When “Hike Hudson,” Friends of Hudson Parks’ annual hiking event, begins on September 1, participants may be able to spot more than just chipmunks and chickadees. Bigfoot (or at least a life-sized silhouette) will be hiding in each of the thirteen parks included in the event. Hikers who are brave enough to pose with Bigfoot and post their photos to Instagram (#HudsonParksBigfoot) will be entered into a drawing. Twenty random winners will receive a Bigfoot Patrol membership kit.
“Hike Hudson: In Search of Bigfoot” encourages area hikers to explore a variety of Hudson’s parks. Participants who complete at least eight of thirteen designated trails between September 1 and November 30 earn a free Eco-Highway TritanTM water bottle.
Entry forms with complete rules will be available soon from the Friends’ website at www.friendsofhudsonparks.org. The hiking event, now in its fourth year, allows participants to choose from more than fourteen miles of multipurpose trails at the following locations: Barlow Farm Park, Bicentennial Woods, Boston Mills Park, Cascade Park, Colony Park, Darrow Road Park, Hudson Springs Park, Maple Grove Park, Nicholson Trail, Trumbull Woods, Turnpike Trail, Veterans Way Park and Wildlife Woods.
Once participants have finished at least eight of the designated trails, they may turn in their completed forms and claim their water bottles at one of two locations—Destination Hudson Visitor Center, 27 East Main Street (the historic Town Hall), or Open Door Coffee Company, 164 North Main Street. Interested individuals also may pick up entry forms at either of those locations.
Group walks will also be hosted on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m., featuring a different park each week:
09/10 Hudson Springs Park
09/17 Bicentennial Woods/Turnpike Trail
09/24 Darrow Road Park
10/01 Cascade Park/Nicholson Trail
10/08 Wildlife Woods
10/15 Maple Grove Park
10/22 Trumbull Woods
10/29 Veterans Way Park
11/05 Colony Park
11/12 Barlow Farm Park
For more information, email friendsofhudsonparks@gmail.com.