The 10 best walks in Saratoga Springs

The best way to see Saratoga Springs is on foot. Downtown is compact, the historic neighborhoods are a few blocks off Broadway, and a state park full of trails is a short drive south.

Distances and times here are approximate. All of these routes are public.

How we chose

We chose public routes that are easy to follow, safe for most walkers and interesting enough to repeat, with a mix of park trails and historic streets. The list is unranked.

Hours and dates below come from each business, event organizer or official source and change without notice. Call ahead if you are making a special trip.

The Avenue of the Pines

The Avenue of the Pines is the long, shaded entrance road into Saratoga Spa State Park from Route 9, lined with tall pines that keep it cool most of the day. It runs straight toward the Hall of Springs and SPAC, so it is flat and easy for all ages. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to walk it. On concert nights, traffic backs up, so pick another route.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: Saratoga Spa State Park, off South Broadway

Why they made the list

• It is flat and straight.
• Tall pines shade it most of the day.
• Weekday mornings are the quietest.

See the full directory listing

The Geyser Trail

The Geyser Trail in Saratoga Spa State Park runs about 2.9 miles past the Island Spouter, Orenda Spring’s rust-orange tufa mound and Geyser Creek. It passes several springs you can taste along the way, so bring a cup. The path can be wet near the springs and creek, so wear shoes that can handle it. It is the park’s best walk for anyone curious about the springs.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: Saratoga Spa State Park

Why they made the list

• It passes several springs you can taste.
• The Orenda tufa mound is the highlight.
• Bring a cup.

See the full directory listing

Congress Park loop

The Congress Park loop is the easiest walk downtown: paved paths circle the ponds, the brick Canfield Casino and Congress Spring at the south end of Broadway. It is flat and stroller-friendly, and benches line the way. The park and casino form a National Historic Landmark district. In season, the old wooden carousel adds a stop for young children, and the history museum is inside the casino.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: Broadway and Spring Street

Why they made the list

• It is stroller-friendly.
• It is the easiest walk downtown.
• The carousel is here for kids in season.

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Union Avenue to the track

Walking Union Avenue from Congress Park to Saratoga Race Course takes about 20 minutes and covers the Union Avenue Historic District, lined with Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Gothic houses. The walk ends at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, across the street from the track. Race-day afternoons are crowded, so walk it in the morning or outside the summer meet for quiet sidewalks.

Hours: Public street.

Address: Union Avenue, Congress Park to 267 Union Avenue

Why they made the list

• It covers the Union Avenue Historic District.
• The racing museum is at the end.
• Race-day afternoons are crowded.

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The East Side

The East Side’s tree-lined streets, including Circular Street, Caroline Street and Fifth Avenue, are full of Victorian houses, many designed by local architect R. Newton Brezee. Start at the Batcheller Mansion Inn at 20 Circular Street, a High Victorian Gothic mansion from 1873, and wander east. Look down the alleys for old carriage houses. Most of these are private homes, so enjoy them from the sidewalk.

Hours: Public streets.

Address: Circular Street, Caroline Street and Fifth Avenue

Why they made the list

• The Batcheller Mansion Inn at 20 Circular Street is the classic start.
• Carriage-house alleys run behind the main streets.
• It is walkable from downtown.

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North Broadway

North Broadway runs about a mile from Van Dam Street to Skidmore College, lined with some of the largest Victorian houses in the city. It is the residential end of the Broadway Historic District, listed in 1979, and Brezee’s 1887 house at 628 North Broadway is on the route. The walk ends at Skidmore’s campus at 815 North Broadway. Loop back down Broadway for lunch downtown.

Hours: Public street.

Address: Van Dam Street to 815 North Broadway

Why they made the list

• Brezee’s 1887 house at 628 North Broadway is on the route.
• It ends at the Skidmore campus.
• Loop back down Broadway for lunch.

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Beekman Street and the West Side

The West Side walk takes in Beekman Street’s galleries, the Greek Revival houses of Franklin Square and the old Dublin neighborhood once settled by Irish and Italian railroad workers. The Hiram Charles Todd House at 4 Franklin Square dates to about 1837. Franklin Square Market on Railroad Place, a grocery with a deli, bakery and bar, makes a good stop for a snack or lunch along the way.

Hours: Public streets.

Address: Beekman Street and Franklin Square

Why they made the list

• It covers the West Side’s history in a few blocks.
• Franklin Square Market is on Railroad Place for a snack.
• Studios along Beekman are often open to browse.

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Skidmore College campus

Skidmore College’s hilltop campus at 815 North Broadway has wooded paths, open lawns and the Tang Teaching Museum, which has free admission. Weekends are quietest, and the campus pairs naturally with the North Broadway walk from downtown. The Arthur Zankel Music Center is also on campus for anyone who wants to catch a concert afterward. Follow campus rules and give way to events in progress.

Hours: Follow campus rules.

Address: 815 North Broadway

Why they made the list

• The Tang has free admission.
• The campus paths are quiet on weekends.
• It pairs with the North Broadway walk.

See the full directory listing

Broadway, end to end

Walking Broadway end to end, from Congress Park to Van Dam Street, takes about 15 minutes at a steady pace, much longer with stops. Shops, restaurants and historic commercial buildings line the whole route, most of it inside the Broadway Historic District. Start at the Heritage Area Visitor Center in the old Drink Hall at 297 Broadway for a map. Early mornings beat the crowds, especially in August.

Hours: Public street.

Address: Broadway, downtown

Why they made the list

• Shops and restaurants line the whole route.
• The Heritage Area Visitor Center is at the south end.
• Early morning beats the crowds.

See the full directory listing

High Rock Park

High Rock Park packs a lot into a small space: High Rock, Governor and Peerless springs, the Tempered by Memory 9/11 memorial made from World Trade Center steel, and the pavilions where the farmers market meets on summer Wednesdays and Saturdays. It is a short walk from the north end of Broadway. Saturday mornings from May through October are the liveliest time, and the springs are free to taste.

Hours: Open daily.

Address: 112 High Rock Avenue

Why they made the list

• Three springs are within a few steps of each other.
• The 9/11 memorial is made from World Trade Center steel.
• Saturday mornings bring the farmers market.

See the full directory listing

Frequently asked questions

Is Saratoga Springs walkable?

Downtown and the historic neighborhoods around it are very walkable. Most newer neighborhoods and the lake require a car.

Where can you hike in Saratoga Springs?

Saratoga Spa State Park has trails, including the roughly 2.9-mile Geyser Trail past several springs.

How long does it take to walk to the track from downtown?

About 20 minutes from Congress Park along Union Avenue.

See a place we missed or a detail that has changed? Send us a correction.