Biking the Zim Smith Trail

Saratoga County is beautiful, and the City of Saratoga Springs is perhaps the crown jewel. Known as the city of “Health, History and Horses” it’s a great destination for a day, a weekend, or longer. Saratoga Springs also has many bike-friendly roads and access to bike paths.  It’s also a great launching point to do bike trips beyond the Capital Region. Click here to find out why. 

If you are looking to access Saratoga Springs from the south, there is an excellent bike path called the Zim Smith Trail, which connects to the Empire State trail in Mechanicville, a small city at the southern end of Saratoga County.  Mechanicville is a railroad hub, with a massive train yard adjacent to the Hudson River. The Zim Smith Trail uses the alignment of the Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad, which was chartered in 1832.  You can access the trail behind the baseball fields at the end of Elizabeth Street. The trail is all paved and relatively flat (although there is some climbing just north of Mechanicville).

For the most part, the trail has nice amenities and is easy for biking.  There are many services in Mechanicville, including a much beloved restaurant called the Ugly Rooster, which offers great breakfasts and lunch.  You can fuel up before starting, or buy something for later and eat it at a trailside picnic table.  The Village of Round Lake is approximately halfway up the trail and also has businesses and picnic tables. Or you can take a break at Shanantaha Creek Park which has sheltered picnic tables. 

The trail ends Ballston Spa, about 5 miles south of Saratoga Springs.  You will need to ride along Route 50 to get to Saratoga Springs, but the road is signed as a bike route and there are wide shoulders.  There are also many businesses on this road. 

Once you have entered the city limits of Saratoga Springs, the city’s bike path system will take you into downtown.  But first you will need to pass through Saratoga Spa State Park, which is a fascinating environment with springs located throughout the park.  You can taste the water from each spring and decide which one you like best!  Our GPS will take you past each spring, so you can try them all.