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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 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by mike & Cam p. on 11/8/2009 I first hiked bennett in 1995 at age 15. Today I brought my 5 year old son to the summit. Great hike! For the beginner or the more advanced. From the north end there is a great veiw that just misses albany, however there is a beautiful veiw of the Berkshires and Green mnts. Something majestic about this heldeberg peak. Please let's keep it clean and enjoy for years to come.
Reviewed by Rob on 9/23/2009 Bennett Hill is very close to Albany and takes only about two hours to hike round trip, so it's perfect if you just want a quick jaunt. Nice view from the top, though you have to loop around the summit ring to get an unobstructed view. Only saw one person on my hike there on a Sunday, so it's nice if you're looking to avoid people. Wear bug spray. I went without, and at points the insects were almost intolerable
Reviewed by IK on 6/21/2009 Fabulously easy hike. The maps have the trail blazes backwards. The approach trail is labelled on the map as yellow but the trail is actually marked with green blazes. The summit loop is labelled on the map as green but is actually marked with yellow blazes. It was the cows on the farm that helped me ensure that I was where I thought I was. There some short steep sections but the summit loops is worth the climb. There are some tasty wild blue berries and wild strawberries up there that were as sweet as can be. My wife and I are very frequent hikers so we were able to get up and back in 1 hour and 5 minutes. Enjoy...
Reviewed by BG on 6/2/2008 The trail was in nice shape. I think it's actually the yellow trail that circles the summit (although I might be wrong). I headed around the summit and was afraid I missed the intersection to head back down - the summit circle was longer than I expected and I eventually came to the two green slashes that marked the way back down. I kept up a brisk pace and finished in under an hour. Bugs weren't bad. 
Reviewed by M Keenan on 10/28/2006 Our family and dog did this hike in mid oct. Easy hike, enough leaves had fallen for the views to be good. Check yourself well after hiking here there were a lot of deer ticks.
Reviewed by JB on 9/11/2006 As the previous reviewer noted, the view is pretty obstructed, but the hike was nice. Trail markers could be better. At some points the trail splits off and it isn't real clear which way to go. Between the description on this site and a trail map I was able to get my bearings. Watch out for the sink holes and muddy spots. All in all it was a nice hike and a little strenuous at some points (for me at least)as there is a lot of "uphill" stuff. I'd do it again. 
Reviewed by JR on 9/10/2006 At this point it's just a walk in the woods. Unfortunately any view toward Albany is obstructed by trees. A little work and the view could be worthwhile. 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||