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Family-Friendly Hikes near Albany

26 routes near Albany qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 1.8 km and 34 m (112 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 6.0 km.

That is 62 percent of the 42 routes we map near Albany. They are shorter than the local average, 1.8 km against 8.6 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 34 m (112 ft) against 244 m (801 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Family routes here are short, gently graded and interesting enough to keep younger legs moving. Every one is under seven kilometres with limited climbing. Most of these are on the gentler end, which makes the list a good starting point if you are new to the area.

Trails

Wollison-Shipton Building , Pittsfield Massachusetts
Easy

Downtown Loop

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Typical duration
41 min
Providence Court , Pittsfield Massachusetts
Easy

Morningside Loop

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
23 m
Typical duration
1 hr 7 min
Easy

Meadow Loop

New York · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Lake
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Bird Watching Loop

New York · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Lake
  • Wildlife watching
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Hidden River Trail

New York · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
18 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • River
  • Wildlife watching
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Bedspring Ridge Trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
28 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Shaker Gorge Scenic Loop

New York · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
30 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Whitmyer-Shaker Gorge Trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
21 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Campground Trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
27 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Nature Center Trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

1825 Erie Canal Towpath

New York · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
42 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Blue Scenic Loop

New York · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Blue Trail

New York · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
51 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Blue Trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Blue trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

East Bluffs Trail

New York · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Forts Ferry Loop

New York · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
30 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Green Trail

New York · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
16 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Green Trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
40 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Green trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

High-Water Bypass

New York · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Highland Trail (yellow)

New York · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Myosotis Dam Trail

New York · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

North Rim Trail

New York · United States

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
88 m
Typical duration
58 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Orange Loop - Northbound

New York · United States

Distance
6.1 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
135 m
Typical duration
1 hr 29 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Orange Loop - Southbound

New York · United States

Distance
5.5 km
/ 3.4 mi
Elevation gain
121 m
Typical duration
1 hr 20 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Orange trail (unofficial)

New York · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
17 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Ordway Trail

New York · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
16 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Paul Schaefer Yellow Trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Perimeter Trail

New York · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
72 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Power line trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
23 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Red Trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Red Trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Schoolhouse Trail

New York · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

South Rim Trail

New York · United States

Distance
3.4 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
74 m
Typical duration
49 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Southern Blue Trail

New York · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
18 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Tall Spruce Trail

New York · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
49 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Wheeler-Watson Trail

New York · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
16 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

White MTB Trail

New York · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
16 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

White Trail

New York · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
24 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

White trail

New York · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

White trail

New York · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
17 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Yellow Scenic Loop

New York · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Downtown LoopMassachusetts3.3 kmflat41 minEasyApril to October
Morningside LoopMassachusetts5.2 km23 m1 hr 7 minEasyApril to October
Meadow LoopNew York1.5 km33 m22 minEasyApril to October
Bird Watching LoopNew York2.4 km52 m34 minEasyApril to October
Hidden River TrailNew York0.8 km18 m12 minEasyApril to October
Bedspring Ridge TrailNew York1.3 km28 m19 minEasyApril to October
Shaker Gorge Scenic LoopNew York1.4 km30 m20 minEasyApril to October
Whitmyer-Shaker Gorge TrailNew York1.0 km21 m14 minEasyApril to October
Campground TrailNew York1.2 km27 m18 minEasyApril to October
Nature Center TrailNew York1.9 km41 m27 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Morningside Loop, Downtown Loop, Bedspring Ridge Trail. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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