Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Hilltown Riders is currently accepting new members.

Membership is open and applications are processed all year round.

Visit our Interested in Joining page! Read through all of the information and then use the Join Now button found at the bottom to fill out the online membership application.

A volunteer board member will review your application and, provided you have supplied complete and accurate information, your application for membership will be approved. You will then need to pay the membership dues for the current cycle via this website. Once you have completed these steps, you will receive instructions on how to obtain your membership materials.

• Applicants must be over the age of 18 and must agree to the liability waiver presented during the application process.
• Insurance coverage is mandatory; valid proof of insurance will need to be provided during the application process.
• Hilltown Riders requires the license plate(s) of tow vehicles (or trailers) that will park on Club property.
• Any machine operated on Club property must be equipped with the OEM exhaust system and it must be in good working order. Machines designed for closed course competition are prohibited.
• All riders must wear a DOT approved helmet while they are on any machine that is on Club property.
• The annual dues are $200 for a household membership.

To join, visit our Interested in Joining page! Read through all of the information and then use the Join Now button found at the bottom to fill out the online membership application.

A membership that includes everyone under the age of 25 living in a single household is $200 per year. The Membership year runs from May 1st to April 30th. 

The Club accepts applications for membership throughout the year. New members that join in the middle of the year pay dues for the current membership year and receive a prorated credit toward the next dues cycle.

Work credits can be earned by members that volunteer to help out with trail maintenance and/or other club activities throughout each calendar year which can reduce future membership dues.

A Hilltown Riders membership includes the primary member, their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 25 living at the same address. (Note that proof of residency may be required for household members ages 18 to 25.)

No. There is no need to wait until May each year to join Hilltown Riders.

All new members pay the dues for the current membership cycle when they join regardless of the date their application is submitted. Members that sign up partway through the year receive a prorated credit that will apply towards the next dues cycle based on the join date.

Hilltown Riders is run by a small group of volunteers and does not offer tours at this time. There are currently no provisions for prospective members to visit the properties before joining. 

With limited exceptions, New York requires that ATVs be registered if they are operated anywhere in New York State, including on the owner's property.

We do not require a copy or proof of registration for machines ridden on Hilltown Riders property. Its recognized that some SxS UTVs can not be registered at this time in NYS due to the machines weight class.

New York requires machines to be registered when ridden on public land, which includes road crossings.

Insurance coverage is mandatory and valid proof of insurance will need to be provided during the application process. Hilltown Riders requires members to carry a copy of their OHV insurance with their machine on the trails.

Yes, helmets are required for anyone riding! This includes all passengers on SxS machines, and passengers on factory 2-up machines.

NO Exceptions!

Helmets MUST be DOT approved. 

ATVs factory designed for two persons are allowed on the property and may be used by a rider and passenger. ATVs which have been modified by attaching a rear seat are not allowed to be used with a passenger.

Yes!

• Children of Members are allowed as passengers on a legal multi-passenger machine at the discretion of the parent or guardian as long as the Manufacturer’s allowed number of passengers is not exceeded and seat restraints (as manufactured, or better) are used by all. No other modifications will be made or allowed, to accommodate younger children (i.e. car seats), and the Parent/Guardian must be the operator of said machine.
• ALL family members must be wearing a properly fitted DOT approved helmet at any time while riding/operating an off-road vehicle. Including in parking areas and while loading/unloading machines.
• Children of Members under the age of 18 may operate a Member owned and insured machine displaying a current membership sticker (machine must be listed on the Member’s Profile) at the Parent/Guardian’s discretion. All riders are required to adhere to Manufacturer age recommendations and/or restrictions for any machine ridden on Club properties.
• Children of Members under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a Parent/Guardian at all times on any Hilltown Riders operated properties.

Hilltown Riders OHV Club maintains trails on two properties. One property is located 30 minutes west of Albany in Voorheesville (New Scotland) and the second is about 1.25 hrs north of Albany in the Town of Day, near Great Sacandaga Lake.

Yes, the easy trails work fine with the smaller children’s machines.

Hilltown Riders maintains trails in two locations totaling just over 1500 acres. Many marked trails exist at each location and expansion is ongoing; New trails are always being developed by our members.

Trails are marked easy, medium and difficult. Main trails are generally easy and will have few obstacles. They are suitable for most machines. Medium trails may have loose or slippery sections as well as obstacles, but the obstacles can typically be bypassed. Difficult trails may have off-camber sections and steep side slopes, as well as obstacles that cannot be bypassed.

Yes, signing in is mandatory. It’s also quick and easy – members sign in electronically via the members area of the website.

Hilltown Riders does not permit the use of snowmobiles on the trails.

No; Hilltown Riders is a members-only OHV club and allows member owned machines exclusively to be utilized on our properties. Hilltown Riders does not offer short term (also known as "day") passes or partial year memberships.

Yes, we attend events such as arenacross, motocross and county fairs, along with other OHV events occurring in the Capital Region to promote the club. Through our members-only forum we have organized trips to major trail systems including Hatfield McCoy, the VASA system, and New Hampshire.

Work credits are credits applied to a member’s account to reduce the amount of dues the member must pay to renew.

Each member/household who logs:

• 12 work day hours per year shall receive a $100 credit toward the following years dues.
• 35 (thirty five) hours shall be considered a “Major Contributor” and shall be exempt from dues the following year.

Work hours are accrued at work days throughout the calendar year, awarded for preapproved and measurable work performed for the betterment of the Club.

Work credits accrued from January 1st through December 31st are applied to the following years dues.

Hilltown Riders does not permit activies besides OHV use on Club properties at this time.

Send email to htr@hilltownriders.com with your question and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.