UNCLE SAM BIKEWAY:
SOUTH TROY RIVERFRONT TRAIL:
TROY, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: July 10, 2021
Length:
Uncle
Difficulty:
Uncle
Directions:
To start from the Waterford Harbor Visitor Center; Take I-787 north to Route 787 north to Route 32 (Saratoga Ave) across the Mohawk River into downtown Waterford. Turn right down 2nd St which will bring you to the parking lot on your right just before the bridge.
To start from the Northern End of the Uncle Sam Bikeway; From the junction of Routes 4 & 32 in downtown Waterford head east on Route 4 and cross over the Hudson River. Bear right on Route 4 (2nd Ave) at the light. At your next light turn left up Route 142 (125th St). At the five-way intersection, cross over to Northern Drive and follow it up a small hill. The bike trail starts across from Old Mill Hill Rd on the right. A gravel road on the right leads up to a small grass parking area.
The Uncle Sam Bikeway runs along the former rail bed of the Troy & Boston Railroad which was constructed in 1850-52. This in turn became the Fitchburg Railroad in 1887 and then the Maine Railroad in 1900. The tracks were dismantled in 1972. Samuel Wilson was the Troy meatpacker and Massachusetts native who many believe was the inspiration for the Uncle Sam figure. Supporters of the Wilson story say he became associated with Uncle Sam when he stamped the initials "US" on barrels of meat he supplied to American forces in the war of 1812. Seeing the initials, soldiers began referring to Wilson as Uncle Sam. Samuel Wilson died in 1854 and is buried in Troy 's Oakwood Cemetery, which is located on the hillside above the trail. From the southern end of this trail you can continue through South Troy along the South Troy Riverfront Trail, a combination of off road paved trail and on-road routes.
You can also
access two other trails from the Waterford
Harbor Visitor
Center; See; Champlain Canalway Trail;
Waterford-Mechanicville and Black
Bridge Trail . For more information visit; UNCLE
SAM BIKEWAY , NY TRAILS
or CAPITOL
DISTRICT .
Starting from the Waterford Harbor Visitor Center; Follow a brick path from the parking lot past the Visitor Center and down to the Canal Walkway. Head left (east) along the Walkway which travels alongside the Mohawk River, underneath an old RR Bridge and out to the Point known as the Battery. After checking out where the Mohawk River and Erie Canal flows into the Hudson River, head left through the Boat Launch parking lot to 1st Street. Follow 1st Street until you reach Broad St (Route 4).
Note; You can take a quick detour to check out the old Waterford Train Station. Just cross over Broad St and continue up 1st St. Take a left on Division St and then a right on 2nd St. This will bring you to Columbia St after 0.3 miles. The old combination Waterford Station and D & H Freight Office now houses the Waterford Public Library. This station, built in 1896, was part of the 1835 Rensselaer-Saratoga Railroad Line, later a branch of the D & H Railroad.
Turn right along Broad St and cross over the Hudson River. Turn right along 2nd Ave (Route 4) at the light. At your next light cross over Route 4 to Route 142 (125th St) and up a small hill. No sidewalk here. At the five-way intersection, cross over to Northern Drive (Route 142) and follow it up a small hill to the start of the Uncle Sam Bikeway on your right after 1.2 miles.
Uncle Sam Bikeway:
Starting from the Northern End of the Uncle Sam Bikeway; [Re-zeroing Mileage] Parking for a few cars. The paved trail heads into the woods along a ridge cut into the hill with the houses of Lansingburgh below to your right. Cross Cemetery Rd and then Gurley Road parking lot where the trail opens up for a bit. After heading back into the woods you'll come to Knickerbacker Park along the right side of the trail. A large pink obelisk monument is here with fields below. After passing through a corrugated tunnel, you enter a residential area. The trail ends at Middlebourgh St after 3 miles.
Note; You can extend your trip along the South Troy Riverfront Trail by heading right on-road down Middlebourgh St. Green Bike signs direct you along this route. Head left along River St (BIKE SHARROWS). Turn right after 3.6 miles on Vanderheyden St (spot the BIKE SHARROWS). Follow down to a parking lot next to the Hudson River. Head left through the parking lot and travel underneath the Collar City Bridge (Route 7), past a gate and through another parking lot. This brings you to the cement South Troy Riverfront Trail after 3.9 miles. Hutton St on your left.
South Troy Riverfront Trail:
The cement South Troy Riverfront Trail [Continuing Mileage] travels alongside the Hudson River. You then travel underneath the Green Island Bridge (Lift bridge). This will bring you to William Chamberlain Riverfront Park at 4.2 miles. Splash Park, amphitheatre, Korean War Memorial. The narrow trail continues after the park bringing you to a parking lot next to an old brick building. BIKE SHARROWS then bring you to State & Front Streets where you'll pick up a CYCLE TRACK (two-way Bike Lane on your right) at 4.6 miles.
Note; The South Troy Riverfront Trail ends, but you may continue south, through South Troy, along the CYCLE TRACK on Front St. Come to River St where it continues right along River St. Turn left on Adams St, then right on 1st St. Cross over Poesten Kill before coming to Madison St after 5.6 miles. A One-Way BIKE LANE continues along 1st St. Just past Tyler St after 6.1 miles you'll follow BIKE SHARROWS (essentially "Share the Road" but with road markings). Come to the intersection of Polk St & 2nd St.
Note; If traveling north use 2nd St. BIKE SHARROWS until just past Harrison St where a BIKE LANE continues north to Madison St. Head left back to 1st St and travel right along the CYCLE TRACK back to State & Front Streets.
Come to Burden Ave & Main St after 6.3 miles.
Note; You can connect to the Mohawk Hudson Bikeway from here. Continue straight along Burden Ave and enter a BIKE LANE (BIKE SHARROWS heading north). After 0.3 miles I believe it's on-road (narrow sidewalk available) along High St. Pedestrian path over the Troy-Menands Bridge which will bring you directly to the Mohawk Hudson Bikeway after 1 mile.
Turn right along Main St. BIKE SHARROWS continue. Cross the RR tracks and turn right on E Industrial Pkwy. The NPS BURDEN IRON WORKS MUSEUM parking lot will be on your right after 3.4 miles.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR UNCLE SAM BIKEWAY MAP
CLICK HERE FOR TROY BIKE NETWORK MAP
CLICK HERE FOR CAPITOL REGIONAL MAP
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WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT