Biking the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail

The Albany-Hudson Electric Trail is one of New York State’s newest bike paths, having been constructed just before the Empire State Trail officially opened in 2021.  It (almost) connects the cities of Albany and Hudson together, but stops just short of each city due to lack of right-of-way. Fortunately, on-street bike routes (with clear signage) will help you find the trail at each end, and biking the 40 miles between these two cities is a lovely experience.  

A beautiful ride through history

You may be wondering why the word “electric” appears in the name of this trail.  That is because this trail uses the alignment of one of the first electric interurban trolley lines ever constructed.  Although the heyday of this operation was relatively short-lived, the corridor has remained in use for electrical transmission lines ever since.  Today, this means that this trail receives consistent maintenance as a result of an agreement with the utility company.  But you can also learn about the history of electricity, hydropower and industry throughout your ride.  This region was shaped by the rushing streams (and waterfalls) that flow along this corridor.  A number of mills and factories once lined this route, connected by a trolley system that also provided commuter transportation into Albany and Hudson.  The result today is a beautiful ride on a well-maintained trail, punctuated by opportunities to see beautiful waterfalls.  You will also travel through several town centers, each with amenities, restaurants, places to stay and more. 

Riding north from Hudson

If you are departing from Hudson and heading north, you will need to pay close attention to the Empire State Trail route signage that will take you on local streets through the City of Hudson into the unincorporated Town of Greenport which surrounds the city.  Once in Greenport, the trail starts behind a busy car wash, but quickly heads into quieter surroundings, and soon you are biking past horse farms and wetlands as you head north. 

Experience history as you pass through different towns

Hamlet and village centers in Stottville, Kinderhook, Valatie, Nassau, East Schodack and East East Greenbush provide easy access to businesses and accommodations along the route. These places are also full of historic sites or buildings of architectural significance.  Kinderhook has the most of these, as it is the birthplace of President Martin Van Buren.  Kinderhook has an interesting history as a Dutch settlement (Van Buren learned English as a second language) and there is much to see, including a burial ground for enslaved persons which is right next to the trail. This is a rare find in New York, and it is worth a short stop. People forget that slavery was once a thing here. However, it was very real. 

A mix of trail and quiet roads

Throughout the trail, there are a number of on-street detours.  This is because the original right-of-way for the trolley line has been interrupted due to road construction, bridges that were removed, or encroachments by abutting landowners. In all cases, the detours are signed, but it is helpful to have good GPS in case any signs are missing. However, none of the on-road segments are particularly busy with traffic or have steep hills. Some on-road segments are just as scenic as the trail segments, so it’s a lovely ride throughout. 

The approach into Albany

As you approach the north end, the trail will end in the Hampton Manor neighborhood of the Town of East Greenbush. From here it is a jumble of roads (all with bike route signs) to get to the Hudson River in the City of Rensselaer. Rensselaer is across the river from downtown Albany, and a bridge (with a sidewalk) connects the two cities. If you are looking for the train station, the Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak station is in Rensselaer, and you will bike directly past it.  Otherwise, you can take the bridge over the river and be in downtown Albany within minutes.