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 Reporter |
Summary: Bennett Hill is a nature preserve south of Albany near the Helderbergs. It rises 400 feet above the village of Clarksville below. From the kiosk, follow the yellow trail along the edge of woods and the adjacent dairy farm. On your right you can see Cass Hill. After 1/2 mile, the trail begins the climb up the back side of the Bennett hill. In a short distance, the trail turns sharply to the left. The trail, still climbing, then makes a sharp turn to the right. This turn is easy to miss as there is another trail that continues straight ahead along this plateau. The trail continues its gradual climb until it reaches the top of the hill. Here there is a green trail which circles the relatively flat summit. The best view is at the North end of loop. It is a little overgrown, but there you can still see Albany in the distance. Trailhead: From Albany, take Delaware Avenue (Rte 443) west through Clarksville. Make a left onto Clarksville South Road (312). Immediately bear left onto Bennett Hill Road and continue for approximately 1/2 mile. The preserve is on the right and is marked by a small sign. Park in the gravel lot. (Lat:42.565 Lon:-73.963) Trail Guides for Bennett Hill: Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: Albany County Land Conservancy (518) 436-6346 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by George Senft, who has posted 26 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 3 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by RC on 4/20/2013 Pretty easy going trail(s). The hike starts pretty flat as you traverse to the south side of the hill. Then there is a short but pretty step portion up the hill, where the trail(green) splits. We stuck to the right which was the more traveled path. Once on top of the hill it is pretty flat and you walk back to the north side of the hill for a good lookout. There we went down the red path which brings you back to the split earlier. The ride path is not as well defined as the green/yellow but easy enough to follow if you look for the markings on the trees. We keep the pace leisurely and were in and out in less than 2 hours. It was very muddy but overall a good time.
Reviewed by Ann on 7/1/2012 We found the trails to be extremely difficult to follow after we reached the top. We had brought our dog, who was enjoying herself, however this was early in the hike. unfortunately, we got off the trail somehow, and ended up on posted property, eventually, after finding our own way out, far from the trailhead. We were very concerned about our dog and the heat, called the Rangers listed on the site, left a message , however no one ever returned our call. i strongly feel the trails need to be clearly marked and defined as to which direction to take. 
Reviewed by W on 4/12/2012 My family and I have done this hike several times and we always enjoy it. The views are better when there is less foliage, but you even in summer you get a few peaks. The hill is a moderate climb.
Reviewed by Viewer on 3/17/2012 Very muddy but lots of fun! Wear rubber boots or wellies. Had a freight when we saw a big black and white creature in the thick woods, then had a good laugh when we discovered it was a cow (the trail parallels a cow pasture). Found a tick in our clothes when we got home.
Reviewed by Viewer on 11/12/2011 Very nice moderate climb. Muddy at certain spots but ok
Reviewed by mvm on 4/25/2011 Went last week, go on a sunny clear day and the view will not dissapoint.
Reviewed by RC on 11/21/2010 We chose this hike because it was categorized as having a gradual climb, which we found to be accurate. We did not go on the red trail since that was marked as steep. Our car was the only car in the parking lot. Lovely views due to the lack of leaves on the trees.
Reviewed by ST on 11/14/2010 As a beginner to hiking, I was pleased to see the trails were fairly well marked and easy to follow. Not much of a view on top but a pleasant way to spend a fall afternoon. A little muddy and slippery in spots. Wear good hiking boots. Found the bathtub on the way up. Had a good chuckle. Took us about 1.5 hours with some picture stops along the way. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: New York Hiking, New York Trails, New York Hikes, Albany County Hiking, Albany County Trails, Albany County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
