Looking for the best trails around Albany?

Explore the best rated trails in Albany, NY, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Spring Run Trail and Albany-Hudson Electric Trail . With more than 37 trails covering 593 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

Recent Trail Reviews

Harlem Valley Rail Trail

Everything you could ask for

October, 2024 by robert.richter89

I rode the entire 24.7 mile southern portion of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail on a beautiful fall day. The HVRT offers everything you could want from a trail experience: a fully paved surface, mostly flat, beautiful scenery (especially in the Fall) and a perfect mid-point trailhead to grab a bite to eat.

I don't recall seeing any water fountains along the trail although the trailhead in Millerton offers many options for places to eat or resupply. The HVRT offers a myriad of scenery changes from farmland, quiet streams, distant hills to quaint towns. I have ridden many paved rail trails in the past and the HVRT is one of the best with almost no surface imperfections for the entire distance. There are many trailheads along the entire trail giving many distance options. All this adds up to a perfect trail in my opinion!

Harlem Valley Rail Trail

trail is complete now but map not updated

October, 2024 by vbergerg_tl

Map is 6 months out of date

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail

Mid-Fall Ride

October, 2024 by willipar

Rode the full trail on a glorious October Saturday. the views were spectacular, peppered with fiery fall leaves. The trail is in incredibly good condition over the whole length. Such a lovely ride.

Accordion

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail

Late summer ride

August, 2024 by mgraska54

Beautiful smooth ride. Recommend for anyone seeking a pleasurable experience.

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail

A top 5 New England trail

August, 2024 by andrix

Lots of wildlife along this pristine trail with plenty for bathroom facilities and benches to take a break. Trail is maybe 70% shaded which kept the temperatures down but still glad we had our suntan lotion. The trail passes a large lake and goes through plenty of wetlands giving lots of interesting views. Road crossings were well marked and safe. Our stay at the Williams Inn in Williamstown was definitely a cut above the norm and from there was maybe a 15 minute drive to the trailhead.

Albany-Hudson Electric Trail

Nassau to Stuyvesant Falls Park

August, 2024 by andrix

This trail (14 mile section) was in pristine condition with surprising amount of wildlife (herons, deer, turtles) along the way. Park, falls and 1800's mill factory at the southern end was worth a stop. Maybe shaded 50% so suntan lotion a must. There's a parking lot in Nassau right next to the trail. As others have mentioned, very few bathroom facilities on route.

Ashokan Rail Trail

great bike trail

July, 2024 by frednshapiro

This mostly flat, well maintained trail goes though woods and across dykes. The scenery makes this a near perfect trail.

Harlem Valley Rail Trail

Perfect rail trail to knock out 50 miles

July, 2024 by dan.p.buckley

Wassaic to Orphan farm and back will take you through farmlands, marshes a bird sanctuary and a long bridge over the marsh that you must just stop and absorb the place.
A great place to train because you draw strength from the scenery and there is lots of shade and lots of benches along the way.
Have respect for others that are smaller (tricycles or training wheels) and older folk sharing the trail and you will have an outstanding ride / walk / run.

Harlem Valley Rail Trail

Perfect rail trail to knock out 50 miles

July, 2024 by dan.p.buckley

Wassaic to Orphan farm and back will take you through farmlands, marshes a bird sanctuary and a long bridge over the marsh that you must just stop and absorb the place.
A great place to train because you draw strength from the scenery and there is lots of shade and lots of benches along the way.
Have respect for others that are smaller (tricycles or training wheels) and older folk sharing the trail and you will have an outstanding ride / walk / run.

Catskill Scenic Trail

Started in Roxbury and fell a couple of miles short of finishing trail but headed back. A lot of mud towards Bloomfield section.Can't say enough about the views. Totally fine for any gravel bike or hybrid .

July, 2024 by antross73

Started in Roxbury and fell a couple of miles short of finishing trail but headed back. A lot of mud towards Bloomfield section.Can't say enough about the views. Totally fine for any gravel bike or hybrid .

Ashokan Rail Trail

Disappointed

July, 2024 by schneidny

My experience did not match the glowing description and reviews for this trail. While I agree it can be ridden with a road bike as I did it makes for a very rough ride. The surface is clearly not crushed stone as advertised but rather gravel with 1/4 to 1/2” pebbles. Furthermore with the exception of a few hundred feet at the beginning (West Hurley) you don’t see the lake, the rest of the way you are in the forest, which on a hot day is nice but also almost completely blocks the view of the water. I ended up riding back via route 28A, which makes for a loop of a little over 30 miles and was not too busy with cars. If you do go this route make sure to take the Ashokan Reservoir Promenade, which parallels route 28A along the shore of the lake for about three miles. The only difficulty is crossing busy route 28 at the end to get back to the parking lot in West Hurley.

Albany-Hudson Electric Trail

One of my favorites along the EST

July, 2024 by robert.richter89

I've been riding many of the trails that make up the Empire State Trail system though out the years and the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail is one of the best in my experience.

I parked at the Stuyvesant Falls Trailhead and headed towards the Miller Road trailhead right outside of East Greenbush making for a 42 mile round trip. There are a fair amount of road crossings on this trail but all of the busier ones have crossing lights and I found that motorists were very courteous to me at every one. There is also a few short on road sections on quiet streets that are all very well marked. I was able to keep on the trail without too much confusion.

The trail is a mix of asphalt and tightly packed gravel and is in very good condition. My only complaints are a lack of benches and bathrooms directly on the trail. The trail is also not the most shaded so be mindful of that on a hot summer day. The towns along the trail all offered places to eat and resupply so that's always and option.

Find Nearby City trails

Accordion

Register for free!

Register for free with TrailLink today!

We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors
  • View over 40,000 miles of trail maps
  • Share your trail photos
  • Save your own favorite trails
  • Learn about new trails near you
  • Leave reviews for trails
  • Add new and edit existing trails

Get the Free TrailLink App

The trail is always better with TrailLink

Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone

Explore by City

Explore by City

Explore by Activity

Explore by Activity

Log in to your account to:

  • View trail paths on the map
  • Save trails to your account
  • Add trails, edit descriptions
  • Share photos
  • Add reviews

Log in with Google

Log in with Apple

OR

Register for free!

Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 40,000 miles of trail maps and more!

Register with Google

Register with Apple

OR

Your account has been deleted.