A Hidden Gem for a Peaceful, Scenic Hike! The Fisher Trail…read moreis an absolute gem! At just 0.66 miles, it's the perfect little escape into nature -- and it's so beautiful, I honestly could have kept hiking for miles. It opened in October 2022, and you can really tell it's a thoughtfully maintained trail. There are trailheads at 47 Fisher Boulevard and 106 Mason Lane, making access super convenient. The first half-mile, from Fisher Boulevard to a lovely viewing platform overlooking the Phillipinkill, is even accessible for those with mobility disabilities, with a well-graded crushed stone surface -- such an important and inclusive feature. From the viewing platform, the trail gets a bit more adventurous, heading down a steep slope into the ravine and connecting to the Wild Turkey Trail. The variety in terrain makes it interesting, and the views are just stunning. Part of the trail crosses a 35-acre parcel owned by the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, managed in partnership with Five Rivers -- and it really shows in the care and preservation of the land. If you're looking for a peaceful, scenic walk that feels like a mini escape into the woods -- Fisher Trail is a must-visit. Highly recommend for a quick nature fix or as part of a longer adventure in the area!

I have logged many-a-mile on this trail over the years; most often between Kiwanis and Aqueduct…read moreParks. I especially enjoy starting near Schenectady Community College - an easy-to-spot local landmark with lots of room to park for group run meet-ups, a small track space perfect for timing splits and speedwork, and plenty of benches and grasses spaces for stretching and chatting before/after a walk, run, bike, or blade. The path varies in flatness, tree cover, nature-views, and frequency of traffic crossing, offering a nice variety for any activity. I've spotted loads of unthreatening wildlife while on the path, including turtles, deer, snakes, ground hogs, beavers, and many different birds, squirrels, and enjoy being near the water and especially stopping at the locks to stretch, rest, or fuel mid-long run, too. [extra garbage cans, tables/benches, and proximity to other humans makes it feel like a safer space to slow, perhaps?] I am hopeful that the Color the Canal project will return for the third year in 2021, which creates visual and sculptural art to welcome the CEC cyclists riding from Buffalo to Albany each July.

My wife and I walked the portion between Watervliet and Albany recently and it was a pretty nice…read moretrail. Much of it was in the woods along an old railroad right-of-way, so there were plenty of trees providing shade. A couple of clearings allowed for sightlines of the expressway but it wasn't too noisy. One area had a bench, picnic table, and informational display about the location of the old Troy Iron Works. A few areas had cutaways in the trees for sightlines to the river. I wish there was more to see or do along the trail, and it would have been appreciated to have some more benches or tables or whatnot to rest on. But, the area in Watervliet where the parking lot is had a couple of tables.

It's getting harder and harder to find places to get outside that aren't crowded with people trying…read moreto do the same thing. My husband and daughter have been there multiple times but today was my first trip. The preserve is 85 acres with multiple trails, one that go up hill and back down with a rope strung between the trees to grab on to, while another is a gentle meander along the Kinderhook creek with benches and swings to relax on. There's a trail for almost every ability The parking lot is small, only 15 cars and parking on the road is not permitted so please don't do it.

This is one of my favorite places around to spend a summer afternoon. It's a huge nature preserve…read morewith lots of trails, but the spot where two streams intersect not too far from the parking area is beautiful and perfect for cooling your feet in the water, bird watching, or having a picnic. There are two picnic tables close to the water, plus a cute swing to take a rest on. If you do picnic here, make sure to bring something to put your trash in -- there are no garbage cans (or restrooms) available.

