Bozen Kill Preserve
Managed by Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
424 acres6.1 mi of trail
Upper Main (Orange)Ridge Trail (Yellow)Hemlock Loop (White)Lower Main Trail (White)+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Tyler A. McNeil · CC BY-SA 4.0A−Outdoors
Outdoors in Guilderland
Guilderland has 1,713 acres of parks, 46 for every 1,000 residents
10% of Guilderland’s land is conserved, about 3,713 acres. 48 miles of mapped trail cross Guilderland, 0.8 per square mile of land. The biggest trail networks: Bozen Kill Preserve (6.1 mi), Tawasentha Park (5.4 mi), Thacher State Park (3.8 mi).
Ahead of 83% of U.S. towns · #195 of 758 in New York. What drives it
Conserved land
10%
3,713 acres · of 57.9 sq mi of land
Trails
48 mi
0.8 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,713 ac
46 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
67%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
2.2 mi
1.8 mi lanes · 0.4 mi paths
Highest peak
906 ft
Settles Hill
Lakes & rivers
2
What kind of outdoors town is Guilderland?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Guilderland have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Guilderland is ahead of 83% of U.S. towns, #195 of 758 in New York. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; park acres per resident rank highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A−
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Guilderland’s overall grade.
Conserved land10% of the land · typical NY town 5% · U.S. 4%A−Trails0.8 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (48 mi) · NY 0.4 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land46 acres of park per 1,000 residents (1,713 acres) · NY 31 · U.S. 13A−Parks close to home67% of residents within a half mile of a park · NY 70% · U.S. 72%B−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 83%
LessMore
New York towns of 2,500+ (758)Ahead of 74%
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Bozen Kill Preserve, with 6.1 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Tawasentha Park
Park
172 acres5.4 mi of trail
Red trailyellow trailBlue trailYellow Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Thacher State Park
Managed by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
224 acres3.8 mi of trail
Escarpment TrailSkin Tight NorthRock Climbing Access PathSkin Tight South+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Hailes CaveWebsite ↗
Vosburgh Trails
Managed by Town of Guilderland
181 acres3.4 mi of trail
Red trailBlue trailYellow trailGreen trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Albany Pine Bush Preserve
Managed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
713 acres3 mi of trail
Madison Avenue Pinelands Purple TrailPurple trailGreat Dune Blue TrailKarner Barrens Yellow Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center ParkingWebsite ↗
Breitenbach Castle
Managed by Breitenbach, Thomas Edward
48 acres2.6 mi of trail
Turkey LoopBeechwood TrailThe Gorge TrailPlantation Grove+1
No dogs
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Black Creek WMA
Managed by NYD DEC
96 acres1.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Nature Conservancy
Managed by Nature Conservancy
173 acres1 mi of trail
Great Dune Blue TrailTruax Trail (green)
Dogs usually not allowed
Directionsto the parking lot
All 22 parks & preserves
Bozen Kill Preserve424 acres · 6.1 mi of trail · Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
DirectionsTawasentha Park172 acres · 5.4 mi of trail
DirectionsThacher State Park224 acres · 3.8 mi of trail · New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
DirectionsVosburgh Trails181 acres · 3.4 mi of trail · Town of Guilderland
DirectionsAlbany Pine Bush Preserve713 acres · 3 mi of trail · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DirectionsBreitenbach Castle48 acres · 2.6 mi of trail · Breitenbach, Thomas Edward
DirectionsBlack Creek WMA96 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · NYD DEC
DirectionsNature Conservancy173 acres · 1 mi of trail · Nature Conservancy
DirectionsRoger Keenholts Park52 acres · 1 mi of trail · Town of Guilderland
DirectionsBlack Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area288 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsBozenkill Park29 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
Directionsfuture preserve203 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
Nott Road Park91 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsSix Mile Waterworks Park27 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsDiCaprio Park43 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsWestmere Trail14 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Town of Guilderland
DirectionsVolunteer Firefighter's Memorial Park7 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsFusco Town Park29 acres · Town of Guilderland
DirectionsMcKownville Park9 acres
Old Atamont Orchard Field2 acres
Orsini Park1 acres · Village of Altamont
DirectionsSchilling Park1 acres · Village of Altamont
DirectionsWho protects it
3,713 conserved acres
10% of Guilderland’s land. Who manages Guilderland’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State conservation965 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits885 ac
Regional Water Districts687 ac
Town or city572 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government536 ac
Private owners513 ac
State parks253 ac
Private Conservation · 859 acLocal Park · 687 acLocal Other or Unknown · 687 acState Conservation Area · 672 acPrivate Other or Unknown · 457 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 4 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 3 of 90 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany Pine Bush Preserve State Conservation Area | State conservation | 980 | Open |
| Watervliet Water Board Land Local Other or Unknown | Regional Water Districts | 687 | Unknown |
| Private Lands Private Other or Unknown | Private owners | 513 | Closed |
| Guilderland Town of Land Local Park | Town or city | 397 | Unknown |
| Black Creek Marsh Wma State Resource Management Area | State conservation | 293 | Open |
| Guilderland Town Lands Local Conservation Area | Other or Unknown Local Government | 287 | Restricted |
| John Boyd Thacher State Park State Park | State parks | 225 | Open |
| Bozen Kill Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 216 | Closed |
| Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy Land Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 206 | Open |
| Carl J Walters Tawasentha Park Local Park | Other or Unknown Local Government | 189 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
45 places to go in Guilderland
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Public pools in Guilderland
Capital District YMCA Camp Nassua Pool
DirectionsPinehaven Country Club Pool
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Guilderland
13 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Dog parks in Guilderland
1 dog park without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Waterfalls in Guilderland
Plus 7 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Guilderland
Hang Gliders Cliff
DirectionsHigh Point CliffIn Thacher State Park
DirectionsPlus 15 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Guilderland
Settles Hill906 ft elevation
DirectionsCommunity gardens in Guilderland
1 community garden without a name on the map.
