Trail Location
See this map from NYS DEC's website and a cool interactive map of the whole trail from BikeADK. Printed maps showing local businesses and amenities are available from local businesses in the Tri-lakes and from the Chamber of Commerce in Saranac Lake.
Trail Status and uses
The trail is now open from Lake Placid to Floodwood Road to public for hiking and biking in warm months, for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter.
The final section, from Floodwood Road to Tupper Lake, is closed to public use during work hours while those sections are under construction. Interim recreation is allowed at users' own risk on this unimproved section of the Corridor. Public use may be limited or restricted in sections due to hazardous conditions or active construction or maintenance. Please respect posted signage and barricades. Users will need to traverse the Corridor at low speeds and use caution, use good sense, and heed signs. Currently, the rail bed surface is not consistent along the entire segment. The surface material varies, ranging from large, crushed stone to sand, and is often mixed with varying amounts of mineral soil. Occasional rail tie fragments and small metal pieces remain in the Corridor.
Most work should finish next year, but this section of the trail will remain closed until construction is complete in 2025. Follow NYSDEC and ARTA for the latest news and information on trail and construction status.
Trail access
Accessing the Lake Placid Trailhead on Station St. in Lake Placid.
• If coming from Wilmington make a left onto 73 in the Village of Lake Placid and then a right onto Station St. in Lake Placid go past the historical society. Parking is on the left at the trail head.
• If coming from the village of Lake Placid take Main Street to the intersection with 73 and make a right and then another right on Station St (at LisaG's) go past the historical society. Parking is on the left at the trail head.
• If coming from Keene, take Old Military Road just past the ski jumps to Station Street (just past the elementary school) then right to the trail head, just before the historical society.
Accessing the trail in Saranac Lake
• Trail access in the village is at the Union Depot on Depot Street. There is limited parking and temporary toilet facilities there. The depot is under repair and temporarily closed.
• South of the village of Saranac Lake on Route 86 the trail crosses Route 86 at Fowler's Crossing. There are parking and temporary toilet facilities there on both sides of the highway.
Parking Locations
• Fish Pond Truck Trail Parking Area is located off State Route 30, 3 ½ miles west of the Hamlet of Lake Clear Junction;
• Haystack Mountain Ray Brook Trailhead Parking Area is located along State Route 86 between Ray Brook and Lake Placid;
• Little Clear Pond Parking Area is located off State Route 30, 3 1/2 miles west of the Hamlet of Lake Clear Junction;
• Oseetah Trails Parking Area is located on State Route 86 east of the Village Saranac Lake; Scarface Mountain Trailhead is located on County Route 32, 0.2 miles south of State Route 86.
• A parking lot is also under construction at the Saranac Lake Depot.
• There is parking at the Lake Placid Train Station on Station Street unless otherwise noted. You can also park along Station street.
• A trailhead is currently planned for the land adjacent to the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society in the old Lake Placid Depot.
• There is a small parking lot on Ray Brook Rd (off Route 86) with a porta john which provides access to the trail.
Highway Crossings
All trail users are required to stop at road crossings. Vehicles must yield the right of way to pedestrians in the crosswalk (pedestrians include cyclists walking their bicycles). Other non-pedestrians (cyclists while riding and snowmobilers) are required to yield the right of way to vehicles on the road. Some resources:
• NY.gov pedestrian safety FAQs
• Training video for law enforcement about pedestrians and crossings
• Summary of NYS bicycle laws
• Sharing the trail
Equipment rental shops near the trail
• Bike Lake Placid, 455 Old Military Rd, Lake Placid, NY 12946. Near Firehouse. Greg Borzilleri is owner/operator. Rental business Offering e-bikes, mountain bikes, tricycles, and more, located on the Adirondack Rail Trail, just outside of town. (518) 637-780
• High Peaks Cyclery, 1 mi from trail - 2733 Main St, Lake Placid, NY 12946. (518) 523-3764. brian@highpeakscyclery.com. Owners Karen and Brian Delaney offer rental bikes, canoes, kayaks and SUP's, camp gear, ski equipment, avalanche safety gear, snow shoes, micro-spikes, bear canisters, a guide service and much more
• Placid Planet Bicycles, 1.5 mi from trail. Address: 2242 Saranac Ave, Lake Placid, NY 12946. (518) 523-4128. Bike sales and rentals.
