34. John Boyd Thacher State Park to Schenectady County Line

Features: Helderberg Escarpment and Thacher Park
Distance: 12.40 miles
USGS Map Quads: Altamont, ?
Trail Conference Maps: Trail Map 200 (John Boyd Thacher State Park) free download

General Description

This section is the final section in Albany County. It begins at the parking area at the north end of the Indian Ladder Trail and follows the western boundary of John Boyd Thacher State Park northward. It then continues north through the park along a newly constructed ski trail, with the Helderberg Escarpment to the right. After leaving the park, the Long Path climbs to the top of the escarpment and heads in a generally northwest direction through the woods on lands recently acquired by the Open Space Institute and currently being managed as a nature preserve. Past the preserve, the Long Path follows paved roads to the Village of Altamont, and then follows several roads to the county line.

Access

Take the New York State Thruway to Exit 22 (Selkirk). Turn right on NY Route 144 and continue south to NY Route 396. Turn right on Route 396 and follow it six miles to South Bethlehem, where Route 396 ends and the road becomes Albany County Route 301. Follow Route 301 west another six miles to its end at NY Route 443 in Clarksville. Turn left on NY Route 443 and follow it west 1.9 miles to its intersection with NY Route 85. Turn right on Route 85 and follow it east for 2.1 miles. Turn left and follow NY Route 157 for 3.9 miles to the main entrance to John Boyd Thacher State Park.

Parking

0.00 North end of Indian Ladder Trail (fee in season). (18T 580499E 4722951N)
5.10 Old Stage Road (limited). (unlocated)
6.80 Lewis Road and NY Route 146 (limited). (18T 576639E 4728200N)
12.40 Old State Road at the county line. There is room to park along side the road under the power lines.

Trail Description

0.00 This section starts at the “Indian Ladder” sign in the parking area, near the restrooms, and goes along the edge of the parking area to the park entrance gate, where it crosses the guardrail and goes through a field behind the administration building.
0.15 The trail enters the woods and follows a newly constructed ski trail, which parallels the park road heading north. The Helderberg Escarpment is visible to the east of the park road.

Wildflowers growing near the ranger station [LOREN DOBERT]

0.70 The trail crosses a ball field, with several picnic tables along the edge, and a pavilion near the edge of the escarpment. The trail re-enters the woods near a group of red pines, and turns right onto a gravel road to the Hailes Cave Picnic Area overlooking the escarpment. At two stone pillars, it turns left onto a grassy road, with the escarpment to the right, then again turns left and follows a ski trail along the edge of two fields.
1.00 Halfway northwards along the edge of the second field, the trail turns right into the woods. Many narrow fissures, some very deep, crisscrossing the woods and mark this section of trail. The trail parallels and then crosses a stone wall to reach an old woods road, the end of park property.
1.25 The trail turns right on the old road and enters the OSI Thacher Park Nature Preserve.
1.45 Turn left off the woods road to climb along a switchback to the top of the ridge and a junction with another woods road.
1.55 The yellow-blazed woods road leads left in 0.3 miles to Ryan Road and a small parking area. The trail turns right and follows the crest of the ridge through a mixed forest of pine, hardwoods and low-growing juniper.
1.95 After reaching a cairn that marks the highest point on this trail section, about 1,410 feet, the Long Path descends gradually from the escarpment, staying near its edge.
2.75 The Long Path reaches a gravel road used by hang-glider enthusiasts to access a takeoff pad at the edge of the escarpment. Turn right on the road and head toward the takeoff pad.
2.90 Bear right where the road divides into two.
3.00 The trail turns left off the road and circles a depression in the escarpment. To reach the hang-glider launch site, continue straight on the road and take a left after going through a well-defined stone wall. The point with wonderful far-reaching views is about 0.5 miles further to the east.
3.20 Cross the other branch of the woods road. This road also leads to the hang glider takeoff pad. In another 0.1 miles, the trail crosses an old stone wall.
3.40 Reach the middle of an old juniper stand and turn right. The turn is obscured and not yet well marked. The forest along the trail is laced with fascinating fissures caused by acidity eating away the escarpment’s limestone. Cross the head of one of the escarpment ravines and turn left up a small bluff to the Preserve’s boundary corner.
3.85 The trail reaches the end of OSI property. Just ahead of you, on private property, is an open viewpoint. To the right Mt. Everett in southern Massachusetts is seen peeking over the shoulder of the hang-glider opening. Panning north you will see Albany, Mt. Greylock, the Town of Altamont, and Vermont’s Green Mountains with Killington and Pico Peak prominent. Turn left along the Preserve’s boundary as it parallels the woods road.
4.10 Meet woods road. Need trail description for this section of approximately one mile.
5.10 Reach a parking area off Old Stage Road, and turn right. Descend gradually on Old Stage Road, with views across the valley of Altamont towards the hills just south of the Mohawk River.
6.00 Immediately after passing an old cemetery, turn right onto NY Route 156.
6.15 Turn left onto Lewis Road.
6.80 Reach NY Route 146. Turn right, and follow NY Route 146 a short distance into the Village of Altamont.

The following section, from Route 146 to the Schenectady County line, has not been blazed.

8.40 From the intersection of Route 146 and Maple Avenue in Altamont, turn left and follow Maple Avenue to Bozenkill Road.
8.80 Turn right on Bozenkill Road and continue to Dunnsville Road (Albany County Route 397).
9.20 Turn left on Dunnsville Road, cross the Bozen Kill to Lainhart Road on the left.
9.30 Follow Lainhart Road, and pass the Lainhart Cemetery on the left. Continue to the intersection with Settles Hill Road.
10.40 Turn right on Settles Hill Road, back to Dunnsville Road.
11.00 Turn left on Dunsville Road, and continue north to NY Route 20.
11.40 Cross Route 20 and continue on Dunnsville Road to Old State Road.
12.20 Make a left onto Old State Road.
12.40 Reach the County Line near the power lines, where this section ends. There is room to park alongside the road under the power lines.

Some of the distances given in the new section above may need some fine tuning.