Enjoy These Albany Area Walking Trails & Strolling Spots
Want to get outdoors and stay moving, but don't necessarily want to commit to a hike up a mountain? We've rounded up our favorite places to walk in and near Albany that offer mostly flat, easy trails or paths. What would you add to the list?
Find Favorite Places to Walk in Albany: Parks, the Plaza & More
Washington Park: A 2.5-Mile Loop in an 81-Acre, Centrally-Located Park
Washington Park sits in the heart of Albany and offers a scenic 2.5-mile loop. Established in 1871, this historic park includes tennis courts, basketball courts, a playground, a skate park, and a lake house/amphitheater.
If you're walking through in the spring, don't miss the Tulip Festival—one of Albany's most celebrated events. Highlights along the loop include a footbridge from 1875, a restored lake house originally built in 1929, and the King Memorial Fountain. Numerous benches throughout the park offer a chance to relax and take in the surroundings.
Empire State Plaza: Stunning Architecture & Art
The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza is home to iconic landmarks like The Egg, the Corning Tower, the Capitol, and the New York State Museum. But beyond the buildings, the Plaza features a large reflecting pool, outdoor sculptures, and memorials.
The Plaza hosts many events throughout the year, including Summer at the Plaza and the Empire "Skate" Plaza. Depending on when you visit, you may catch a farmers market, food festivals, or concerts, or you can enjoy a peaceful walk through this architecturally striking space.
Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail
The Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail spans nine miles and connects Voorheesville, New Scotland, Bethlehem, and Albany. This flat, paved path is popular with walkers, runners, and cyclists.
Recent upgrades link the trail to the Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway and the Empire State Trail. It's a great option for longer walks or even biking outings with scenic views and accessible entry points.
SUNY Albany: Several Trails Options & A Historic Pond
SUNY Albany offers a variety of multi-use trails, including one-mile, two-mile, and 5K loops. These pedestrian and bike paths prohibit motorized vehicles, and pets must be leashed.
The Indian Pond Outer Loop, just over half a mile, circles a historic pond originally built for stormwater management. The trails are well-maintained and easy to navigate.
Bonus: Right next to campus is Stuyvesant Plaza, a pleasant place to walk among boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. The charming storefronts and walkable layout make it feel like a small village.
Six Mile Waterworks Park: Walking Trails by the Highway & A Stocked Lake
Albany Pine Bush Preserve includes Six Mile Waterworks Park and the Rapp Barrens. This 57-acre park features a playground, picnic tables, grills, and a lake stocked annually with rainbow trout.
The Rensselaer Lake Loop via Rapp Barren's Red Trail is about 2.5 miles and suitable for all skill levels. Trails pass under major highway bridges and along I-87, creating a unique walking experience. The land here was one of the first in New York set aside specifically for forest and water conservation.
According to Save the Pine Bush, this tract was one of the first (if not the first) in the state that was specifically set aside for forest and water conservation. The property includes a dam and reservoir that were completed in 1852, and served as Albany's sole water source until 1875.
Get Your Walk on at These Hotspots Close to the Capital City
The Crossings: Walking Paths, a Pond, a Maze & More
The Crossings of Colonie, in Loudonville—just five minutes from Albany—features 6.5 miles of trails. This 130-acre park offers walking, biking, and skating paths, along with a pond, meadows, marshland, a playground, a maze, and picnic areas.
The park is open from 8 AM to dusk, and dogs on leashes are welcome. Occasionally, you'll find events and a farmers market held on-site.
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center: Scenic Trails and 450 acres of woods, wetlands, and forest
Located in Delmar, Five Rivers Environmental Education Center features accessible trails through woods, wetlands, and open fields. This spot is ideal for nature lovers and offers opportunities to learn about local ecology.
The Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Trails are free and open daily from sunrise to sunset, and public restrooms are available.
The Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail: 86 Miles for Scenic Strolls
The Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail runs 86 miles from Albany to Rotterdam and is part of the Erie Canalway Trail system. You’ll pass through parks like Fox Preserve in Latham and Gateway Landing Park in Schenectady.
Choose a trail section that fits your schedule and pace; it's 86 miles in all. The route runs through neighborhoods, fields, woods, and alongside the Mohawk River.
Schenectady's Central Park: A Famed Rose Garden & Plenty of Space for Walking
Central Park in Schenectady is best known for its rose garden—home to over 4,000 bushes and about 200 varieties. The roses bloom from June through October and surround a tiered fountain.
The park also features a lake, playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, picnic areas, and a disc golf course.
Visitors can walk around the lake and explore the park and gardens, and there's also a 3.5-mile mountain trail loop that is primarily used for mountain biking.
Check out the trail map on AllTrails.com »
The Huyck Preserve: 12 Miles of Trails & A Waterfall
Located in Rensselaerville, the Huyck Preserve offers 12 miles of trails that wind through forests, alongside streams, and past waterfalls. The preserve is open year-round from dawn to dusk.
Trails curve along the Rensselaerville Falls, make their way through old-growth forests, and go by Lake Myosotis and Lincoln Pond. The preserve has it all: forests, lakes, streams, wildlife - and even a waterfall.
You can fish, picnic, or enjoy non-motorized boating on Lake Myosotis. Leashed dogs are welcome.
View the trail map of the preserve (second page) »
Pine Hollow Arboretum: Enjoy Trees & Foliage on Your Walk
In Slingerlands, Pine Hollow Arboretum offers peaceful trails across its 22-acre property. You'll find 11 ponds and trees from around the world.
Take a self-guided walking tour of 30 significant trees, or explore the CDPHP Health and Wellness Trails. Dogs on leashes are welcome. (Note: Parking is limited—please carpool if visiting with a group.)
