The main trailhead is at the south end of Zim Smith Trail, which is an 11.5-mile multiple-use trail that begins in the City of Mechanicville, then continues through the Town of Halfmoon, then continues through a portion of the Town of Clifton Park and the Town of Malta, and ends in the Village of Ballston Spa in the Town of Ballston. The Zim Smith Trail is a National Recreation Trail (designated in 2012), named after Col. Zimri “Zim” Smith, USAF (Ret), who died in 1994.
Six parking areas are available along Zim Smith Trail:
- Mechanicville Trailhead Lot (AKA Zim Smith East Trailhead) – Small parking lot at north end of Elizabeth Street Extension in Mechanicville.
- Floud Memorial Park – Parking lot on east side of Coons Crossing Road, south of railroad tracks, in the Town of Halfmoon (diagonally across road from parking area #3).
- Coons Crossing Lot (west) – Small parking lot on west side of Coons Crossing Road in the Town of Halfmoon (diagonally across road from parking area #2).
- Round Lake Lot – Another parking lot is located along Curry Avenue in the Village of Round Lake.
- Shenantaha Creek Park Lot – The largest parking lot is located at Shenantaha Creek Park (off Eastline Road, south of Route 67) in the Town of Malta. Please note that public toilets and a drinking fountain are available at the park; there are no other facilities along this trail.
- Oak Street Lot – A very narrow parking area is located along the shoulder of the end of Oak Street (a dead end street) in the Village of Ballston Spa.
This trail is wheelchair accessible. Most of this trail has a stone dust (crushed shale) surface with the remainder being an asphalt surface.
View the Zim Smith Trail map (9-mile original trail plus Malta spur) and the Mechanicville to Coons Crossing segment trail map.
Some views along this trail –
Looking NW’ly from trailhead
Looking NW’ly at Pan AM Southern railyard
Looking NW’ly at curve before tunnel enclosure through golf course
Tunnel enclosure through Fairways of Halfmoon golf course
Golf cart crossing @ end of tunnel enclosure (2nd of 2 crossings; 1st is halfway through tunnel enclosure)
2nd of 2 picnic tables (first overlooks W end of Pan AM Southern railyard)
Retired sickle bar mower now serving as trailside sculpture
Looking at Floud Memorial Park, restrooms and parking lot E of Coons Crossing on S side of RR tracks
Mileage marker along Zim Smith Trail measured from trailhead at Coons Crossing Road
Carving on old log (it faces easterly) along Zim Smith Trail
Carving on old log (it faces westerly) along Zim Smith Trail
View along Zim Smith Trail
Looking easterly from English Road
Looking westerly from English Road
Log bench along Zim Smith Trail
Bridge over Route 9
Looking south from Curry Avenue
Looking south from Goldfoot Road toward parking lot at Curry Avenue
Looking north from Goldfoot Road
Looking southerly from Morris Road
Looking northerly from Morris Road
Looking northwesterly at bridge over Round Lake Bypass
Looking northerly at bridge over Round Lake Bypass
Looking southeasterly along Zim Smith Trail from its intersection with Spur Trail to Route 9
View (looking northerly) along Spur Trail
Looking northeasterly upstream through valley of unnamed tributary to Ballston Creek
Looking northwesterly upstream through valley of unnamed tributary to Ballston Creek
Looking southeasterly along Spur Trail from ridgetop overlooking Balston Creek to south
Looking easterly at bridge over ravine along Spur Trail to Route 9
Bench and overlook along Spur Trail to Route 9
View (looking westerly) of Balston Creek along Spur Trail
Looking westerly along Spur Trail
Looking southwesterly along Spur Trail from Route 9
Signage along Zim Smith Trail
Looking northwesterly along Zim Smith Trail from its intersection with Spur Trail to Route 9
Looking southeasterly at I-87 bridges
Wood carving along Zim Smith Trail near Northway overpass
Looking easterly from Ruhle Road South
Looking westerly from Ruhle Road South
Wood carvings along trail
Looking northerly up a ravine along trail
Looking northerly up a ravine along trail
Looking southerly at trail crossing of entrance road into Shenantaha Creek Park
Looking south from trail crossing at Underpass Road
Looking north from trail crossing at Underpass Road
Looking upstream along Mourning Kill from bridge just north of Underpass Road
Looking northerly along trail
Artwork along trail
Looking northerly along trail
Artwork along trail
Looking northerly along trail
Looking northerly along trail near intersection with Zepko Lane
Looking northerly from northern end of trail at Oak Street
Looking southerly from northern end of trail at Oak Street
View a video tour of this trail.
View my wildflower field guide for this trail. If you wish to download a copy to your smartphone or tablet for trailside use, simply scan this quick read bar code:
Thank you. Great trail!
Love this trail! There’s a great overview and map here too http://newyorktrailheads.com/2016/04/09/Zim-Smith-Trail.html