Explore the best rated trails in Bennington, VT, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Spring Run Trail and Appel Way Trail . With more than 41 trails covering 672 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.
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.
The trail is well marked it's a bit tough going on roads through parts of Lockport. Once back on the trail, is well maintained.
Ok, I recently purchased a ‘24 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 axs gravel bike. This section of trail is absolutely amazing. Roughly 26.3 miles round trip from West Boylston to Rutland. Starting in West Boylston, Ma you head west. The trail is hard packed dirt. Smoother than most roads in Mass! ¿ No, seriously! Just be careful, this section up to the I-190 bridges, there’s usually a lot of traffic. Especially people with doggos. Some more cognizant than others. But once you cross under the bridges, no dogs are allowed and the traffic thins out. The best section is at the parking lot on Mill St - Holden. It’s packed gravel and as wide a road. It meanders up to the mail Trail and is packed gravel all the way until you hit construction on the trail. So much fun!!!
In early June, we rode the section of the Erie Canal from Camillus to Syracuse. We also took a side trip on the Onondaga Lake West and East Shore Trails. Round trip, we biked approximatel 30 miles.
We parked at the June Reed Webster Park. The bathrooms were open. With that said, we have been there before and they have been closed. I would not count on them 100%.
The trail was in excellent shape. The Erie Canal section was hard a packed with small gravel. We did encounter hills, which we did not expect on a canal trail. They were small and manageable. Most of the hilly sections were paved, making them easy to navigate. The Onondaga Lake trails are paved and in fantastic condition. We only came across two small sections with tree root bumps.
This section of the Erie Canal Trail goes through the New York State Fairgrounds. It was eerie and strange to be at the Fair when no one else was around. Made for a unique experience.
The Onondaga Lake Trails were a pleasure with views of the lake, woodlands, birds, and flowers. We saw several bluebirds, which is not something we encounter routinely.
The Onondaga Lake Trails are part of the Onondaga Lake Park which has multiple bathroom facilities and picnic tables. We ate our lunch with a view of the lake and pickleball courts. There were a people playing, which provided our lunch time entertainment.
The only potential downside is the trail near Camillus is next to a garbage dumb. It is landscaped nicely with wild flowers in abundance and we did find a turtle on the path. We noticed an odor on our way back when the temperature was hotter. On the positive side, it is a productive use of the land.
We give this trail a thumbs up and will ride it again.
Started in Adams and rode to the end and back. Nice weather on this wide paved and shaded trail. It is in great condition. There are a number of road crossings but most are small streets. The gates are all the same, an opening on each side and we saw atleast two recumbent trikes make it through without problems. Photo to show the gates today.
Visiting in lower NY area and had this on my bucket list. It was a well paved and maintained trail. Parked at railroad at in Cheshire and rode to the parking area in Pittsfield and then back and a few miles into the Adams area. All in 18 miles. Plenty of options for parking, bathroom Facilities in a few areas and many benches and picnic tables placed to stop and take a break or enjoy the views of the Lindai a or chechsire reservoir. It was well worth the trip!
This was a very short trail which was completely paved. It was nice and shaded due to the trees. It would be an easy walk with grandparents (there are benches) or young children. I recommend setting your gps to find something like 134 Sandy Hill Road in Florence. From there, you can easily find the trail beginning. To get my 10,000 steps I had to go back and forth on the trail a lot. But I still appreciated it fully paved! Seems like more of a neighborhood morning walk trail.
I took my bike over the Canalside Rail Trail while my wife shopped at BJ's, and it was a perfect opportunity to check out this lovely short trail. For the 22nd April 2024, the weather was really good yet there were only few other walkers on the trail at the same time. I was able to park at the southern, McClelland Farm Road, end of the trail where there are only half a dozen spots, but there are many more parking spaces at the northern end.
The trail was in more than satisfactory condition and the signage was also nicely in place, not that it was really needed. I didn't have time to stop in at the Discovery Centre Museum but I did return to BJ's in plenty of time to pay for my wife's shopping that day. I had a lovely time so much so that I plan to take my wife on the same trail whenever I get my old tandem up and running.
I love this trail! Rode it on 3/14/24 when weather was 62 degrees. This trail is short but can be expanded if you cross the metal bridge by the brewery and take the road to the left leading to the Fish Research Hatchery on the opposite side of the canal. If you meander through the little neighborhood on that side as well you can extend it further and get another view of the old mill complexes. I get 20 miles out of the ride. Bring a lunch there are picnic tables on both sides!
It looked very nice from the parking area, but could not get through the barricades with a recumbent trike. Drove over an hour and gates were shut and would have had to lift trike over gates. Disgusted with Massachusetts and whomever designed the barricades. Has anyone heard of the ADA?
Excellent experience on this fresh paved trail. The scenery of the ponds and mountains in the distance was worth the trip.
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