Albany County Helderberg-
Hudson Rail Trail

The Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail (ACHHRT) is a community treasure providing exciting opportunities for recreation, exercise& fitness, and zero carbon transportation, amidst beautiful vistas of natural scenery. The trail provides a safe and enjoyable bike-and pedestrian-friendly connection between the communities of Voorheesville, New Scotland, Bethlehem, and Albany. The 9-mile Rail Trail corridor is owned by Albany County and is a shared-use path that accommodates all types of non-motorized traffic.

A linkage between the previous trail terminus on South Pearl Street in the south end of Albany and the Corning Preserve along the Hudson River in Albany now connects the ACHHRT to the Mohawk Hudson Bikeway. With this linkage, the Rail Trail becomes a part of the Empire State Trail connecting Albany to Buffalo. 

Our Role

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy works in partnership with Albany County, the City of Albany, the Towns of Bethlehem and New Scotland, and the Village of Voorheesville to promote and advocate for this exceptional recreational asset.

FORT: Friends of the Rail Trail: Volunteers from friends of the Rail Trail (FORT), a committee of the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, serve as trail Ambassadors, guiding visitors, patrolling, and serving as trail custodians. If you’re interested in joining
FORT, send us an e-mail connect@mohawkhudson.org.

ART: Art on the Rail Trail: We also host another volunteer committee, Art on the Rail Trail (ART). This committee works to support and improve the trail by creating public works of art, enriching the lives of Rail Trail visitors, and encouraging a sense of community ownership for the trail. For more information, e-mail art@mohawkhudson.org.

Our Vision

The Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail is a wonderful, linear open space that connects people and communities along a safe, comfortable, and attractive passageway. We see the trail as both an alternative transportation route and a beautiful recreational asset that will enhance the quality of life in the Capital District.  We will continue to work with the local communities to improve trail access and to provide linkages to interesting attractions and useful destinations along the route.

Our work with the Town of New Scotland to relocate the historic Hilton Barn and create the Hilton Park is a great example of one of the many possibilities for the future of the trail.  We encourage individuals and communities to work with us to enhance the future of this tremendous community asset. TheTown of New Scotland will continue to restore the Hilton Barn and develop the Hilton Park. Plans are in progress for a connection from the Rail Trail to David’s Trail at Bender Melon Farm Preserve.

Would you like to join the group of volunteers
who monitor the Rail Trail?

Email connect@mohawkhudson.org and let us know you’d like to join the Friends of the Rail Trail committee.
You can follow FORT on Facebook, or visit FORT’s Flickr page to see photos.

518-436-6346
195 New Karner Road
‍Albany, NY 12205

Board Login
Privacy Policy
Strategic Plan
Careers
Newsletter Sign Up
MHLC Map App