36. Mohawk River to Sacandaga Reservoir

Features:
Distance: 45.00 miles
USGS Map Quads:
Trail Conference Maps: none

General Description

The Long Path North exits the Rotterdam Hills near the MocassinKill and PlotterKill entry into the Mohawk River. An agreed upon site for the river crossing has been the Kiwanis Park, at the mouth of the PlotterKill. From that resting place, two different routes have been laid out for the LPN. One crossing the river at the Exit 26 – I-890 Bridge, the other on the NY Route 103 Bridge. 
      
The LPN has been pushed further as a road walk from the Mohawk River crossing(s) to the Batchellerville/Edinburg Bridge inside the Blue Line of the Adirondack Park. Several routes have been suggested following the general outline of Vincent J Schaefer whose original concept for the LP has been modified over the past 75 years.
      
The first effort to “blaze” the LPN northward through the balance of Schenectady County, coursed through the eastern edge of Montgomery County, into Fulton County and Saratoga County. The temporary route that was marked by a subcommittee of the Schenectady County Trails Committee in 2002, ended at the intersection of West Line Road in West Galway at the Topnotch Restaurant. It was thought at the time that this route was too far to the west and that a better low volume road walk might be more feasible.

In 2003, Jim Schaefer scouted several of the back roads of the West Glenville Hills searching for a better route that would feature the beauty and vistas of the hill country, connect to Lake Desolation and eventually get to the historic Batchellerville/Edinburg Bridge, thence into the Adirondacks proper. A satisfactory route was developed, mapped and mileages recorded, but that file was misplaced. 
      
Recently (3/2006) a renewed effort was made to document the suggested road walk route through Schenectady and Saratoga Counties. An Off-Road section was negotiatedf with several land owners above Wolf Hollow, that takes hikers through woods and fields with vistas of the Mohawk Valley. 
      
The mileage and route is listed below with additional directions and distances to be established in the near future (4/2006). The route takes the hiker on low volume roads near numerous VJS Landmarks and, near adjacent farms which may permit further off-road access to a more natural path for LPN in the area.

Access

Parking

Trail Description

Northward from the Mohawk Crossing

0.0 Intersection of NY State 103 and NY Route 5 at Lock Nine (9) of the Erie Barge Canal on the Mohawk River. At Stewart’s Shop. Proceed west on NY Route 5 along pedestrian/bike apron along the north side of the highway (dangerous speeding vehicles).
2.2 Hoffman’s where the historic ferry once crossed the Mohawk River at the shallows by the geologic fault some 10,000 years ago – recent site of tremors.
Turn right onto Wolf Hollow Road. Ancient site of the battle between the Iroquois and Mohican leaders, noted on NY State signs on the nearby Tourenura Road. Native village site atop the hill to the NE. (LPN Blaze marked route).
2.9 Bear left at intersection entering the Wolf Hollow proper, a landmark site through the geologic fault on the narrow low volume road.
4.0 Northern exit from Wolf Hollow where the farm road rejoins.

Off-Road Walk begins at mile 4.4
Directions from Intersection of Green Corners Road & West Glenville Road for the Off-Road
Section of the Long Path North, near Wolf Hollow and Green Corners, Town of Glenville,
Schenectady County, New York
Contact: Howard Hart 518-374-3229

This Schenectady- Saratoga County section of the Long Path generally follows paved secondary roads and highways. However, thanks to the kind invitation of several families of horse owners, a section of the Long Path has been moved off the paved Green Corners Road onto their trails. These relatively level trails pass through several wooded areas, along the edges of several hay fields, and near a wetland with open water. Because these are private trails, the number of blazes used is a compromise between guiding the hiker and diminishing the owners’ pleasure in using their trails. Thus the trail description should be followed.

There are four possible parking areas along this section: i.) One can park on the grass on the south-east corner of the above intersection (mile 4.4). ii.) One can park on the shoulder of West Glenville road about 0.40 miles west of this intersection (mile 4.8), where the trail crosses the road before entering the woods. This parking spot minimizes the road walking for a short off-road hike. iii.) Through the kind permission of the landowner, one can park off-road where the trail emerges onto Touareuna Road. She has placed a sign welcoming Long Path hikers where the gravel road intersects Touareuna Road. iv.) One can park off the road at the intersection of Touareuna Road (CR63) with Green Corners Road and Potter Road (CR42).

