The Rail Trail Cache is a small lock-n-lock container hidden next to the Albany County Rail Trail. The Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail stretches 9 miles from the City of Albany to the Village of Voorheesville, along the old Delaware & Hudson (D&H) railroad tracks. Paved in its entirety, the Trail opens to the public at dawn and closes at dusk. Albany County residents and visitors can walk, run and bike along this newly completed public recreation trail.
History of the Rail Corridor: 1851- The Albany and Susquehanna Rail Road was chartered. 1853- Construction of the rail line started. 1863- The rail line opened between Albany and Central Bridge, Schoharie Co. 1865- The line was extended to Oneonta. 1868- The line was completed to Binghamton. 1870- The line was leased to the D&H Canal Co. which became the D&H Railway. 1991- The Canadian Pacific Railway purchased the railway and put the portion from Albany to Vorheesville up for abandonment. 2004- The railroad tracks were removed. 2010- Albany County purchased the 9 mile Albany to Vorheesville section to construct the Albany County Rail Trail. June 4, 2011- The first segment of the rail trail opened for pedestrian use.
Rail Trail History:
Winter 2010 Land Purchased from Canadian Pacific Railway Company. The County of Albany purchases a nine-mile strip of what was the Delaware and Hudson rail corridor for about $700,000 from Canadian Pacific Railway Company. Scenic Hudson Inc. and a grant from the New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation provide funding assistance.
Summer 2011 Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy Agreement - Albany County, the Town of Bethlehem, and the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy join together to open a 1.9 mile section of the trail to the public for walking and bicycle use.
Summer 2012 Trail Opening in New Scotland - Albany County, the Town of New Scotland, the Town of Voorheesville, and the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy join together to open another section of the trail to the public for walking and bicycle use. The public trail now spans from the Town of Bethlehem to the Town of Voorheesville.
Spring 2016 First Paved Portion of Rail Trail - Albany County, the Town of Bethlehem and the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy join together to open an additional 1.9 mile section of the trail to the public for walking and bicycle use.
Spring 2017 Hilton Road Safety Features - The Town of New Scotland and the County of Albany work together to ensure the safety of trail users on Hilton Road. Major construction improves the quality and safety of the trail. Improvements include leveling and repaving.
Summer 2017 Bicycle Repair Station - In partnership with Capital Roots, the County installs a bicycle fix-it station at the South Pearl Street entrance. Cyclists can use the tools and equipment available at the fix-it station to repair or adjust their bicycles. Sunscreen Stations - Albany County installs sunscreen dispensers on the trail in Albany, Slingerlands, Voorheesville and Delmar so residents can protect their skin from sun damage while enjoying the trail. Etiquette Signs - New etiquette signs along the trail promote safety by educating visitors about proper trail use, including right of way and passing instructions.
Autumn 2017 Mural - Artist Andrew Hersh paints the first mural on the trail near the intersection of Adams Street and Hudson Avenue in the Town of Bethlehem. Andrea Hersh's works have been showcased in various art institutes and shows across the Capital Region and the globe.
Spring 2018 CDPHP Cycle! Bicycle Rentals - To help promote healthy living and provide wider access to recreation opportunities, CDPHP Cycle!, in partnership with CDTC and CDTA, provides a bike rental station at the South Pearl Street entrance to the trail. Visitors can now rent bikes for as little as five dollars to enjoy the trail while cycling. Aidan's "Pocket Park" Eagle Scout Project - Local eagle scout Aidan S. helps find funding and works to improve a "pocket park" at the trail entrance near the Adams Street and Hudson Avenue intersection in Delmar. Aidan rehabilitates the small park to make it more accessible for visitors regardless of mobility, and makes additional upgrades to create a more pleasant and relaxing atmosphere for trail users taking a pause. Final Paving of Entire Trail - With completion of paving the portion of the trail between Slingerlands and Voorheesville, the entire nine-mile length of the trail is now fully paved.
Summer 2018 Exercise Equipment Stations - County Executive McCoy unveils three exercise stations for sit-ups, pull-ups and more to give visitors an additional option to exercise while enjoying the outdoors. Little Library - Inspired by a pair of 5- and 8-year-old residents, this Little Library at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Adams Street in Delmar provides a rotating collection of donated books for visitors to pick up and enjoy, perhaps while taking a break in the nearby pocket park or after they travel the trail. Mural - John DeMarco created the beautiful murals decorating eight piers along the trail as it passes beneath the Slingerlands overpass. DeMarco worked 12-hour days with his son and volunteers to finish the colorful project. His other works have been exhibited in various galleries and museums throughout the northeast including the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.
Autumn 2018 First Rail Trail Bench Dedicated, to Thomas D. Robbins - Albany County and the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy partner together to host the Sponsor-A-Bench program along the trail. The first bench, near the Bethlehem Veterans Memorial Park, is dedicated to Thomas D. Robbins, a local veteran who died in combat in 2004. Mural - Another featured artist along the trail, Ramiro Davaro-Comas, paints a stunning mural on the Delaware Avenue bridge. He often finds inspiration from his travels and shows his artistry in public projects like this one. Electric Vehicle Charging Station - With funding from a NYSERDA grant, the County installs electric vehicle charging stations for public use across the area. A two port charger with free charging covered by the grant can be found by the Slingerlands entrance to the Rail Trail.
Spring 2019 First Organized Run on the Trail - The Albany County Department of Recreation and the Albany County Sheriff's Office join together to sponsor the Helderberg to Hudson Half Marathon, the first organized run on the Trail. Showcasing the Rail Trail project, the run covered the entire length of the Trail, allowing everyone to enjoy efforts of the County and the City of Albany to make the connection to the Mohawk Hudson Bike-Hike Path a reality.
Summer 2019 Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy Bench Program Completed The Sponsor-A-Bench program finishes installing 25 memorial benches along the trail. The cedar benches each have a memorial plaque and can be found about a quarter mile apart along the length of the trail.