Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail |
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|---|---|
| Length | 9.8 miles (15.8 km) |
| Location | Albany County, New York |
| Trailheads | Albany, Delmar, Slingerlands, Voorheesville |
| Use | Biking, inline skating, walking, cross-country skiing |
| Difficulty | Fairly easy, level, ADA-accessible |
| Season | All year, dawn to dusk |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Right of way | Albany and Susquehanna Railroad |
| Website | https://www.albanycounty.com/departments/recreation/albany-county-helderberg-hudson-rail-trail |
The Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail is a fun path for biking, walking, and more! It's almost 10 miles long, located in Albany County, New York. The trail starts in Albany and goes through towns like Delmar and Slingerlands. It ends in the village of Voorheesville. In Albany, you can connect to other trails like the South End Bikeway. This path links to Downtown Albany and the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail. The Mohawk-Hudson trail is part of the larger Erie Canalway Trail and Empire State Trail systems.
About the Rail Trail
The Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. It's a "rail trail," which means it was built on an old railroad line. This makes the path mostly flat and easy to use. It's perfect for riding your bike, rollerblading, walking, or even cross-country skiing in winter.
Trail History
The idea for this trail was first shared in 2010. The very first part, from Delmar to Slingerlands, was built in 2011. It was made with stone dust at that time. Later, in 2016, the section from Albany to Slingerlands was paved with smooth asphalt. The paving was finished all the way to Voorheesville in 2018. By the end of 2018, the entire trail was complete and ready for everyone to enjoy.
Why People Love It
The Albany County Rail Trail has become super popular in the Capital Region of New York. In 2016, about 164,000 people used the trail just in the Delmar area. This was right after that part was paved. Only the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail gets more visitors in the Capital Region. People love it because it's easy to use and connects different communities.
Who Manages the Trail
The Albany County government owns, operates, and takes care of the trail. This means they make sure it's safe and well-maintained for everyone.
