Celebrate the New Year with the Hilltown Hikers on a hike to Sanderson Brook Falls in Chester.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
CHESTER — The Western Mass. Hilltown Hikers is partnering with the Department of Conservation and Recreation on Jan. 1 for a guided First Day Hike beginning at 10 a.m. to the Sanderson Brook Falls in the Chester Blandford State Forest.
The two-mile hike in Chester is part of a national First Day Hike effort to get people outside to enjoy the natural beauty of their state parks.
On New Year’s Day, hundreds of free, guided hikes will be organized in all 50 states. Last year, nearly 55,000 people rang in the New Year, hiking over 133,000 miles throughout the country.
“It’s not just a hike, it’s a celebration,” said Elizabeth Massa, president of the Hilltown Hikers. “The whole point is to get people outside in the state parks. There are people who live in Chester who have never been to the Chester Blandford State Forest.”
The Chester Blandford State Forest includes remnants of small mining operations and the 60-foot cascade at Sanderson Brook Falls. The state forest was established in 1924 when local lumber companies sold the land to the state.
The hike itself, two miles in and back, is rated easy to moderate with some uneven footing. The trail is a wide gravel road which gently climbs upward, crossing three dog-friendly girder bridges — there are solid wooden planks with dog prints on them — along Sanderson Brook. The spur trail to the waterfall slopes downward and is single track. Be prepared for winter conditions — crampons and walking sticks are recommended.
The celebration part comes after the hike, when the Hilltown Hikers will have sparkling grape juice to toast the New Year, along with cookies, brownies and cupcakes. They will also have a photo booth area, with props including top hats, headbands and streamers. “We’re encouraging people to dress up,” Massa said.
The DCR will also pass out First Day Hike official winter caps while supplies last. Information on future hikes and new swag for sale by the Western Mass. Hilltown Hikers will be available at the start and finish.
Limited parking is available at the Sanderson Brook Falls entrance to the state park, where the hike begins. Overflow parking is available by permission at Bannish Lumber across the street. A police officer will be directing traffic on Route 20.
Carpooling is recommended. People may also park at the first Chester Blandford State Park entrance (on the left going north, about one-third of a mile before the Sanderson Brook Falls entrance) and carpool to the start of the hike.
Massachusetts is where the American Revolution began, and it is also where the First Day Hikes started. On New Year’s Day in 1992, 380 people gathered at Blue Hill 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 Jan. 1. For those who will be traveling elsewhere in the state on New Year’s Day, the complete list of DCR First Day Hikes is available at mass.gov/info-details/dcr-first-day-hikes.
Celebrate the New Year 2026 with the Hilltown Hikers and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and join the nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to encourage people to get outdoors.
