Albany Pine Bush Preserve
New Karner Rd
Albany, NY 12205
518-785-1800
 Map


A natural treasure lies hemmed in by sprawl in the middle of suburbia. The Pine Bush Preserve is a rare pine barren ecosystem that features sandy soils, dunes and very small trees, including pitch pine, scrub oak and dwarf willow. It's also a haven for songbirds and home to endangered insects, grasses and amphibians. It's a great place to stroll, watch birds, meditate and reflect. It's also a cause celebre for environmentalists who have been working for decades to save it from being transformed into parking lots, trash dumps and office parks. At any given time, Save the Pine Bush is locked in battles with developers who could care less about erasing irreplaceable things from the face of the earth. The Pine Bush is located in three municipalities -- Albany, Guilderland and Colonie. The boundaries are Fuller Road on the east, Route 5 (Central Avenue) on the North, Route 146 on the west, and Route 20 (Western Avenue) on the South. The Pine Bush originally encompassed 25,600 acres (40 square miles). Now, there are only 2,000 to 3,000 acres remaining. It's worth a visit. And if you'd like to hook up with Save the Pine Bush, an organization with thousands of members and monthly dinners, check out savethepinebush.org. --Ted Bluestein Bike Trails:
This park area, an inland pine barren with sand dunes, has trails that vary in length and difficulty. The sandy terrain does change drastically according to weather conditions, so riders should beware. On the whole, the relatively smooth surface and lack of obstacles make the area friendly for recreational riders.

Recreation/Park

Albany Pine Bush Preserve - Water Tower Loops

Location:

New York

Nearest Town:

Albany

Directions to Trailhead:

From I-90, go to Washington Avenue Extension (west of CrossGates Mall). Take this highway till it ends at Route 155 (New Karner Road). Continue on straight through the traffic signal, through the 3-way stop to the end of the road. Park here. There are maps (very sketchy, at best) of the area trails available at a kiosk at the entrance.

Trail Description:

This area has a mix of sandy soil and clay, so on some of the trails, it can be rather tough riding in the summer. There are about four different "loops" in this particular zone of the Preserve, if you connect them all, you could probably spend the better part of an afternoon here. A good place for beginner/intermediate riders to tool around and have some fun. Stay off the powerline trail, as the sand is DEEP and you'll end up walking!!!!! Nice for after-work cardio work-out, due to central location and the fact that you could easily do all the loops in about an hour if you keep an aggressive pace. Watch out for horses and hikers!!!! There are several developments nearby, so watch for people walking their dogs. WOOF!!!!! This is an awesome place to learn to night-ride (with light-sets) and also an excellent challenge for beginner Winter riding (ice-stud tires). The terrain is mostly rolling singletrack, no rocks, but some stream-crossings and alot of roots in places. Very fast ride on the non-sandy parts, and the best place to go if it's been raining. (It packs the sand down nicely). If you want to do a little road riding, there are other loops on the other side of the Thruway and Route 155, not as challenging, but you could easily add another 8 to 10 miles on if included.

Trail Length:

8 miles

Trail Type:

Singletrack & Fire Roads

Skill Level:

Beginner

Submitted By:

Chris