Albany, NY Cross Country Skiing Trails and Maps

595 Reviews

Looking for the best Cross Country Skiing trails around Albany?

Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Albany, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

  • Relevance
  • Name
  • Length
  • Most Popular
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
28 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Albany-Hudson Electric Trail

26.6 mi
State: NY
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Ashokan Rail Trail

11.5 mi
State: NY
Crushed Stone

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail

13.7 mi
State: MA
Asphalt

Ballston Veterans Bike Path

3.5 mi
State: NY
Asphalt

Champlain Canalway Trail: Schuylerville

2 mi
State: NY
Crushed Stone

Erie Canalway Trail

335.2 mi
State: NY
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Harlem Valley Rail Trail

26.2 mi
State: NY
Asphalt

Spring Run Trail

1 mi
State: NY
Asphalt

Zim Smith Mid-County Trail

11.3 mi
State: NY
Asphalt

Catskill Scenic Trail

26 mi
State: NY
Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Champlain Canalway Trail: Saratoga

1.5 mi
State: NY
Crushed Stone, Dirt

Delaware and Hudson Rail-Trail

25.8 mi
State: NY, VT
Asphalt, Cinder, Dirt, Grass, Gravel

Hoosic River Greenway

2.5 mi
State: NY
Gravel

Kaaterskill Rail Trail

2 mi
State: NY
Concrete, Dirt, Grass, Gravel

Lye Brook Falls Trail

2.2 mi
State: VT
Gravel

Railroad Ramble

1.7 mi
State: CT
Asphalt, Dirt, Grass
Accordion

Uncle Sam Bikeway

3.1 mi
State: NY
Asphalt

Warren County Bikeway

10 mi
State: NY
Asphalt

Bog Meadow Brook Nature Trail

2 mi
State: NY
Ballast, Dirt

Corkscrew Rail Trail

3.8 mi
State: NY
Dirt

Jim Tedisco Fitness Trail

0.5 mi
State: NY
Asphalt

East Branch Trail (VT)

0.5 mi
State: VT
Gravel

Hunter Regional Trail

6.1 mi
State: NY
Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
Overview Following the route of the former Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Railway, the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail serves as a scenic oasis and community connector for residents living...
NY 8.9 mi Asphalt
Overview The Albany-Hudson Electric Trail (AHET) follows a 36-mile course through the former Albany-Hudson Electric Trolley corridor from Hudson to Rensselaer in New York State. There are several...
NY 26.6 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Overview The Ashokan Rail Trail is an 11.5-mile multi-use trail that traces the northern edge of the Ashokan Reservoir, which provides a large proportion of New York City's drinking water. The...
NY 11.5 mi Crushed Stone
Overview Visitors to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail will find the full splendor of the scenic Berkshires along a 13.7-mile paved trail. The Ashuwillticook (ash-oo-will-ti-cook) follows MA 8 through...
MA 13.7 mi Asphalt
This asphalt trail is the legacy of an inter-urban trolley system operated by Schenectady Railway Company (SRC) in the early 1900s. To attract visitors on weekends, SRC built an amusement park at...
NY 3.5 mi Asphalt
The Schuylerville segment of the 71-mile Champlain Canalway Trail rail runs between Schuyler House, past Lock 5 of the canal and does a loop around the island (Hudson Crossing Park). As of 2011, only...
NY 2 mi Crushed Stone
Closure Notices: In Palmyra/Wayne County, a portion of the trail is closed between route 21 and Swift Landing Park. In Oneida-Verona, Oneida County, a bridge replacement is taking place at the corner...
NY 335.2 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Overview Paralleling the Connecticut and Massachusetts borders, which lie only a few miles away, the Harlem Valley Rail Trail is a beautiful 26.2-mile wooded pathway along the former New York &...
NY 26.2 mi Asphalt
Currently, the 1-mile Spring Run Trail extends between East Street just south of Excelsior Avenue and I-87, or the Northway, near Exit 15. Eventually, the trail will begin in Congress Park and run...
NY 1 mi Asphalt
For family riding and walking, the Tannersville Bike Path offers a 2.7 mile stretch of graded dirt path starting on Clum Hill Road directly across from Cortina Valley. The opposite end is on Bloomer...
NY 2.7 mi Dirt, Gravel
Overview  The Zim Smith Mid-County Trail runs for 11.3 miles between Ballston-Spa and Mechanicville. The paved trail is considered the backbone of a growing trail system, with connections to major...
NY 11.3 mi Asphalt
Overview  The Catskill Scenic Trails runs for 25.6 miles between Bloomville and Roxbury, winding through a broad farming valley and small towns in New York’s Catskill Mountains. The West Branch of...
NY 26 mi Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
The Glens Falls Feeder Canal Trail begins at the Feeder Dam in Glens Falls and follows the Hudson River through town to the Champlain Canal, then turns south toward Fort Edward. The 9-mile trail...
NY 9 mi Crushed Stone
The Saratoga segment of the 71-mile Champlain Canalway Trail includes three disconnected segments near the Hudson River, from Stillwater Township to the town of Saratoga. The longest section is under...
NY 1.5 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt
Overview The Delaware and Hudson Rail-Trail follows the flowing contours of the western Vermont countryside, rambling in and out of New York state, where there is a 4-mile gap. This border area is...
NY, VT 25.8 mi Asphalt, Cinder, Dirt, Grass, Gravel
The Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville Rail-Trail (FJ&G) has one main section and one shorter section. The main segment runs for nearly 8 miles between Union Avenue in Johnstown and the intersection of...
NY 10.5 mi Asphalt
The Hoosic River Greenway spans 2.5 miles along the river’s east bank through the Village of Hoosick Falls. The gravel pathway follows the former route of the Boston Hoosac Tunnel & Western Railway,...
NY 2.5 mi Gravel
The Kaaterskill Rail Trail offers a beautiful, wooded route through Haines Falls in eastern New York, nestled in the northern Catskills. It begins at the historical Ulster & Delaware Train Station,...
NY 2 mi Concrete, Dirt, Grass, Gravel
The heavily wooded Lye Brook Falls Trail runs for 2 miles through the Lye Brook Wilderness of the Green Mountain National Forest near Manchester. The blue-blazed hiking trail follows the bed of a...
VT 2.2 mi Gravel
The Railroad Ramble occupies a corridor abandoned by the Central New England Railroad, which provided service from 1871 through 1967. In Lakeville, the trail can be found just off of Route 41 behind...
CT 1.7 mi Asphalt, Dirt, Grass
Accordion
Inland and east of the Hudson River, the Uncle Sam Bike Trail (also called the Uncle Sam Trail or Uncle Sam Bikeway) largely serves as a trail for residents of Troy. If, however, you are traveling in...
NY 3.1 mi Asphalt
Overview Visitors can expect a couple of easy climbs as they travel on the Warren County Bikeway through the southern Adirondacks for 10 miles between Glens Falls and Lake George. It’s well worth...
NY 10 mi Asphalt
This out-and-back rail-trail's beautiful natural setting and informative signage invite visitors to appreciate the importance of wetland habitats. Located just east of downtown Saratoga Springs, the...
NY 2 mi Ballast, Dirt
The first section of the Corkscrew Rail Trail opened in June 2015. It begins at Knapp Road in Stephentown and heads south under a shady tree canopy towards New Lebanon, near the New York/Massachusetts...
NY 3.8 mi Dirt
Ballston Spa's Jim Tedisco Fitness Trail spans 0.5 mile between Front Street and Prospect Street on what was once a railroad bed.
NY 0.5 mi Asphalt
The Catamount Trail offers 300 miles of backcountry skiing stretching across Vermont, from the Readsboro on the Massachusetts border, to North Troy near Canada. The trails are popular for winter...
VT 18.1 mi Dirt
The East Branch Trail is a 0.5-mile ungroomed, backcountry pathway built on a former logging railroad bed in southern Vermont's Windham County. The remote, heavily wooded trail lies just north of the...
VT 0.5 mi Gravel
The Hunter Regional Trail (HRT) is a network of rail-trails that run along a former railroad corridor in Hunter, NY. Currently, there are 6.1 miles of open trail in the hamlet of Haines Falls, the...
NY 6.1 mi Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel

