First Day Hikes Cape Cod

Fresh Year. Fresh Air. Fresh Outlook.

Celebrating the 5^th Anniversary of

First Day Hikes Cape Cod

A unique regional celebration with free events for everyone!

WHAT: First Day Hikes Cape Cod 2026 – 5^th Anniversary Celebration

WHEN: Thursday, January 1, 2026 6:45 am – 3 pm

WHAT: Did you know that “Getting Outside More” is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions, one of the easiest to actually keep, and one of the cheapest to implement. So, it comes as no surprise that First Day Hikes Cape Cod has become one of the most popular ways to celebrate the New Year in the region!

This fifth anniversary of this regional celebration features free events across Cape Cod including a range of opportunities for families, children, residents, and visitors to explore nature on the first day of the new year. Spearheaded by Barnstable Land Trust, and representing 15 organizations across Cape Cod, this one-of-a-kind regional celebration will include close to 20 special events throughout the day including sunrise hikes, nature walks, educational programs, and more. Previous festivals have attracted hundreds of people from on and off Cape Cod.

The day-long festival also celebrates the first anniversary of cape-wide Conservation Community Calendar which invites visitors and residents alike to explore nature programs year-round with just one click! Last year, over 660 programs were featured by nonprofit conservation groups throughout the year! (https://blt.org/capeconservationcalendar)

WHERE: Various locations across Cape Cod (Barnstable, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet, Wareham)

WHO: General Public

COST: FREE

PROGRAM SCHEDULE: Calendar details will be available after the Thanksgiving Holiday

First Day Hikes Cape Cod: www.blt.org/firstdayhikescapecod

About First Day Hikes Cape Cod

Championed by Barnstable Land Trust and supported by fifteen local conservation organizations, First Day Hikes Cape Cod celebrates the 5^th Anniversary of this first-in-the-nation regional event that encourages people to get outdoors with free guided walks and activities to explore Cape Cod’s parks, trails, and natural resources. A tradition often celebrated by state park systems across the country, Cape Cod was the first to launch a regional initiative involving nonprofit conservation groups. This year participating nonprofit and conservation organizations include the 300 Committee Land Trust (Falmouth), Barnstable Land Trust, Brewster Conservation Trust, Chatham Conservation Foundation, Dennis Conservation Land Trust, Friends of Bass River (Dennis), Friends of Herring River (Wellfleet/Truro), Harwich Conservation Trust, Native Land Conservancy, Orenda Wildlife Land Trust, Orleans Conservation Trust, Sandwich Conservation Trust, Salt Pond Bird Sanctuaries (Bourne), Wareham Land Trust, and Wellfleet Conservation Trust. To find out more, check www.blt.org/firstdayhikescapecod for more details in early December. The day-long festival also celebrates the first anniversary of cape-wide Conservation Community Calendar which invites visitors and residents alike to explore nature programs year-round with just one click. Last year, over 660 programs (many free) were featured by nonprofit conservation groups throughout the year. (https://blt.org/capeconservationcalendar)

Barnstable Land Trust (BLT) is a community-supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving open space and natural resources in the Town of Barnstable and nearby areas. BLT has protected nearly 1,250 acres in the Town of Barnstable and supported the Town in conserving over 11,000 more. Celebrating its 40^th Anniversary in 2023, BLT is a regional leader in collaborative land preservation and stewardship, community engagement, training, and advocacy. BLT also leverages its conservation expertise to inform local public decisions as they impact our ecosystems, community health, well-being, and quality of life. To learn more about or access one of its three popular trail map guides (Barnstable Trail Guide – English and Portuguese versions, Cape Cod Pathways/Barnstable Trail Guide, and Eagle Pond & Little River Sanctuary Trail Guide), visit BLT.org. Offering over 130 programs annually including popular series like Hike Barnstable, Marsh Madness, Earth Month, Climate Conversations, and Volunteer First Fridays, check out BLT’s calendar of events here.