Feeling like you want to head for the hills? A Further Afield Day Hike will take you just far enough away to forget about the stresses of the big city, but not so far that you spend all day in transit to get there.

The Deets!

Where: Harriman State Park, New York

When: Thursday, December 21st, 5:30 AM to meet onsite. Travel details provided upon signup.

Native Land Recognition: Schaghticoke, Munsee Lenape & Mohican

Distance: 5 miles

Rating: Moderate – good for average hikers and/or semi-regular exercisers who are excited about the challenge of an early morning activity

Estimated Hiking Time: 4 hours (including breakfast & sunrise break)

Price: $85 / person

Inclusive of: Trailside breakfast of hot beverages & warm snacks, headlamp rental, winter traction gear rental (if needed), expert support from New York State Licensed Guide(s), gear check-list upon signup

Not included: transportation, guide gratuity

Hike Description: The Winter Solstice is often (and accurately) described as celebrating the shortest day of the year, and to mark the transition from Fall to Winter. The Solstice also marks the halfway point to the Summer season, and the point at which the days start getting longer again! This five-mile loop hike in Harriman is all about celebrating that annual cycle of the seasons and starting it off with some much-needed sunlight!

To begin we’ll be donning headlamps and heading uphill to catch the first rays of light from an iconic lean-to that overlooks the Hudson River. Once there we’ll warm our bellies with some hot beverages and tasty trailside treats, while taking some time to reflect on our adventures of 2023, and look ahead at our outdoor intentions for the new year. On our way back downhill, we’ll walk along a section of the Appalachian Trail, where some may feel inspired to add a long-distance backpacking trip to their list! Whatever we dream of on trail, we’ll certainly feel proud that we’ve done something awesome before most folks have even hopped out of bed! Rush-hour traffic pending, you may even be back to the big city early enough to get the office on time, (or at least to beat the crowds for some last-minute holiday shopping).

This trip will run with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 in order to ensure the health and safety of all guides and participants. If the minimum has not been met 24 hours ahead of trip, we will reach out and refund, reschedule or make alternate arrangements. Liability Waiver must be completed ahead of hike in order to participate. All hikes are rain or shine.

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel 14 days or more prior to the start of your trip, you will receive a full refund, less a 10% non-refundable administration fee. If you cancel between 24 hours and 14 days ahead, you will receive a 50% refund. Anything less than 24-hours is ineligible for refund, unless trip is canceled by Girl Gotta Hike, due to dangerous conditions or any other reason.

Ride Sharing: Girl Gotta Hike encourages participants from NYC and NJ to carpool for Further Afield Adventures. Upon signup, you’ll be prompted to let us know if you have a car, or if you need a ride, and we’ll put hikers and drivers in nearby neighborhoods in touch with each other to help get everyone to trail on time. So far we’ve got room in one limited-capacity carpool, which will be leaving Brooklyn at 4:00 AM.