Hudson River Valley Greenway and OPRHP Announce Empire State Trail Improvements in Waterford & Cohoes
In Waterford, 1.2-miles of the Champlain Canalway Trail were rehabilitated through a partnership between the HRVG and Saratoga County. This 20-year-old trail section runs north from Route 32 in the Village and Town of Waterford. Saratoga County constructed a new stonedust surface, safety fencing, and enhanced trailheads were incorporated to facilitate the publics' use. The HRVG provided $275,000 through a cooperative agreement with Saratoga County to fund the project, which began in September.
In Albany County, a 3-mile section of trail in the City of Cohoes running northwest to the Town of Colonie is being repaved by the OPRHP. OPRHP will also update safety fencing, signage, and road crossings. This segment of trail is part of the Erie Canalway Trail and is also referred to as the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail. The $710,000 project has begun this month and will be completed in the spring of 2022.
HRVG Executive Director Scott Keller said, “These trail projects provide enhanced outdoor recreation opportunities, support regional tourism strategies, and provide Capital District residents and visitors a new way to explore the historic Champlain and Erie Canal corridors.”
OPRHP Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “Improvements to these historic trail corridors provide a great new place for cycling, running, walking and cross-country skiing in Albany and Saratoga Counties. New York State continues to lead the way in enhancing our parks and trails and connecting more people to outdoor recreation.”
Town of Moreau Supervisor and Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore T. Kusnierz, Jr. said, “Saratoga County takes great pride in its vast trail system and many recreational opportunities from Waterford north along the Hudson River and all points in between. These improvements to the trail along the historic Hudson River will be enjoyed by our residents and visitors alike for years to come. I am extremely proud of the Saratoga County design and construction team for their work on this project and thank Hudson River Valley Greenway and State officials for their investment in our great county.”
Town of Waterford Supervisor John Lawler said, “Here in Waterford, we proudly welcome visitors from around the world who travel through the waterways of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers and the Erie and Champlain Canals. These improvements to the Empire State Trail along the Champlain Canal corridor will attract visitors and residents alike who will enjoy a scenic trip through historic Waterford. I thank the State of New York and County of Saratoga for their work in refurbishing this trail.”
Cohoes Mayor William Keeler said, “The Mohawk-Hudson Bike path is a vital recreation and transportation artery through the heart of historic Cohoes, and links us to other communities in the region and across the state. The trail is enjoyed in all four seasons by residents and visitors who are biking, birding, hiking, walking, running, and more. We are grateful to Governor Hochul and New York State Parks for their commitment to preserving this treasured trail. These improvements will further our ‘Cleaner Greener Cohoes’ initiatives to enhance our thoroughfares with a sustainability focus on enabling alternative modes of transportation.”
These trail segments are part of the EST, a 750-mile bicycling, walking, and hiking route that runs from Buffalo to Albany along the Erie Canalway Trail, and from New York City through the Hudson and Champlain Valleys to Canada. Detailed information including trail segment descriptions and an online map depicting the trail route, designated parking areas, and nearby attractions is available on the EST website. Additionally, interested trail users can order a free large format, printed Empire State Trail map by submitting an email with their name and mailing address on the website’s Contact Us page.
