Trails meander along limestone cliffs, offering unsurpassed views of Albany's urban bustle and rustic landscapes.

by Contributor

Overview
The most striking feature of Albany's skyline is the expanse of north-facing limestone bluffs that constitute the Helderberg Escarpment. These cliffs are the site of John Boyd Thacher State Park's famous Indian Ladder Trail, the same trail that Mohawk Iroquois Indians took to Henry Hudson's trading post.

The Experience
The trail offers a hike through beautiful woods, as well as striking views of the Green and Adirondack Mountains and the city of Albany. Thacher Park represents the northern extremity of the aptly named Long Trail, which extends up the Hudson River Valley from New Jersey. The park offers picnic facilities, more than 15 miles of trails and an Olympic-size swimming pool.

03/07/03

Best Day Trip in the Capitol District!

by blairwitch39

This has GOT to be the NUMBER ONE day trip in the capitol district! Plan to be here ALL day long, there's that much to do. Dozens of different picnic areas including enormous covered gazebos, 2 playgrounds for the kids, an enormous free-form swimming pool, the cliffside Overlook, climbing trails on the side of a mountain, and most importantly, the INDIAN LADDER trail, running along the cliff face, which is a 30 minute walk that takes you from one end of the park to the other, and includes a waterfall that you can walk under! This trail was actually used by early American Indians, and they used a ladder to climb down to it from the top of the cliff (now there are stairs at both ends of the trail). Put this on your itinerary right now! Large groups are encouraged to make reservations.

• Pros: enormous public park, swimming pool, Indian Ladder Trail