Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail (AHET), a 36-mile bicycling and hiking route from the City of Rensselaer in Rensselaer County to the Town of Greenport in Columbia County, is complete and open to the public. The Hudson River Valley Greenway constructed the project, which is part of the statewide Empire State Trail. Most of the AHET Trail is an off-road “rail trail” built on an historic electric trolley corridor, now owned by National Grid. The remainder of the AHET route is designated along public roadways. The AHET route is depicted on the map below. 

The AHET trail is 10 to 12-feet wide with gentle grades, welcoming visitors of all ages and abilities. Most of the trail has a paved asphalt surface; some sections in Columbia County have a stonedust surface, which is compacted fine-grinded stone. The trail is open year-round, dawn to dusk, for non-motorized recreation (ATVs, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and other motorized vehicles are prohibited).

The trail will not be plowed – during winter months the trail is open for hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing as weather conditions allow. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on leash at all times, and owners must clean up after their pets. Trail users are reminded to stay on the trail and not enter adjacent private property.

·        The Town of East Greenbush

·        The Town of Nassau

·        The Village of Nassau

·        The Village of Kinderhook

·        The Columbia Friends of the Electric Trail

·        The Rensselaer Land Trust

On the AHET map below,

GREEN sections are off-road trail open to non-motorized recreation.

BLUE sections are on-road connections, designated on the shoulders of public roads.

An on-line trail map, including designated parking, is available at: https://empiretrail.ny.gov/.

1.     Dawn to Dusk Use Only. The trail is open to public use from dawn to dusk only. Trail use is prohibited during night-time hours.

2.     No Motor Vehicles, All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), Dirt Bikes, or Snowmobiles. Public use of ATVs, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, automobiles, trucks, and all other types of motor vehicles is prohibited.

3.     Dogs. Dogs and other pets are allowed on the trail. Dogs must be kept on a 6-foot leash at all times, and owners must dispose of their pet’s waste in a prompt and sanitary manner.

4.     No Entering Private Property. Leaving the trail to enter private property adjacent to the trail without the explicit permission of the private landowner is trespassing.

5.     No Littering or Dumping. Littering, dumping, or abandoning garbage or refuse is prohibited.

6.     No Hunting, Firearms, and Weapons. Hunting or discharging firearms on the trail is prohibited. The possession of firearms, bows, crossbows, or weapons on the trail is prohibited.

7.     No Equestrian Activities. The use of horses is prohibited.

8.     No Alcoholic Beverages. The consumption of any alcoholic beverage, or possession of an open container of any alcoholic beverage, is prohibited.

including adjacent landowners that would like to schedule a field visit with Greenway staff, can contact the Greenway by using the “Submit Comment” section of the project website: www.AHETtrail.org. The Greenway monitors website comments on a daily basis.

1.     Rensselaer Riverfront Park Trailhead (20 parking spots)

2.     East Greenbush Clinton Street Trailhead (11 parking spots)

3.     Schodack/Nassau Lake Trailhead (13 parking spots)

4.     Village of Nassau Trailhead (30+ parking spots)

5.     Niverville Trailhead (11 parking spots)

6.     Valatie Route 9/9H Park & Ride Lot (50 parking spots)

  Address:  Intersection of State Routes 9 & 9H, Valatie, NY 12184

7.     Village of Kinderhook Trailhead – Rothermel Park (33 parking spots)

8.     Stuyvesant Falls Trailhead (4 parking spots plus 20 spots on east side of bridge)

 Address:  County Route 25A (Hudson Ave), Stuyvesant Falls, NY 12174

9.     Stottville Park Trailhead (15 parking spots)

Address:  Little League Field, Atlantic Ave, Stottville, NY 12172

An on-line trail map, including designated parking, is available at: https://empiretrail.ny.gov/.