Schenectady County Starts New Hiking Challenge

I love hiking, I love challenges, and I love the fall. Schenectady, I see this challenge and I accept it – will you?

When you think of hiking, your mind probably goes first to the Adirondacks, which is understandable, but what you may not realize is that there are great places to hike in the greater Capital Region, Schenectady in particular. The Niskayuna-based Environmental Clearing House of New York, known as ECOS is trying to get more people to spend time outdoors in the county, according to The Daily Gazette.

To do that, ECOS has launched the Seven Preserve Challenge Walks where you can earn a patch by visiting six nature preserves in Schenectady County as well as Bozenkill Preserve in Altamont in Albany County. Those include: Plotterkill Preserve in Rotterdam, Christman Preserve and Schenectady County Forest Preserve in Duanesburg, the Indiankill and Sanders preserves in Glenville, the Lisha Kill Preserve in Niskayuna, and, as I already mentioned, the Bozenkill Preserve in Altamont.

You may have seen the 46ers and the 26ers get their patches but aren’t ready for that kind of commitment. I feel like this is a way to get outside in some beautiful weather but not have to worry about climbing Mount Marcy if you’re not ready yet.