The Hudson-Mohawk Bike Hike Trail provides a unique recreational opportunity for all to enjoy. This paved trail, approximately 35 miles in length, is constructed on the original Erie Canal Towpath and former railroad grades, which were the original transportation routes for the area. The section I visited today in Niskayuna is just a part of a much larger trail system that runs nearly the entire length of the state. The Erie Canalway Trail is a network of nearly 300 miles of multi-use trails that run from Little Falls in western NY all the way to Albany.
I visited the Jeff Blatnick Park in Niskayuna today which provides direct access to these trails as well as ballparks, a dog park and picnic areas. After a short walk past the recreational areas, a large hill overlooking the Mohawk River comes up on your right. This is the dog park area, with plenty of open fields for a dog to roam.
Cattails along the path up the hill.
Views from the open field of the Mohawk River. Vischer Ferry lies on the opposite shores here.
The trail heading down from the park to the river banks.
Looking back up the hill to open fields of the dog park.
A couple out for a morning walk on the trail.
After a short walk on the paved trail, several trails head into the woods on the right. These trails are a part of the 107 acre Mohawk River State Park. I decided to head up onto the steep Shaker Gorge trail.
There were some icy spots along the trail, so had to watch my footing carefully, especially near the steep gorges.
The stream running through Shaker Gorge.
It was a very nice woods walk and eventually looped back to the bike hike trail. The trail, while running along the river, only offers mostly broken views through the trees.
As I headed back to the parking area, I passed Blatnick Park, with its multiple ball fields. This is a much busier area during the warmer months, but on this cool December morning it was very quiet.
Once I got back to my car, I then headed down the road a couple of miles to the Lisha Kill Preserve, pleasantly tucked away to the woods off of Rosendale Road. A 140 acre preserve, it is a rare example of old growth forest in a developed area. Some of the trails climb steeply in and out of deep ravines, so you must watch your footing when hiking here.
After a short walk there is a stream crossing. The Fly Kill, a small tributary of the Lisha Kill, cuts through the preserve here.
A fair amount of ice is forming already on the stream from the recent cold weather.
The trails loop through mixed woodland and through a deep hemlock forest.
The partially frozen Lisha Kill.
The Lisha Kill is approximately one mile in length and runs through mostly deep stream ravines on its way to the Mohawk River.
The Lisha Kill is a broad but shallow stream.
This section of the trail runs along the stream banks, allowing for a peaceful walk.
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