Harwich. Register at tinyurl.com/morewalkATWOOD-HIGGINS HOUSE c. 1730 CAPE COD HOUSE, 10:30 a.m., hosted by Friends of Herring River, Wellfleet and Truro (www.herringriver.org) at the Atwood Higgins House on Bound Brook Island Road, Wellfleet. Free registration is limited to 20 people at www.herringriver.org/Events.

FIRST DAY FUN: FAMILY STYLE, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., hosted by Barnstable Land Trust at Barnstable Land Trust Conservation Center, 1540 Main St., West Barnstable. Family hikes at 10:45 a.m .and 11:45 a.m. Also learn about geocaching. No registration needed, just drop in.

MILL POND OVERLOOK TRAIL WALK, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., hosted by Chatham Conservation Foundation (www.chathamconservationfoundation.org) at Atwood Museum Parking lot, 347 Stage Harbor Road, Chatham. No registration needed.

NEW YEAR'S HIKE IN BEEBE WOODS, 1 p.m., hosted by 300 Committee Land Trust (www.300committee.org), park and meet in the hiker's lot for Beebe Woods in Falmouth. About 90 minutes/3 miles with option for a shorter,gentler hike. (Please leave dogs at home.) No registration required.

TURTLE-RIFFIC WALK AND TALK, 1 p.m., hosted by Orenda Wildlife Land Trust, Inc. (www.orendalandtrust.org)at Margaret Wyman Turtle Sanctuary at far end of Meadow Lane, West Barnstable; carpool if possible, and drive slowly. Dress for the weather and wear boots to venture into the marsh at low tide. Capacity/parking is limited, registration first-come, first-served at tinyurl.com/turtle-riffic

FIRST DAY HIKE AT CALF FIELD POND, 2 p.m., hosted by Brewster Conservation Trust (www.brewsterconservationtrust.org). Parking will be available at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, 869 Main St., Brewster. Register at tinyurl.com/Calf-Field

FIRST DAY HIKE AT PORTANIMICUT GREENBELT, 3 p.m., hosted by Orleans Conservation Trust (https://orleansconservationtrust.org/) at Greenbelt Greenway in Orleans. Group size will be limited. Registration is required at tinyurl.com/orleans-greenbelt