• Sara-Placid Sled & Spoke LLC 255 Broadway, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 owned and operated by Mac Stratford and Dylan Duffy. Services include snowmobile rentals, guided tours, and E-bike tours or rentals on the 34-mile, multi-use Adirondack Rail-Trail system connecting Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Lake Clear, and Tupper Lake. info@sledandspoke.com. (518) 205-7864
• Silver Birch Cycles (formerly Human Power Planet Earth) 0.5 – 1 mi from trail. 77 Main St, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 (518) 354-8497
Trail Management
The Adirondack Rail Trail brought together the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Transportation (DOT, the Office of General Services and the Adirondack Rail Trail Association (ARTA) to create a world-class recreational destination. Here's how their roles and responsibilities break down:
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC): DEC holds the responsibility for the Tupper Lake to Lake Placid segment of the rail trail. Upon the completion of construction, DEC will oversee the day-to-day management of the Adirondack Rail Trail. They work closely with various stakeholders and municipalities to ensure the trail's continued excellence as an outdoor recreation destination.
• New York State Office of General Services (OGS): OGS manages the trail's design and construction, with a focus on ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to the greatest extent feasible.
• New York State Department of Transportation (DOT): The NYSDOT is reposnsible for the train corridor south of Tupper Lake and for the state highways that intersect the trail.
• Adirondack Rail Trail Association: ARTA is a public-private not-for-profit partnership, working in conjunction with DEC, the communities along the trail (the "Trail Towns"), and other stakeholders in supporting the Adirondack Rail Trail. By working together, we are making the Adirondack Rail Trail a prime example of how communities, nature, and recreation can thrive side by side. This partnership reflects a commitment to historic preservation, conservation, recreation, interpretation, tourism, and community development.
ARTA has a Trail Ambassador program for interested volunteers who are the "eyes and ears" on the trail. Trail Ambassadors adopt a section of trail and commit to monitoring and reporting back to ARTA and DEC on trail conditions, and any issues they come across. ARTA Trail Ambassadors will demonstrate proper trail etiquette and set a good example for others. If you are interested in helping others on the trail and volunteering please contact ARTA.
Allowed Trail Uses
E-bikes
Class 1 e-bikes are allowed but cannot leave the trail and go onto DEC Wild Forest at Fowlers Crossing or other trail intersections. Class 2 and 3 e-bikes are not allowed.
ATVs
Motorized vehicles, aside from snowmobiles and Class 1 e-bikes, are prohibited on the entire corridor in all seasons. This will be enforced with gates, bollards, and law enforcement patrol and checkpoints. The restriction on public use of ATVs, automobiles, and other motor vehicles complies with the guidelines set forth in the Adirondack Park Master Plan and is in accordance with New York State law.
Winter uses
Over the winter, the trail can be accessed on snowshoes, skis, snowmobiles, and fat-tire bikes. According to the DEC, snowmobiling on the trail between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake will be allowed as conditions permit. Snowmobile use from Tupper Lake to Remsen will be allowed between December 1 and April 30 each year.
Camping
Camping and campfires along the corridor are prohibited. There are a range of camping opportunities nearby on both undeveloped state land and campgrounds.
• Fish Creek Pond Campground & Day Use Area
• Rollins Pond Campground
• Saranac Lake Islands Campground & Day Use Area
• Wilmington Notch Campground & Day Use Area.
