John Boyd Thacher State Park

John Boyd Thacher State Park sits along the Helderberg Escarpment and combines limestone cliffs, wooded areas, and meadows across its grounds. Views stretch across the Hudson-Mohawk Valleys from multiple vantage points.

The land was given to the state in 1914 by the widow of Albany mayor John Boyd Thacher to create a public nature preserve. This gift established the foundation for what the park offers today.

The Indian Ladder Trail takes visitors along limestone formations where traces of ancient marine life can be examined and studied directly in the rock faces.

The park provides about 12 miles of marked trails for hiking, biking, and winter cross-country skiing. Several picnic areas with shelters are available for group use.

The limestone cliffs act as a natural corridor for migrating raptors, especially hawks, which glide on warm air currents rising up the rock face. Visitors can watch these birds of prey in flight throughout the season.

Location: New York

Inception: 1914

Operator: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Phone: +15188721237

Website: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/128

GPS coordinates: 42.65580,-74.01920

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:40