Recent Trail Reviews

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.

Accordion

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.

Erie Canalway Trail

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.

July, 2024 by auntgnu

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.

Ashokan Rail Trail

Enchanting Views

July, 2024 by wrogers1

While short at 11 miles one way, this trail has a lot to offer. The view of the reservoir with the green Catskill Mountains in the distance is quite enchanting. Much of the ride is through the woods with plenty of shade. The surface is packed cinders and the ride is generally flat. There are plenty of port-a-potties at the trail heads. This is our second time on the trail, so we did view it as worth returning too. Our first trip, during a summer weekend, was quite busy. This time we were there on a rainy weekday in June, and there were minimal people.
We extended the ride by travelling an additional 20 miles on the rode to ride around the reservoir. Starting at the Woodstock Dike Trailhead, we headed east on a very busy Route 28, but only for less than a quarter mile. The rest of the trip had minimal traffic, although I should note it was a rainy weekday. I ‘m unsure how different it would be on a sunny weekend.
We then followed Basin Road to Dike Road where we enjoyed amazing views. Dike Road is on what I believe is the dam at the east end of the Reservoir, offering unobstructed views of the water. From there, we continued on Route 28A. We were a short distance from the Promenade when we encountered a rain storm approaching in from the west. We turned back, managing to get to the car right before the rain began. In total the trip covered 40 miles on hybrid bikes.
While we did not reach the Promenade on this trip, I would highly recommend visiting it. During a previous visit, we took a short drive from the Rail Trail to the Promenade. It was well worth the hassle of loading and unloading the bikes on the car. You will find gorgeous views of the revisor with the mountains in the distance. We even spotted a bald eagle soaring over the water.
It takes us 2.5 hours to drive from our home to the western trailhead. The journey is well worth it. We definitely will be visiting again.

Delaware and Hudson Rail-Trail

We biked the entire northern half of the D&H Rail Trail to the NY state line. Was pleasantly surprised to find no ruts. Trail was mostly made up of crushed stone. It's mostly a scenic ride, I would recommend this Rail Trail.

June, 2024 by mdnkcn

We biked the entire northern half of the D&H Rail Trail to the NY state line. Was pleasantly surprised to find no ruts. Trail was mostly made up of crushed stone. It's mostly a scenic ride, I would recommend this Rail Trail.

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.