A Skidmore student’s guide to 萨拉托加-area parks and trails

旅行 & Leisure has named 萨拉托加温泉市 one of “America’s Greatest Main Streets” and “全国最好的大学城之一.《火博体育》杂志说这是其中之一 nation’s top 100 places to live, and Princeton Review describes it as a “perfect college town” that’s “extremely fun and accepting of college students.” 

这也是 一直都 as one of the healthiest communities in the region thanks, in part, to abundant access 到娱乐场所，公园和小径.   

There are more than 25 public parks and trails in and around Skidmore and downtown 萨拉托加. Expand your view a few miles and that number only grows, into the hundreds even, as you include our surrounding mountains and waterways.   

With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to dive in. 作为火博体育户外俱乐部潜在的最大粉丝， and a regular hiker, rock climber and all-around outdoors enthusiast, I’m sharing a few favorites spots for everything from lunch-break strolls to full-blown summit 上升. 

三个最受欢迎的校园附近 

国会公园 

Located in the heart of the city, 国会公园 is a beautifully restored park designed in 1876 by Frederick Law Olmsted (the same guy who designed New York City’s Central Park), though its origin as a destination for mineral springs dates back even earlier.  

Today, it’s quintessential 萨拉托加 — a historic Victorian park that looks back on 熙熙攘攘的现代化小城市. 以完美放置在私人口袋里的长椅而闻名 for peace and quiet, it also features several winding paths frequented by dog walkers, families and the several dozen happy-go-lucky ducks that inhabit it. 

春游径  

火博体育 a mile from campus is the 春游径, a handicap-accessible pedestrian 还有沿着旧铁路路基的自行车道. 隐藏在居民区之间， it winds through a mix of woods, bogs and streams and even features a short boardwalk 越过沼泽.  

萨拉托加温泉州立公园 

If you are looking for more space or variety, the 萨拉托加温泉州立公园 is about 3英里(骑车15-20分钟). 以其古典建筑而著称 and noted for its diverse resources, the 2,379-acre state park is a popular destination 欢迎远近的游客.  

Although it’s home to the 萨拉托加 Performing Arts Center (where we graduate and where dozens of cool concerts and events happen each year), two golf courses, a historic hotel and more, students visit it more often for hiking, walking, biking and picnicking.  

The park’s six major trails loop across and around each other to offer infinite new 探索的方式. Plus, each one presents a different experience — try the 1.8 松树大道小径的一些历史教训，0.22英里的温泉小径 看到冒泡的天然温泉或2.9英里间歇泉步道，真正舒展你的双腿 然后到树林里去.  

城外最受欢迎的三个 

萨拉托加国家历史公园  

A little more than 10 miles from Skidmore (about a 20-minute drive) is both a sweeping landscape and a major historical destination — 萨拉托加 National Park. 这个公园保留了 the site of the Battle of 萨拉托加 in 1777, the first significant American military 美国独立战争的胜利. 它通常被称为“转弯” 美国革命的转折点.”    

Located on the Hudson River, it’s enjoyed today by both nature and history enthusiasts. The popular Wilkinson Trail is an 8 hike through open fields and serene woods with interpretive signage along the way explaining how the site looked in 1777.   

阿迪朗达克公园的乔治湖地区 

乔治湖 is the unofficial gateway to the Adirondack State Park, the largest state 公园在美国. 只消去湖边一游就值得了. 被称为 它是美国湖泊之皇后，美得令人窒息.  

Depending on your destination your distance from campus to a spectacular mountain view will vary, but you can estimate about 30–45 minutes by car, plus two to three 往返徒步旅行需要几个小时. Some of the most popular hikes are Buck Mountain, Sleeping 美容导旋钮. 这里有一个很棒的指南. 

A trip to 乔治湖 means one of my favorite activities: rock climbing. 这 means a visit to Shelving Rock Mountain with its impressive rock wall towering above 乔治湖.  

Don’t worry if you didn’t pack your ropes — the trail also has a beginner-level hike 这提供了相同的观点. 如果你要去，别忘了你的泳衣，冰架石 湖中有一个绝佳的跳点吗. 我每次开车回学校都带 先快速浸泡一下. 

阿迪朗达克公园的高峰地区 

The Adirondack Park boasts infinite opportunities for all kinds of recreation. 徒步旅行, birding, boating, climbing, cycling, fishing, golf … you name it, and it’s there. Where we’re located, on the eastern side of the park, it’s easy to get to one of the most picturesque areas — what’s known as the “high peaks” region.  

这个地区是以……命名的 “阿迪朗达克46, 四十六座山峰耸立在四千英尺以上. 这是很多当地人一生的目标 徒步旅行者征服他们. 我们用它们作为向导，让我们知道我们将会有一个伟大的 徒步旅行，在山顶有一个大奖励.  

把最好的留到最后 

火博体育的北森林 

No Skidmore-萨拉托加 trails story would be complete without 我们自己的北森林. Located exactly zero miles from campus (it’s on campus), you don’t have to go far 出去走走. 

I cannot tell you how many times I have gotten out of class stressed, taken a walk 在我们的北部森林里，几乎立即平静下来. 悄悄地离开了 bustle of campus, listening only to my feet crunching leaves or snow — it’s like a 150英亩的个人冥想静修地.  

I think it’s safe to say: Of the infinite options we have as Skidmore students, North 伍兹无疑是最好的.  

上大学对每个人来说都是不同的. 不过，有一件事是肯定的:它会的 成为一段旅程. Whether you choose 出去走走 for fun with friends, or use our many 自我护理的资源， 就像我经常做的那样 know that if you come to Skidmore, creative adventures are absolutely possible.