Toll hikes on Thruway begin Monday
ALBANY — Travelers in the new year, take note. Tolls are set to increase by 5 percent Monday, Jan. 1, on the New York State Thruway.
The increase is the first round of toll hikes approved by the Thruway Authority’s board of directors this September. A second 5 percent increase takes effect in 2027. It’s the first systemwide increase since 2010, outside of a toll hike on the Mario
M. Cuomo Bridge — formerly the Tappan Zee Bridge — in 2021. That means in 2024 a driver traveling from Woodbury in Orange County at Exit 15 to Albany at Exit 24 will see the toll rise from $5.25 to $5.51. In 2027, it will go to $5.79. A trip from downtown Albany at Exit 23 to Schenectady at Exit 25 will go from 53 cents to 56 cents in 2024, and 59 cents in 2027. The adjusted rates for 2024 can be found on the state Thruway Authority’s
website.
Tolls will be 75 percent higher than New York EZPass rates for those who use pay-by-mail options, a measure the state Thruway Authority says is to encourage drivers to get a New York E-ZPass and cover processing costs. By 2027, standard rates for non-New York E-ZPass and pay-by-mail will be 8.6 cents higher than in 2023, according to the state Thruway Authority.
The 5 percent increase will not impact the Mario
M. Cuomo Bridge, which will instead see tolls for EZPass rise 50 cents a year from 2024 through 2027. By 2027, the base rate for passenger vehicles will be $7.75, up from $5.75 in 2023. The 40 percent commuter discount will remain, and the resident discount will increase from 17 to 20 percent for qualified Rockland and Westchester county residents, according to the state Thruway Authority.
While truckers and up
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ry with the Erie Canal. Because mules pulled canal boats along this trail, the path is wide and mostly flat, making it an ideal surface for an easy-rated First Day Hike, he said.
“It’s nice to be able to show off the site to people who might not have otherwise seen it,” Banks said.
First Day Hikes has been a decades-long tradition for Moreau Lake State Park, said Christine Lambert, park naturalist. It’s a popular event for the park, especially if the weather is nice; last year’s drew a crowd of 150 hikers. Like Schoharie Crossing, Moreau Lake gears its First Day Hikes to be familyfriendly with minimal incline and an easy rating. Friends of Moreau Lake State Park, the volunteer group that supports the park’s programming, will provide hot chocolate and cookies.
“I love seeing grandparents down to small children getting together to get outdoors and be in nature together,” Lambert said.
For those looking for more of a challenge, select parks are offering harder First Day Hikes. Grafton Lakes State Park will host three trails, a moderate-rated hike around Shaver Pond, a moderate-to-difficult rated hike to Dickinson Hill Fire Tower and an easier walk. This is the park’s 13th year participating in First Day Hikes, said Savannah Wilson, environmental educator, and the first year adding in more —
and less — challenging options along with its regular hike around Shaver Pond.
“We had participants who wanted a little bit more of a challenge, and we also had participants who wanted something just a little bit easier,” Wilson said. “So this year, with an amazing team of volunteers, we were able to pull together volunteer hike leaders and staff who could offer a variety of levels for participants to choose from, from our accessible trails that are easy to walk on more stable ground, less rocky routes to our challenging Dickinson Hill fire tower.”
Regardless of the difficulty, warm layers, water, snacks and proper footwear are a must, the hike leaders said. If the ground is icy, Lambert recommends bringing microspikes. Extra socks don’t hurt either.
The hope is First Day Hikes will encourage people to get outside and visit and support their local parks more regularly.
“It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors and to get exercise and an excuse to get together with friends,” Banks said. “It doesn’t cost anything other than whatever gas it takes to get here, and it’s a walk in the park. Who doesn’t like that?”
And if nothing else, it starts a new year off on the right, snowshoed foot.
“It really helps set the year — getting out, getting active, being thankful for all the natural spaces in our area — it really just sets the mood and sets the tone for the rest of the year,” Wilson said.
Copake Falls at Taconic State Park. 253 Route 344, Copake. This moderate 4-mile hike begins at 1 p.m. Dogs are allowed. Register at 518-329-3993.
