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Hard Hiking Trails near Albany

We track 14 routes that match this search near Albany. They average 26.9 km and 692 m (2,270 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 63.1 km.

That is 15 percent of the 93 routes we map near Albany. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 26.9 km against 6.2 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 692 m (2,270 ft) on average versus 162 m (531 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Adams, MA, USA
Hard

Jones Nose to Summit

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
13.2 km
/ 8.2 mi
Elevation gain
706 m
Typical duration
3 hr 48 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
View southeast along Bly Hollow Road between Goodermote Road and Watson Road in Berlin, Rensselaer County, New York
Expert

Taconic Crest Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
58.0 km
/ 36.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,841 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Mountain
Bascom Lodge atop Mount Greylock
Hard

Thoreau’s Footsteps

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
13.0 km
/ 8.1 mi
Elevation gain
705 m
Typical duration
3 hr 46 min

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
Jones Nose to SummitMassachusetts13.2 km706 m3 hr 48 minHardApril to October
Taconic Crest TrailMassachusetts58.0 km1,841 m16 hrExpertApril to October
Thoreau’s FootstepsMassachusetts13.0 km705 m3 hr 46 minHardApril to October
Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail (hike)New York63.1 km1,389 m16 hrExpertApril to October
Albany-Hudson Electric Trail - hikingNew York52.5 km1,155 m13 hrExpertApril to October
Hudson Valley Greenway Trail (Kinderhook to Nassau)New York17.8 km391 m4 hr 22 minHardApril to October
Hudson Valley Greenway Trail (Nassau to East Greenbush)New York17.1 km376 m4 hr 11 minHardApril to October
Erie Canalway Trail (Amsterdam to Schenectady)New York27.3 km601 m6 hr 58 minHardApril to October
Erie Canalway Trail (Niskayuna to Green Island)New York17.0 km374 m4 hr 9 minHardApril to October
Erie Canalway Trail (Schenectady to Niskayuna)New York17.6 km386 m4 hr 19 minHardApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Jones Nose to Summit, Taconic Crest Trail, Thoreau’s Footsteps. 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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