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 –

Golf cart crossing @ end of tunnel enclosure (2nd of 2 crossings; 1st is halfway through tunnel enclosure)

Looking at Floud Memorial Park, restrooms and parking lot E of Coons Crossing on S side of RR tracks

Spur trail through Ushers Road State Forest

Looking northerly along Spur Trail (to Route 9) from its intersection with Zim Smith Trail

Sign along Zim Smith Trail at intersection with Ruhle Road South

Looking easterly at entrance road into Shenantaha Creek Park

Looking upstream along Mourning Kill from bridge just north of Underpass Road
View a video tour of this trail.
View my wildflower field guide for this nature preserve. 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