A little January chill did little to slow down the large crowd that arrived at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus on Monday morning to ring in the first day of the new year with a hike.
2024 marks the 33rd annual First Day Hikes sponsored by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, and this year, hikes were hosted in 13 parks across the state, Breakheart among them. At Breakheart, where temperatures Monday morning flirted with freezing, a crowd of more than 100 people arrived to take part in the annual event, nearly all of whom donned celebratory beanies that read “First Day Hikes.”
The hikes are a way to “encourage year-round outdoor recreation and to inspire the public to discover the beauty of the Massachusetts State Parks system,” DCR said in a statement.
The hikes began at Blue Hills Reservation in Milton in 1992, and have grown to all 50 states, officially becoming a national program in 2012 thanks to the endorsement of America’s National Parks.
“First Day Hikes brings people of all ages, backgrounds, and demographics together with a common goal of starting their year off at our state parks,” Gov. Maura Healey said in the statement. “We are proud to continue this cherished tradition that encourages communities to come together, take in fresh air, and experience the beauty of our state.”
Hikers Monday morning traveled from surrounding North Shore communities and beyond to traverse the rolling hills of Breakheart. Among the crowd were hikers from East Boston, Medford, and neighboring Lynn. Two hikes were offered to those in attendance, one 2 miles long and the other 3 miles long. On the hikes, walkers were able to view animal tracks, CCC projects, and Breakheart’s Lower and Upper ponds.
Afterward, hikers could warm up with some hot chocolate and clam chowder offered at the park’s visitors center.
In Saugus, the event was co-sponsored by the Friends of Breakheart Reservation.
