Stroller-friendly walks in the Capital Region, North Country, and Hudson Valley

Sometimes as a busy parent or caregiver, a little fresh air can be the best medicine. But it can be challenging for both new and experienced parents to find stroller-friendly places to walk with young children. That’s why we’ve put together a list of stroller-friendly walks in the Capital Region, North Country, and Hudson Valley. Time to pack up the kiddos and get outside!

Stroller-friendly Locations

Capital Region

Bauer Environmental Park Loop – Colonie
This unique walking trail loops you through a small, quiet forest in the middle of Albany. The trail is entirely made of a wooden boardwalk, so it may not be as smooth as a paved walkway.
Parent Tip! Because this trail is boardwalk, there may be times when water pools or the wood becomes slippery when wet. You may want to avoid this location if there’s been rain.

Cook Park – Colonie
This park has it all – a duck pond, open fields, and areas with shady tree cover – perfect for a choose your own adventure or to keep things interesting after multiple visits. One important thing to note about this park is some pathways are paved and some are gravel.

The Crossings of Colonie – Colonie
This incredible park has 6.5 miles of paved pathways with lots of variety and shaded sections. There are some sections of pathways with hills, but they can easily be avoided.

Elm Avenue Park – Delmar
This large park includes a paved walkway near the front of the park, creating a short, easy-to-walk loop. There are also plenty of other attractions, like a pool, tennis and basketball courts, and a playground.

Empire State Trail – Nassau, East Greenbush, Albany, Troy, Cohoes, Schenectady
This beautiful and well-maintained state-wide trail provides access to both paved and crushed stone pathways with multiple trailheads to choose from. View the map for parking, to locate trail access points, and find out which trails near you are paved.

Hovey Pond Park – Queensbury
This unique walking trail creates a loop around Hovey Pond with options to walk through floral gardens on your way. This is a crushed stone path, so it may be a bit of a bumpy ride.

The Milton Mile Trail – Milton/Ballston Spa
This one-mile walking trail is located in Burgess-Kimbell Memorial Park and offers a beautiful walk through both woods and fields. This trail is crushed stone, so it may not be as smooth as other paved walking paths.
Parent tip! Bringing older littles? This kid-friendly path passes by Suzanne’s Playground with equipment suitable for both toddlers and older children!

The Spring Run Trail – Saratoga Springs
This is a mostly flat, paved trail offering beautiful views no matter the season. This one is perfect for nature lovers or anyone wanting a smoother ride with the stroller.

North Country

The Mirror Lake Loop – Lake Placid
Looking for a walk with an incredible view? This trail loops around The Adirondack’s beautiful Mirror Lake. The trail is paved and easy for strollers to navigate.

The Penfield Park Loop – Plattsburgh
This loop is less than a mile, flat, and completely paved. Located in Melissa Penfield Park, you’ll be surrounded by grass and trees. If you have older kids in tow, this park also has something for everyone, including a playground and skatepark.

Hudson Valley

Empire State Trail – Kinderhook, Stuyvesant, Kingston, New Paltz, Poughkeepsie
This beautiful and well-maintained state-wide trail provides access to both paved and crushed stone pathways with multiple trailheads to choose from. View the map for parking, to locate trail access points, and find out which trails near you are paved.

Walkway Over the Hudson – Poughkeepsie
This 1.28-mile-long pedestrian bridge is a unique outdoor walk to take with your little one. Spanning between Poughkeepsie and Highland, the bridge is flat, perfect for strollers, and requires no stairs to access.

Need a location closer to home? Visit alltrails.com/explore, click “all filters,” and select “stroller-friendly.”

Tips for Walking with Young Children

• Give yourself grace. Some days, you may not feel up to a walk or your baby isn’t willing to get into the car seat – and that’s okay! Walking should feel refreshing, and being flexible or planning around naps can save everyone stress.
• Bring a friend. Having a partner can be an excellent motivator! Bring a friend and get the benefits of fresh air, support, and time to catch up.
• Bring extra supplies. In addition to a bag packed with essentials wherever you go, it can be helpful to keep a basket of extras in the car. Items like clothing sets for the kids, a clean shirt for you, extra diapers and wipes, a blanket, and towels can save you in a pinch when you’ll be away from home for an extended time.
• Take care of yourself. Be mindful about sun protection, hydration, and turning around if you need to. It can make the difference between feeling good about your outing or feeling stressed.

Are you a CDPHP® member? You may have wellness benefits* you can use, like:

• Access to the CDPHP Health Hub. Learn how to eat for energy, sleep better, manage stress, and more. Earn points for healthy activities such as walking, eating well, or participating in challenges. And depending on your plan, you may even be able to convert your points into CDPHP Life Points Rewards you can redeem for gift cards.
• Money back for staying active. Get reimbursed for gym memberships, in-person or digital fitness classes, kids’ sports, and more.
• Help keeping your family healthy. Take a look at this first-time mom’s experience with CDPHP.

*Not all benefits apply to all plans. Check your plan details for more information.

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