Christmas Hike, Wintertime Fun at Moreau State Park This Month

MOREAU — Moreau Lake State Park, located at 605 Old Saratoga Road in Gansevoort, is offering the following events this month. 

Saturday, Dec. 21 – Making a Lantern for Winter Solstice 11am – 2 pm.

Drop by the nature center to learn about the Winter Solstice, why we have it, and how to make the most out of the shortest day of the year! Pop in anytime from 11-2 to learn and make a paper lantern, no registration required. If you have any questions call the office at 518-793-0511

Sunday, Dec. 22 – Walking in a Winter Wonderland (Nature Trail) noon.

Join a Nature Center employee for a 3-mile peaceful walk around the lake. We will ID any plants and animals we see along the path and learn about the winter activities of Moreau’s regular animal inhabitants. Open to all Ages, just keep distance in mind. The cost is $5/adult, $1/child payable by cash or check at the office upon your arrival. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Sunday, Dec. 22 – Camping Stories by the Fire, 4 – 5 pm: Kid’s stories, 5-6 pm: 13+ Stories.

Join an educator by the fire for some treats and stories! We will have some children’s books to read by the fire from 4:00-5:00pm and from 5:00-6:00pm we are encouraging people to bring their favorite camping stories to tell the group. They can be stories about camping at Moreau Lake or any New York State Park! The cost is $5/adult, $1/child payable by cash or check at the office upon your arrival. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Christmas Day Hike at Big Bend 1 pm.

Looking for something different to do this Christmas day? Bundle up and join an educator on an easy-going, family friendly walk at Big Bend! This hike will go as long as we can depending on who shows up! At most it could be 3 miles on flat ground. We may hear and see birds (maybe even an eagle!), animal tracks, shells, feathers; there’s no telling what Nature might gift us with. There is no fee for this walk, but please reserve your spot in advance by calling 518-793-0511. We will meet at the park office and caravan to the trailhead. 

Friday, Dec. 27 – Crafts with the Friends 11 am.

Come to the nature center for some more crafting on your winter break! Fun for all ages. This program is free and registration is not required.  

Monday, Dec. 30 – Eagle Watch 9 am.

Join a park educator on a convoy-style journey along the Hudson River to try to spot our local Bald Eagles. We will be getting in and out of vehicles at a few locations and, with a little luck, viewing the eagles through binoculars and a scope so make sure to bring your hat and gloves! If you have binoculars bring them, we do have a couple of pair to pass around as well. The cost is $5 per adult payable by cash or check at the office upon your arrival. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Tuesday, Dec. 31 – Reptile Profile 10 am.

Join an educator in the nature center to meet our resident reptiles! We at Moreau take care of six New York native turtles and three snakes that cannot be released into the wild and are wonderful little educators. This program is for all ages. The cost is $5 for adults, $1 for children (cash or check) at the office upon arrival. Please reserve your spot 24 hours in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.

Wednesday, January 1st – First Day Hike 10 am.

We will be hiking around our beautiful Moreau Lake starting the hike all together at the park office to kick off the new year! There will be a section of the hike that allows people to split off if they want to make it a shorter loop of about 2.1 miles on a flatter trail or they can continue on the longer hike of 3 miles, and both will end either at the Warming Hut or back to the Park Office. This is a free event, but please register in advance.

For more information, call 518-793-0511, or go to: friendsofmoreaulake.org.