HomeNew YorkSchenectady › Woodlawn Preserve

Woodlawn Preserve

4.4 ★★★★☆ 144 Google reviews · Running trail in Schenectady, New York · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Woodlawn Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicQuiet

Nature preserve with pine forest & wetlands, popular for hiking, lake fishing & wildlife viewing.

What runners say about Woodlawn Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (144 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“My husband & I Enjoy a nice, cool and quiet evening walking the trails and relaxing by the water of the Woodlawn Preserve yesterday.”

Great place to take a walk or go fishing. Also good to show kids about nature. If you see any kids here riding motorized vehicles, call them what they are. As sholes. They should not be allowed to enjoy nature. No matter who "owns" the area. It belongs to the forest. And unless people respect that, it will go to hell.

★★★★★ — Brandon , Jul 2015

Nice short nature walk on the edge of Schenectady. A big and small loop and a cool dune overlook.

★★★★★ — Ryan , Sep 2025

Beautiful trail well maintained. Birds and many types of wild flowers. What a hidden gem!

★★★★★ — Serene , Aug 2023

This is a lovely area for hiking, bird watching, fishing, and other passive activities. The address listed is incorrect however. The address for the main entrance on Gifford Road can better be found by using 1 Gifford Road, Schenectady, NY 12304.

★★★★★ — Janet , Sep 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 144 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“Beautiful views if you arrive in the early morning.”

More trails like this →

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“My husband & I Enjoy a nice, cool and quiet evening walking the trails and relaxing by the water of the Woodlawn Preserve yesterday.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Woodlawn Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.

Hours

Monday 6 am–8 pm
Tuesday 6 am–8 pm
Wednesday 6 am–8 pm
Thursday 6 am–8 pm
Friday 6 am–8 pm
Saturday 6 am–8 pm
Sunday 6 am–8 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Woodlawn Preserve

1 Gifford Rd, Schenectady, NY 12304

Get directions

Running trails near Schenectady

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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0.5 miLoopNatural surfaceShaded

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All running trails in Schenectady, NY →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.