Mohawk River State Park facts for kids

Mohawk River State Park is a special natural area in Niskayuna, New York. It covers about 105 acres (0.42 square kilometers) right next to the Mohawk River. This park is a great place to enjoy nature and explore the outdoors. It's designed to keep the natural landscape safe for everyone.

How Mohawk River State Park Began

Mohawk River State Park used to be called the Schenectady Museum Nature Preserve. In April 2006, the State of New York bought this land. They paid $1 million to the Schenectady Museum. This purchase helped create the park. It was the very first state park in Schenectady County.

Exploring Mohawk River State Park

You can get to Mohawk River State Park from a small parking area. This parking area is at the end of Whitmyer Drive in Niskayuna. When the park was first made, there were ideas to add picnic spots and a place to launch boats. However, the park has mostly stayed undeveloped. This means it looks very natural, just as it was before.

The park does not have many signs. This is because it is meant to protect the natural environment. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation wants the park to be a place for quiet activities. These activities include things like hiking and enjoying nature.

A popular path called the Mohawk Hudson Bike/Hike Trail runs along the park's northern edge. This trail follows the Mohawk River. The park also has other trails. Local volunteer groups help take care of these paths. Some of these trails are part of the John F. Brown Trail System. The park's trails also connect to other public lands nearby. This includes about 100 acres (0.40 square kilometers) of land owned by the town. There is also a boat launch close to Lock 7 of the New York State Canal Corporation.