Bennett Hill Preserve(New Scotland, Albany County)

Rising prominently above the hamlet of Clarksville in the town of New Scotland is 1135 foot Bennett Hill, whose summit ridge can easily be reached via the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy's trail system at the 155 acre Bennett Hill Preserve.  I have climbed these trails on numerous previous occasions and it never fails to impress me.  As I headed out late this afternoon, the skies were overcast and the temps were in the upper teens with plenty of snow to snowshoe in.  I parked at the trailhead along Bennett Hill Road and saw two other cars there when I arrived, but never saw these folks on my hike.  

The green trail starts at about 720 feet, just north of the summit, and heads south along the edge of cow pastures and scenic farmland.  It must've been feeding time when I passed by today.

Views across the farmland towards the Helderbergs are your companion for the first part of the hike.

Once in the woods, the trails are well broken out and make for fun, easy climbing.

Directly beside the green trail is the iconic Bathtub Springs, where fresh water flows from an underground pipe into an old tub.

After a little more climbing on the green trail, you will soon arrive at the yellow trail, which explores the summit ridge of Bennett Hill.  Screened views(especially during the winter) can be enjoyed from this elevation.

From a small window at the north edge of the summit, there are nice views to the north above Clarksville.  The slopes below this spot are very, very steep.

From the same vantage point, looking slightly more to the NE.

The summit ridge is mostly a level plateau and consists of pretty areas of oak and red pine, as well as a small wetland, which sits off trail.

Took the yellow blazed trail over to the red trail, where filtered views can be enjoyed on the descent off the steep NE slopes of the peak.  After a switchback, the trail angles all the way back around the north and west slopes, just below the near vertical ledges of the summit ridge.

I absolutely love this small stretch of the red trail that passes through a picturesque paper birch stand.

Followed the red trail back to the green trail, which dropped me all the back down to the car.  Hiked about 3.2 miles RT with a bit over 400 feet of climbing.