Trails & water
25 named trails and 2 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 1.8 miUnpaved · 29.3 mi
Red trail2.8 mi
Purple trail2.2 mi
Blue trail2.0 mi
Madison Avenue Pinelands Purple Trail1.2 mi
Great Dune Blue Trail1.1 mi
Green trail1.0 mi
Upper Main (Orange)1.0 mi
Blue Trail1.0 mi
Yellow Trail1.0 mi
Ridge Trail (Yellow)0.9 mi
15 more trails
Hemlock Loop (White)
0.9 miTruax Trail (green)
0.8 miEscarpment Trail
0.7 miLong Path (Aqua Green)
0.7 miGreen Trail
0.7 miyellow trail
0.6 miLower Main Trail (White)
0.6 miFloodplain Trail (Red)
0.6 miSkin Tight North
0.6 miYellow trail
0.6 miWest Trail (Green)
0.6 miWhite Trail
0.6 miRock Climbing Access Path
0.5 miSkin Tight South
0.4 miNature Trail (Red)
0.4 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
2.2 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
1.8 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
0.4 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
40Tennis
25Baseball
11Soccer
7Softball
6Basketball
4Tracks
2Beach volleyball
2Field hockey
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →41 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 3 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Delaware and Hudson Railroad Passenger StationBuilding · listed 1971
About itHayes HouseBuilding · listed 1973
About itAltamont Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1982
About itApple TavernBuilding · listed 1982
About itCharles Parker HouseBuilding · listed 1982
About itGifford Grange HallBuilding · listed 1982
About itGillespie HouseBuilding · listed 1982
About itHamilton Union Presbyterian ChurchBuilding · listed 1982
About itJacob Crouse InnBuilding · listed 1982
About itJohn Schoolcraft HouseBuilding · listed 1982
About itMcNiven Farm ComplexBuilding · listed 1982
About itMynderse-Frederick HouseBuilding · listed 1982
About it29 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Guilderland: May and July to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.4 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.6 | 15.3 | 15.0 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
| High (°F) | 33 | 36 | 44 | 58 | 70 | 78 | 83 | 81 | 74 | 61 | 49 | 38 |
| Rain (in) | 2.6 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 2.9 | 3.2 |
February is the driest month (2.4 in) and July the warmest (highs of 83 °F). 4.2 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Guilderland →
Next door
Guilderland and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Colonie77 miNew Scotland66 miAlbany49 miGuilderland48 miBethlehem48 miKnox25 miRotterdam22 miWestmere2.5 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guilderland | 10% | 0.8 | 46 | 67% | A− |
| Knox | 11% | 0.6 | 636 | 45% | A− |
| Albany | 15% | 2.3 | 19 | 98% | A |
| Colonie | 7% | 1.4 | 29 | 78% | A− |
| New Scotland | 13% | 1.2 | 278 | 60% | A |
| Westmere | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Rotterdam | 5% | 0.6 | 36 | 76% | A− |
| Bethlehem | 4% | 1.0 | 31 | 66% | B+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Guilderland
Where can I hike in Guilderland?
The longest trail networks: Bozen Kill Preserve, 6.1 miles; Tawasentha Park, 5.4 miles; Thacher State Park, 3.8 miles; Vosburgh Trails, 3.4 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Guilderland is conserved land?
10% of its land, against a typical 5% for a New York town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Guilderland’s trails?
Bozen Kill Preserve and Tawasentha Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Guilderland?
2.2 miles of bike routes are on the map: 1.8 of painted or protected lanes and 0.4 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Guilderland?
25,174 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Guilderland or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,847 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Guilderland have?
Ahead of 83% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #195 of 758 in New York. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Guilderland neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →