Beloved Trail Run and Walk, the Rensselaerville Ramble, Returns to the Albany County Hilltowns

RENSSELAERVILLE – For four years, 2016-2019, the Rensselaerville Ramble was a popular trail run and walk that took participants through the forests of the 2,000+ acre Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve located in the Albany County Hilltown of Rensselaerville. The Huyck Preserve, a non-profit conservation organization and accredited land trust, stewards over 12 miles of trails, a 100-foot waterfall, a research pond, a lake, and many other unique features. The Rensselaerville Ramble invited people of all ages to explore the trails while raising money for the Huyck Preserve and the Rensselaerville Library. The local library, which is also a resource center and gathering space, dates back to 1896 and its Medusa Branch opened in 2023.

The Rensselaerville Ramble took a hiatus but is back this year in full swing! On September 20, racers, walkers, runners, families, and friends will once again gather at the Huyck Preserve for the Ramble’s grand return. This year, the Ramble has been moved from June to September to lessen the impacts to plants and animals and to increase the chance of cooler and drier weather for participants. As before, proceeds from the Ramble will go to the Huyck Preserve and the Rensselaerville Library, both important nonprofit organizations in the Hilltowns. 

The 2025 Ramble offers routes of varying lengths (2-miles, 5-miles, or 8-miles), and participants can join for fun or race competitively with medals on the line. New this year, registrants have the option to raise additional online funds for the important community nonprofits. All routes depart from scenic Lincoln Pond and take ramblers through the Huyck Preserve’s old fields, mixed deciduous forests, and planted conifer forests where they will see signs of times past including historic stone walls and an abandoned horse race track last used in the mid-20th century. Longer routes take participants further into the Preserve’s more remote and beautiful forests. 

The Rensselaerville Ramble is seeking runners, walkers, racers, volunteers, and sponsors to participate in this year’s event. Experience an early fall day in a beautiful natural setting while raising money for important organizations. To learn more about the Ramble or sign up to race, volunteer, or sponsor, visit the Ramble webpage on the Huyck Preserve’s website. https://www.huyckpreserve.org/rensselaerville-ramble-trail-run.html