Wandering Northwest Columbia

Description:  Northwest Columbia County, NY.  38 miles, moderate hilliness (2300 vertical feet) 52 miles, with the Philmont start. For an 18-mile route in this area, see Kinderhook Ramble. 

Highlights:  Miles of quiet farm country in the west, beautiful hilltop views and long downhill cruising in the east, and several historic sites. 

Characteristics:  Moderate hilliness.  About 2.5 miles on dirt.  For both the main route and the variations, traffic interaction is typical for routes on this website.  

Hill climbs:  Total uphill climbing is about 2300 vertical feet.  Most of the longer climbs come in the second half of the route.  The toughest climb is on Highland Rd for 150 vertical feet at around 8% grade on dirt, quickly followed by another 200 feet of uphill -- then later after downhills to rest, two more climbs of 150-200 feet.  The west-to-east section along the Rensselaer-Columbia county border has several steep-ish 60-foot bumps to get over.

Traffic:  The main route has about 4 miles of high-speed and/or high-volume motor vehicle traffic.  Also about 1 mile of moderate traffic; and about 10 miles of traffic which is more than low, but often less than moderate.  The rest of the road segments often have low traffic. 

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Directions to Start

Start in Ghent

from the west and south (Routes 9H, 23B, or 9), take Route 66 North to Ghent. 

from the Taconic Parkway:  Take the Route 203 exit and go West into Chatham, then South on Route 66 for about 2.3 miles to Ghent. 

Alternate starts:  

Chatham:  Near the Route 295 exit from Taconic State Parkway (consider parking along Birge Hill Rd)

Kinderhook:  on Route 9. 

Philmont:  Go West about 2 miles from the Route 217 exit from Taconic Parkway.  Adds 14 miles to route -- see Philmont start route directions.  

Schodack:  Find some place to park from exit B-2 / exit 12 of New York Thruway Berkshire Extension/ Mass Pike / Interstate 90.