4.40 The new portion starts by walking west on West Glenville Road, passing in front of a barn on the left which serves as a sculptor’s studio, with sculpture displayed in the barnyard. There is an abandoned 19th-century limestone quarry behind the barn that may be included in the path in the future.
4.60  Jog left onto a pasture, continuing west along the northern edge of the field, separated from the road by a hedgerow. Horses may be seen grazing in a fenced area.
5.00  Leave the fields, crossing West Glenville Road, and enter the woods on an unpaved lane. There has been some recent logging, but the woods seem to be recovering nicely.
5.03 The trail forks; take the right-hand, northerly branch.
5.08 Trail bends left, north, entering a hemlock grove.
5.13 Leave the hemlock grove, turning 90 degrees right, east, and walk along the edge of the hayfield to the southeast corner. On a clear day there are pleasant views of the distant hills.
(Aside: There are now several hayfields to be passed, walking along the eastern edges except when crossing hedgerows. There is usually a trail mowed along the edge. Since the farmer does not always mow exactly the same areas, some of the blazes may appear off the current trail. In consideration of the farmer’s kindness, do not cut across the fields.)
5.16  Turn left, north, and follow the eastern edge of the field, observing a stone fence on the right.
5.30  Cross a hedgerow and stone fence into another hayfield, proceeding northerly along the eastern edge.
5.34   At the corner of the field, turn left (west) along a stone fence for a short distance.
5.40 Cross the hedgerow and stone fence into the next hayfield (Note: There is a ditch parallel to the stone fence on the north side that may be obscured by vegetation.), again proceeding along the generally eastern, then northern edge of the field.
5.58 Enter a mixed woods just west of the northeastern corner of the field, following a narrow foot/horse trail. There is a wetland and small pond down the hill from the trail, a nice spot for a snack.
5.72 Cross a small stream on stones, then a stone fence, entering a meandering trail cut through a very young woods. There are several such trails in the area and some care is necessary to stay on the desired path.
5.73 Take left fork (northwest).
5.77 Cross stone fence, take left fork (west).
6.20 Proceed straight (north) across intersection of trails.
6.06 Take a sharp left (northwest) onto a gravel road to Touareuna Road. This is presently the end of the off-road portion of the path.

Resume Road Walk
6.23 Baldwin Road (CR44) (AKA Fairbanks Road) enters from the left.
6.49 Green Corners, the intersection of Touareuna Road with Green Corners Road and Potter Road (CR42) (Note: Here the LPN is revised from the previous routing).
7.9 Intersection of Baldwin (CR44)/Tourenura/Potters Road (CR42) at Green Corners, follow Potters Road (not Green Corners Road, HRH) to the east (LPN Blaze on stop sign)
Note: Green Corner Schoolhouse Landmark on left 75 yards from intersection.
9.2 Intersection Green Corners Road & Hart Road, turn left proceed up hill through farm land, past old farmhouses.
10.0 Intesect Hart Rd. & Western Avenue. Turn right
10.6  Intersect Western Avenue & DeGraff Road, Turn left up hill through fields and old farm buildings and slate cupola topped farm houses.
11.6 Intersection DeGraff Rd. & NY State Route 67 – high speed highway. Turn right stay on pedestrian shoulder on right for a short distance.
12.2 Intersection NY State Rte. 67 (not 29, HRH) & Counsaul Road turn left onto secondary road at old farmhouse (not visible, HRH), note adjacent farmland, buildings and homes – Route takes many turns through historic Counsaulus Vlie – LPN Landmark wetlands with rare pitcher plants and ancient Native American Indian sites.
14.2 Intersection Counsaul Rd with Kania Road, no turn, continue north.
14.85 Intersection Counsaul Rd. & West Galway Road. Turn right onto the rugged dirt road passing through old farm fields, forest and wetlands. Route is a seasonal road. Open only during the summer and fall of the year. Typical of old roads through these farmlands from decades ago.
16.0 Intersection West Galway Road & Sacandaga Road  (CR147) Note: Famous Native American Indian trail across to Boston courses eastward about 5 miles south of this intersection. Note: NY Historic sign Scottsman John McClelland home site 1774, Revolutionary war officer nearby. Go forward across Sacandaga Road onto Donnan Road.
17.2  Intersect Donnan Rd & Crane Street, turn left.
19.0  Intersect Crane St. & County Road 45, cross and go forward.
21.8 Intersect Crane St. & Parkis Mills Road, turn right.
22.0 Intersect on right, Old Mill Road continue on Parkis Mills Road, go forward.
22.2 Y intersection of Parkis Mills Rd., bear right cross Glowegee Creek at waterfalls.
23.2 Intersect Parkis Mills Rd. & Hermance Road, Turn right.
24.6 Intersect Hermance Rd. & Jockey St. bear right, stay on bike/hike apron.
25.1 Intersect Jockey St. & Shaw Road, Turn right – Shaw Road becomes Grenell Road at Milton Township line continue forward on Grenell Road.
27.3 Intersect Armer Rd. & Grenell Rd., Go forward, road becomes Shaw Hill Road on other side of Armer Rd.
28.0 Intersect Shaw Hill Rd. & NY Route 29, cross northward onto Boy Haven Road, Forward into Twin Rivers Boy Scout Camping grounds.
29.1 Intersect Boy Haven Rd. & Middle Grove Road. Continue forward.
29.6 Intersect Boy Haven Rd. & Young Road, continue forward.
30.4 Intersect Boy Haven Rd. & Kilmer Road, turn left.
31.2 Intersect Kilmer Rd. & Lake Desolation Road, Turn left – dangerous higher speed highway with numerous curves uphill – vistas of Berkshires and Hudson Valley.
34.8 Lake Desolation historic landmark & community (Tinney’s Restaurant on left good food), Continue northward on Fox Hill Road. At mile 37.8, Adirondack Blue Line is crossed – hiker is now in the historic Adirondack Park. Many side trails on Finch Pruyn property with private camps. Historic Bible School located on Fox Hill Road @ mile 44.0.
44.9 Intersect Fox Hill Road & County Road 7, turn left to Batchellerville on south side of Sacandaga Reservoir -- small general store for grocery supplies, small park south on lake.
45.0 To B’ville Bridge turn right (presently no pedestrian lane on bridge – new bridge will have a lane for pedestrian crossing.

END