The Hannacroix Ravine, a Nature Conservancy Preserve.  It is located in Clarksville, NY, off Cass…read moreRoad, and we had no problems finding the preserve using the directions on the Nature Conservancy website and Google Maps.  There are signs along the road and a small parking lot that holds two cars. I've heard it doesn't really get busy, so parking shouldn't be a concern, but just what I was told. (Note that the Hannacroix Ravine is different from the Hannacroix Preserve in New Baltimore, NY). We started off at the trailhead.  There isn't a kiosk at the beginning of the trail, so you might want to save a copy of the trail map to your phone beforehand. The trail meanders through woods, and is mostly flat or only a slight elevation change. My knees have been bothering me lately, so this was a great trail for me. The kids only complained moderately, so overall a success. There isn't a whole lot to do as far as exploring until you come to the creek. We had fun checking out the creek and wandering both up and downstream. We found some fish, newts, crayfish, and more. Being September, the stream was very low. Once we were done exploring the creek, we headed back the way we came. You can also do a loop, which puts you out to the road, and then you have to walk back a bit on the road. I don't think the road is too busy, but we figured the rest of the loop was similar to the first half, so we just went back how we had come in. I would say it was a couple miles from the trailhead to the creek. Overall, a pleasant hike with some nice exploring along the creek.

This was such a lovely surprise -- an easy nature trail with gorgeous waterfall views located right…read morein the city of Troy. It's even next to a bus stop -- the Vandenburg/Campbell Ave stop is about a two minute walk from the trailhead. Though this won't present much of of a challenge to someone looking for a serious hike, and the trails could be cleaner and better marked (at one point we ended up accidentally wandering off the path and into a litter-filled clearing), this is mostly just a delightful mini nature escape that more locals should definitely know about.

This IS a beautiful spot. Tucked in between urban areas, you'd never even know it was there! Well…read moreworth a visit. (As a single female, I don't feel comfortable walking this alone- so, go with company.)

I was looking forward to hiking this trail for quite some time. There is a decent size parking lot,…read morealthough I could see this might fill up on beautiful days. The trail is quick but with decent incline in many spots. It is well worn and there were muddy spots and leaves to watch for. The views are beautiful with large ledges, but you also want to be careful with younger kids.

Enjoyed a snowy hike at Vroman's Nose Trail on Friday afternoon. Ended up a bit wetter than…read moreexpected because of the snow, but worth it for the great views at the top. Quality: A nice hike, which is a bit steep on one end of the loop, but pretty moderate on the other. The views going up are fairly boring, but once you reach the peak there is a lot of cliff to explore. Be cautious in the snow, especially when coming down from the top. Quantity: About a mile and a half hike. Value: Free to park and hike. Ambiance: Vroman's Nose Trial is located in the upstate New York town of Middleburgh. It is a tall hill near a lot of farmland, the peak providing lovely views of the countryside. One half of the loop is very steep and the other is a slow climb. We unknowingly did the slow climb up, which made the steep drop back down quite difficult in the snowy terrain. Not a particularly challenging or long hike, but one impacted by the elements. Crowd: Only one other hiker and for good reason, the snow made it difficult. Service: Well marked and easy to follow even with snow on the path. Parking: Tiny lot near the trailhead.

The Helderberg-Hudson rail trail runs from the south end of Albany out to Voorheesville. The…read morebeginning of the trail in Albany, while convenient, is really not attractive. You need to get past the port before it turns quiet and tree-lined. I've only gone probably 6 miles in to the trail but there are plenty of benches to stop and rest on. It's paved, well maintained and has easily accessible access and parking lots. I saw signs for a pop up beer garden on the trail so that's definitely a plus The only issue I have is that the mile markers make no sense. The trail starts on Rt. 32 but less than 1/4 mile in the mile marker says 2 miles.

Love this trail for so many reasons! It's wonderful for walking and riding a bike, as it's quite…read moreshady in many parts, the scenery is varied so there's always something new to look at as you go along the trail, and the people on the trail are generally very considerate of each other. As a walker and a biker, I have been on both sides and I would say that everyone really tries to follow the "rules" and watch out for each other. The only issues I have are: 1. I so wish the trail were longer! Nine miles is relatively short when you're biking. 2. While I appreciate the efforts to maintain the trail, it is a bit frustrating when there are multiple full sized trucks on the trail leaving bikes about a foot of room to pass. One week, there were trucks almost every day. 3. I wish more people would pick up after their dogs. There's quite a bit of dog poop in the 3 miles from Delmar to Albany. All and all, I have thoroughly enjoyed the trail this summer and am looking forward to the beauty that fall will likely bring!

Beautiful spot with fairly well marked trails. The lake is lovely and calm and parking is easy. If…read moreyou don't get a spot in the park there is easily more parking street side.