New York · National Historical Park trail

Tour Stop 4: Path to War

in New York · centroid 24 mi from Albany

At Stop number 4 you will be facing north. Between the two Battles of Saratoga on September 19th and October 7th, advanced pickets from both armies faced each other across the middle ravine. The farmhouse that stood here served as an American observation post.

As General Gates’ army received reinforcements and continued to fortify its position, General Burgoyne anxiously waited for help that would not come. General Howe, who was expected to come north from New York to join Burgoyne, would direct his attention toward Philadelphia. Colonel Barry St.

Leger, who was to have come from the west through the Mohawk Valley, was turned back at Fort Stanwix by the combined efforts of Colonel Peter Gansevoort, General Nicholas Herkimer, and the one the Indians called “heap fighting chief,” Benedict Arnold. Gates’ army continued to grow. Burgoyne was on his own.

States: New York
Trail type: National Historical Park trail
Centroid nearest city: Albany, NY · 24 mi · ~40 min drive
Centroid coords: 42.9949°, -73.6430°

About Saratoga National Historical Park

National Historical Park

This trail is inside Saratoga National Historical Park, a national historical park managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/tour-stop-4-path-to-war.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/sara/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Tour Stop 4: Path to War and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

Stay nearby

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Driving in? The nearest documented metro is Albany, NY — 24 miles away (~40 min drive). See accommodation in Albany on Booking.com → RoamFound earns a small commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you. How we handle affiliate links.