John Boyd Thacher State Park

Directions: On Route 157, off Rte. 85, 15 miles southwest of Albany.

Seasons/Hours: Hiking trails, including the Indian Ladder Trail, are open from May 1 through November 15, weather permitting, 8 a.m. until dusk. Overlook parking area is open from 8 a.m. until dusk.

Pets: Household pets only; caged or on a leash not more than 6 feet long, rabies vaccination and proof required. Not permitted in buildings or bathing areas.

John Boyd Thacher State Park is situated along the Helderberg Escarpment, one of the richest fossil-bearing formations in the world. Intriguing features include six miles of limestone cliff-face, rock-strewn slopes, woodland and open fields. The park also provides a marvelous panorama of the Hudson-Mohawk Valleys and the Adirondack and Green Mountains.

The park has an Olympic-sized pool, basketball and volleyball courts, playgrounds, ball fields and numerous picnic areas with nine reservable shelters. Interpretative programs are offered year-round, including guided tours of the famous Indian Ladder Trail. The Park is the northern terminal point for the Long Path, a 326-mile trail along the Hudson from the George Washington Bridge, just over the river from Manhattan. There are more than 12 additional miles of trails for summer hiking and mountain biking, and winter cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and snowmobiling.

Rt. 157
Voorheesville, NY 12186
Phone: (518) 872-1237