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Schenectady, N.Y., January 31, 2024 — If your New Year’s resolution is to get more active,
Schenectady County has twenty-two miles of Empire State Trail ready for your next hike or bike
ride. With some of the most scenic and historic sites along the entire trail that spans from Buffalo
to Albany, County officials today released renderings of new trail etiquette and interpretive signs
that will be installed this spring. The sign project is a joint effort by the Schenectady County
Metroplex Development Authority and Discover Schenectady.
“The Empire State Trail is a great tourism and recreational asset for Schenectady County and we
are proud of our record in attracting State grants and other resources needed to make the trail as
safe and enjoyable as possible for residents and visitors alike,” said Gary Hughes, Chair of the
Schenectady County Legislature. “With the County’s continued commitment toward future
maintenance, the State recently completed an $8 million upgrade to the Rotterdam section of the
trail. The twenty-two miles of trail from the Niskayuna border to the east and the Montgomery
County border to our west has never been in better shape so now is the right time to install
signage to improve trail safety and show off the many historic attractions along the way.”
New signs will be located at:
The Stockade
Lock 23
GE
GE Global Research
Knolls Atomic Power Lab (KAPL)
Lock 7
Hotel Van Curler/SUNY Schenectady
Old Aqueduct at Kiwanis Park
Niskayuna Rail Station
Lock 8
Union College/Nott Memorial
Rexford Aqueduct
There will also be new signs welcoming visitors to Schenectady County. Trail etiquette signs
will be posted to remind users of important safety measures, such as staying right and keeping
pets on a leash.
The new trail signs were developed by 2k Design in Clifton Park, NY. They can be viewed here
https://bit.ly/48OuTia.
The County’s next step in promoting the trail will be a menu of suggested itineraries to
encourage riders and hikers to make Schenectady their home base to explore the trail
further, including overnight stays at local hotels. Posted online, they will include trips of varying
lengths and locations. Trail itineraries are due out later this year.
Previously, historic interpretive signs honoring the legacy of the Alco Locomotive Works were
installed by the County at Mohawk Harbor.
Comments on the new signs are welcome. Please send to info@discoverschenectady.com.
About the Empire State Trail/Erie Canalway Trail in Schenectady County
The Empire State Trail enters Schenectady County from the east and visitors are immediately
welcomed by an historic train station and Lions Park, one of the most photogenic and visited
sections of the trail statewide. Heading west, visitors see Lock 7 as the trail hugs the Mohawk
River before entering Blatnick Park, where hilltop vistas offer stunning river views. The trail
continues past Knolls Atomic Power Lab, GE Global Research Center, the Rexford Bridge and
the new Rivers Ledge residential community. Next is the entryway to the City of Schenectady,
where trail users can connect to Mohawk Harbor and the new four-mile River Loop Trail.
Visitors may also opt to continue into downtown Schenectady at Nott Street where Union
College comes into view. This route leads to Little Italy and Schenectady’s Stockade, the first
historic district in New York State. The trail exits the Stockade at SUNY Schenectady near the
Western Gateway Bridge and connects riders to the Village of Scotia.
More amazing waterfront awaits as travelers continue west, including views of General Electric’s iconic sign, Lock 8 and Kiwanis Park, with some of the most scenic landscapes on the trail. Finally, a brand-new trail
section, including two tunnels await riders and hikers as they travel west into Montgomery
County.