UNCLE SAM BIKEWAY

OWNER:City of Troy

IN BRIEF: The Uncle Sam Bikeway features three miles of paved smooth path, with wildflowers, waterfalls, and shale cliffs along the way. It provides excellent walking for handicapped persons and for pushing wheelchairs and strollers.

DIRECTIONS: The Bikeway is located in Lansingburgh and North Troy. There is access from State Route 142 (Northern Drive), from the east end of 124th Street, from Cemetery Road at 119th Street, from Gurley Avenue at 114th Street, from Knickerbacker Park (by walking across the fields to the monument), and from Ingalls Avenue and Middleburgh Street. Handicapped access is best from Route 142, Gurley Avenue, and Cemetery Road.

CAUTIONS & PROHIBITIONS: Children should be watched where streams cross the bikeway as the culverts are high. The Bikeway is in an urban area, and we recommend that you bring a friend along. The Bikeway is closed from dusk to dawn. Do not litter, disturb plants or animals, or build fires. No motorized vehicles are allowed.

DESCRIPTION: The Bikeway is built on an old railroad roadbed and is entirely level, with gentle curves as it follows the contours of the adjacent hill. The roadbed was constructed in 1850-52 by the Troy and Boston Railroad, which was leased to the Fitchburg Railroad in 1887, and in turn to the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1900. Tracks were dismantled in 1972-73 and the Bikeway was opened in 1981. Oakwood Cemetery is above the path on the hilltop to the east, and the houses of Lansingburgh are just below to the west.

There is a great variety of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers along the trail. Trees include oaks, aspen, cottonwood, sugar maple, black cherry, mulberry, elm, tree-of-heaven, butternut, and locust. There are black walnuts at the Cemetery Road crossing and a hackberry near Gurley Avenue. Shrubs to be seen are both smooth and staghorn sumac, honeysuckle, pussy willow, and chokecherry. Wildflowers such as coltsfoot, celandine, garlic mustard, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and columbine can be found in the spring. Summer wildflowers abound: Joe pyeweed, Queen Anne's lace, chicory, touch-me-not, phlox, giant ragweed, hoary alyssum, false foxglove, and rose. Fall coloring is brilliant due to a large number of different tree species.

At the culvert about one-quarter mile north of the monument at Knickerbacker Park an unmarked trail branches off to the east. This trail leads up through a ravine known as "Devil's Kitchen," past two waterfalls, into Oakwood Cemetery. This cool, moist ravine has many interesting ferns and wildflowers, but parts of this trail network are steep and sometimes slippery. There are great views across the Hudson Valley from the bluff at the top. (See the Oakwood Cemetery description for details.)

From 101st Street south, the Bikeway is no longer in the woods but passes houses and businesses on both sides and is less attractive.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Recreation Department, City of Troy, City Hall, Troy, NY 12180. Telephone: (518) 270-4600.