SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — If your New Year’s resolution is to get more active, Schenectady County has twenty-two miles of Empire State Trail ready for your next hike or bike ride. With some of the most scenic and historic sites along the entire trail that spans from Buffalo to Albany, County officials today released renderings of new trail etiquette and interpretive signs that will be installed this spring. The sign project is a joint effort by the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority and Discover Schenectady.
“The Empire State Trail is a great tourism and recreational asset for Schenectady County and we are proud of our record in attracting State grants and other resources needed to make the trail as safe and enjoyable as possible for residents and visitors alike,” said Gary Hughes, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature. “With the County’s continued commitment toward future maintenance, the State recently completed an $8 million upgrade to the Rotterdam section of the trail. The twenty-two miles of trail from the Niskayuna border to the east and the Montgomery County border to our west has never been in better shape so now is the right time to install signage to improve trail safety and show off the many historic attractions along the way.”
New signs will be located at:
The Stockade
Lock 23
GE
GE Global Research
Knolls Atomic Power Lab (KAPL)
Lock 7
Hotel Van Curler/SUNY Schenectady
Old Aqueduct at Kiwanis Park
Niskayuna Rail Station
Lock 8
Union College/Nott Memorial
Rexford Aqueduct
There will also be new signs welcoming visitors to Schenectady County. Trail etiquette signs will be posted to remind users of important safety measures, such as staying right and keeping pets on a leash.
The new trail signs were developed by 2k Design in Clifton Park, NY. They can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/48OuTia
The County’s next step in promoting the trail will be a menu of suggested itineraries to encourage riders and hikers to make Schenectady their home base to explore the trail further, including overnight stays at local hotels. Posted online, they will include trips of varying lengths and locations. Trail itineraries are due out later this year.
Previously, historic interpretive signs honoring the legacy of the Alco Locomotive Works were installed by the County at Mohawk Harbor.
Comments on the new signs are welcome. Please send to info@discoverschenectady.com.
About the Empire State Trail/Erie Canalway Trail in Schenectady County
The Empire State Trail enters Schenectady County from the east and visitors are immediately welcomed by an historic train station and Lions Park, one of the most photogenic and visited sections of the trail statewide. Heading west, visitors see Lock 7 as the trail hugs the Mohawk River before entering Blatnick Park, where hilltop vistas offer stunning river views. The trail continues past Knolls Atomic Power Lab, GE Global Research Center, the Rexford Bridge and the new Rivers Ledge residential community. Next is the entryway to the City of Schenectady, where trail users can connect to Mohawk Harbor and the new four-mile River Loop Trail. Visitors may also opt to continue into downtown Schenectady at Nott Street where Union College comes into view. This route leads to Little Italy and Schenectady’s Stockade, the first historic district in New York State. The trail exits the Stockade at SUNY Schenectady near the Western Gateway Bridge and connects riders to the Village of Scotia. More amazing waterfront awaits as travelers continue west, including views of General Electric’s iconic sign, Lock 8 and Kiwanis Park, with some of the most scenic landscapes on the trail. Finally, a brand-new trail section, including two tunnels await riders and hikers as they travel west into Montgomery County.