We have been looking for some short hikes to enjoy as a family, and found the Indian Kill Nature Preserve in Schenectady, New York.  The trails looked manageable for the kids, and the preserve is 100 acres, so there is still plenty to explore.

We started off on the trails, and at the end of the summer in early September, the trails ranged from grown in, to heavily traveled, to muddy.

The trails seemed well-marked, at least on the way into the preserve.  Later on the way out, we found ourselves going through the woods trying to find trails, and not finding trail markers.

Near the beginning of the trail is a small dam, which was originally used to impound water for the former Glenridge Hospital.

It was a little overcast that day, but the view over the water was very pretty, with some lingering wildflowers.

There are lots of areas to explore along the Indian Kill.  The water levels were low in the area, but the water was still flowing.

I liked the variety of trails, which meandered along the Indian Kill and through wooded areas.

We found a wooly bear caterpillar, a definite sign of Fall.

There were some muddy trails around the preserve, even though it was more of a dry time of year.

While mud is pretty common on trails, there were some downed trees on the trails, so I’m not sure how often this trail is maintained.

Visit the Schenectady County website for info and trail maps.