Mine Kill Set for 22nd National Trails Day

On Saturday, June 7, 2014, celebrate National Trails Day at Mine Kill State Park in North Blenheim, New York.  Join Mine Kill park staff, local Scouts and community members from 10:00am to 3:00pm for a chance to experience history in the making at the park.  Volunteers will be tasked with clearing brush and debris from the soon-to-be-installed Mine Kill Disc Golf Course.  Disc golf is very similar to ball golf in that players start from a tee area and attempt to “hole out” at a target in a certain number of strokes (par).  However, rather than using golf clubs and balls, disc golf utilizes modified Frisbees or discs thrown by the player on each shot.  The sport is very easy to learn, can be played by anyone regardless of age and is a terrific way to experience the outdoors while also getting some exercise.  

A free barbecue lunch will be provided to all volunteers courtesy of Stewart’s Shops and the Friends of Mine Kill and Max V. Shaul State Parks.  Free giveaways from Adventure Medical Kits will also be available to volunteers while supplies last.  National Trails Day patrons should be prepared for a day outside being both on and off trail.  Please bring comfortable, layered clothing (including rain gear), snacks, water and hiking boots.    

Following a delicious lunch, participants will have an opportunity to explore the many miles of hiking trails at Mine Kill State Park – including the famous Long Path, which runs from the George Washington Bridge all the way to the Mohawk River west of Albany.  Take a hike down to the beautiful, 80-foot Mine Kill Falls or enjoy the views from around the historic Lansing Manor next to the NYPA Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center.   Please contact the Mine Kill park office at (518) 827-8690 to pre-register for this event, or email HYPERLINK "mailto:Michael.fagerstrom@parks.ny.gov" Michael.fagerstrom@parks.ny.gov for more information.      

Mine Kill State Park is located in the scenic Schoharie Valley overlooking the Power Authority’s Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project.  The reservoir provides excellent fishing and boating opportunities.  The eight miles of trails, including trails from the Park to the NYPA Visitor Center such as the Long Path, are great for hiking, biking and birding.  Cascading 80 feet through a narrow gorge is the picturesque Mine Kill Falls for which the Park is named.  The Park also has an Olympic sized swimming pool with separate wading and diving pools.

For those who would like to extend their visit, nearby Max V. Shaul State Park is a small, quiet camping area with 30 wooded tent and trailer sites, picnic grounds, a state of the art playground and boat access along the Schoharie Creek.  In addition to the Max V. Shaul trails and fishing opportunities, campers have free access to Mine Kill State Park. 

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 180 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by more than 60 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter. 

About American Hiking Society - Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is the only national, recreation-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s hiking trails, their surrounding natural areas and the hiking experience. To learn more about American Hiking Society and its mission and programs, please visit www.AmericanHiking.org or call (301) 565-6704.

American Hiking’s National Trails Day® is made possible by the generous support of Corporate Sponsors–Adventure Medical Kits, Columbia, Gregory Packs, Tilley Endurables, The North Face, and Brooks-Range Mountaineering as well as Supporters – America’s State Parks, American Park Network, Backpacker magazine, ParksByNature Network, Boy Scouts of America, REI, and Student Conservation Association, and Federal Partners – National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Highway Administration, and U.S. Forest Service.