Victory Woods Trail

The Victory Woods Trail departs from the Prospect Hill Cemetery and makes its way through a wooded area where in October 1777, British troops surrendered to the US and swung the tide of the war in the American's favor. After parking your vehicle along Burgoyne Street, take a a few minutes to explore the Saratoga Monument. If you fancy a workout, climb the interior stairs to the top of the monument for sweeping views of the area. Once you get back down and collect your breath, look for a sign toward the cemetery that describes Victory Woods and what happened there. Follow the white dots on the ground through the cemetery, which was founded in the mid-1800s. The trail meanders through the cemetery along a private drive before heading downhill to the left. The trail moves onto a boardwalk near the end of Monument Drive, which provides an alternative parking location if you don't want to hike through the cemetery. As the trail moves through the woods, signs provide information about the experiences of the Colonial and British troops as they fought through this area. The boardwalk comes to a split where you can either go to the left or the right. If you go to the left, the boardwalk leads to a dead end where there is a picnic table for you to relax. If you go to the right, more signs provide insight into the situation that people faced during the war. The trail is shaded throughout, so it can be enjoyed any time of the day. Finally, arriving at a sign that marks the end of the trail at the edge of private property, your only real choice is to turn around and head back to your car. One day the trail may become part of the larger canal and rail to trail system that is found in the Hudson Valley, but for now enjoy the hike back through the woods.