Coney Mountain. Start time: 11 a.m. Trailhead on Route 30 about 10 miles south of the Route 3/Route 30 junction in Tupper Lake. The 2-mile round-trip moderate out-and-back hike will be led by Forest Ranger Allison Rooney. Microspikes and/or snowshoes may be required depending on trail conditions. Contact allison.rooney@dec.ny.gov or 315-916-4038 by Sunday.
Grafton Lakes State Park. 254 Grafton Lakes State Park Way, Grafton. Two hikes begin at 1 p.m. Moderate hike around Shaver Pond begins from the welcome center; the more difficult 4-mile hike to the Dickinson Hill Fire Tower begins at the north end of the Long Pond parking lot. Microspikes or snowshoes recommended.
Little Stony Point. Start time: 11 a.m. Little Stony Point Volunteer Center, 3011 State Route 9D, Cold Spring (at Hudson Highlands State Park). Start with free hot chocolate and coffee, snacks and music fireside at the volunteer center. Naturalist-led hikes around Little Stony Point are about 1 mile, or to the historic Cornish Estate is 3 miles round-trip. Email littlestonypoint@gmail.com for more information.
Mine Kill State Park,. 161 Minekill Road, North Blenheim. Two-mile hike begins at 9 a.m. Dogs are allowed. Register at 518-827-6111.
Moreau Lake State Park. 605 Old Saratoga Road, Gansevoort. Stroller-friendly, 1.5 mile Nature Trail Hike begins at 9 a.m. The longer, 4 mile Mud Pond hike begins at 1 p.m. and is not stroller-friendly, though still easy. Register at 518-917-2174.
North-South Lake. Start time: 11 a.m. South Lake Dam Parking Lot. The 3-mile hike around the lake includes views from the Pine Orchard and Catskill Mountain House, which first opened in 1824. Microspikes or other traction devices are recommended. Neither strollers nor pets are allowed. Contact Ryan Penny at info@campcatskill.co or call 518-303-6050 by Sunday.
Olana State Historic Site. Start time: 10 a.m. Wagon House Education Center, 5720 Route 9G, Hudson. This dog-friendly hike starts at the Wagon House Education Center and covers about 1 mile. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate, along with sketching materials, will be provided in the education center from 1 to 3 p.m. Contact education@olana.org or call 518-751-6938.
Peebles Island State Park. 1 Delaware Ave., Cohoes. Two dog-friendly 2-mile hikes launch at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Registration not required, but appreciated at friendsofpeebles@gmail.com.
Sam’s Point. Start time: 1:30 p.m. 400 Sam’s Point Road, Cragsmoor, at Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
Saratoga Spa State Park. Creekside Classroom, Geyser Loop Road, Saratoga Springs. Hike begins at 10 a.m. Register at allison.schweizer@parks.ny.gov
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site. 129 Schoharie St., Fort Hunter. The 5-mile easy hike begins at 1 p.m.
Sierra Trail. Start time: 11 a.m. Sierra Trailhead off Red Schoolhouse Road, Fishkill. An easy 2.5-mile hike at the Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center leads through forests, wetlands and meadows. There is no registration fee, but donations support the Stony Kill Foundation. Sign up at the Stony Kill Farm's website by Sunday.
Staatsburgh State Historic Site. Start time: 11 a.m. 75 Mansion Drive, Road 1, Staatsburg. The 1.2-mile hike will start near the mansion and include a visit to a small, little-known cemetery in the woods. The hike returns to the mansion where the Friends of Mills at Staatsburgh will have hot chocolate. Sign up at bookeo.com/StaatsburghSHS
Sterling Forest State Park. Start time: 10 a.m. U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg Visitor Center, 116 Old Forge Road, Tuxedo Park. See remaining structures of the iron industry, some predating the Revolutionary War, on this 4-mile hike. Call 845-351-5907.
Thacher State Park, 830 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville. The 2-mile hike begins at 10:45 a.m. Register by calling the Emma Treadwell Nature Center 518-872-0800
Walkway Over the Hudson. Start time: 1 p.m. 61 Parker Ave., Poughkeepsie, or 87 Haviland Road, Highland. Meet at either the Poughkeepsie or Highland entrances for a group trek to the Center Overlook, where there will be raffles and giveaways. It’s a little more than half a mile to the center of the bridge — a one-way hike across the span is 1.28 miles. The bridge is flat and paved. No RSVP required. Call 845-834-2867 for more information.
Contributing: Erica Smith