Nearby Primitive Camping Areas:
• Bog River Complex - Tupper Lake,
• Saranac Lakes Wild Forest - Saranac Lake,
• St. Regis Canoe Area - Saranac Lake, Lake Clear, Santa Clara,
• William C. Whitney Wilderness
• Round Lake Wilderness - Tupper Lake
Hunting, trapping and fishing
Hunting and trapping are prohibited along the trail corridor.
There are an amazing variety of angling opportunities that can be accessed by the rail trail, from remote brook trout ponds to large lake trout and land-locked Atlantic salmon lakes, to largemouth and smallmouth bass waters, and some excellent stream fishing for trout. Waters adjacent to the Adirondack Rail Trail contains great examples of the fishing that the Adirondacks has to offer. Lake Colby is a particularly popular fishery that can provide excellent angling opportunities. Note that no fishing is allowed on Little Clear Pond.
Wildlife on the trail
Moose, Black Bear, Beaver, Eastern Coyote, River Otter, White-Tailed Deer, Little Brown, Bat, Bald Eagle, Common Loon, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Great Horned Owl, Great Blue Heron, Wild Turkey, and Eastern Bluebird.
Pets
Pets are allowed on the trail, but they must be kept under the control of their owner and be restrained on a leash no more than 6 feet long. People must clean up after their pet(s).
Disability Access
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that camping and boating programs are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. The NYSDEC used the US Access Board's Final Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas as guidance for the creation of trail facilities to ensure compliance with the requirements of the ADA.
The NYSDEC's Standard Accessible Designs for Outdoor Recreational Facilities provides resources for creating accessible outdoor facilities not covered under either the ADA or the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA). Every effort has been made to build the trail and facilities in accord with the Final Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor UMP Amendment/SEIS | 45 Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas standards. Where this cannot or could not be accomplished, the NYSDEC constructs facilities that are compatible with as many levels of user-ability as possible.
Laws and regulations
Groups
Groups of 20 or fewer can access the trail without a permit. Groups of 21 or more must contact the DEC to apply for a permit.
Speed limits
A speed limit of 15 miles per hour applies where the trail passes through a village and at the area along Lake Clear. In addition, all snowmobile laws and regulations apply to the trail, including that snowmobiles cannot be operated within one hundred feet of a dwelling between 12 midnight and 6 AM at a speed greater than the minimum speed required to maintain forward motion. New York State's snowmobile speed limit law states: in no case shall a snowmobile be operated at a speed in excess of fifty-five miles per hour upon public trails or lands.
Regulations that apply to public use of the trail:
NYSDEC and its partners, including ARTA, are committed to maintaining a safe work environment and ask the public to treat employees, volunteers, and other partners with respect.
New York State does not tolerate harassment of any kind. Inappropriate behavior or treatment by anyone will be reported. We encourage members of the community to help stop harassment - please report misconduct or harassment to DEC, partner organizations like ARTA, or local law enforcement as appropriate.
Public uses not allowed include camping, discharging a firearm from or across the trail, operating motorized vehicles (except as noted above), and starting fires outside of provided fire rings.
Since much of the trail is adjacent to private property, the public should only leave the trail at officially designated points or onto State Land, and in compliance with all rules and regulations. The public should also respect adjacent residents and camps by not loitering near them.
Leaving the trail to enter private property adjacent to the trail without the explicit permission of the private landowner is trespassing. Respect private property and homes.
Rules
• Stay right, pass left. Ring bell or say "on your left" when about to pass.
• No equestrian activities. The use of horses is prohibited.
• Follow all traffic rules and be aware of other traffic.
• Use public restrooms at designated locations.
• Be courteous and considerate of other trail users.
• Pass with care. Avoid startling others and announce, "on your left".
• Move to the side when stopping on the trail.
Enforcement
State and local police departments and law enforcement agencies are authorized to enforce these regulations, including the NY State Police, NY State Park Police, NYSDEC Environmental Conservation Officers and Forest Rangers, county sheriff departments, and local police departments.
Volunteer Support:
Sign up for a work event! Register through info@AdirondackRailTrail.org.
NYSDEC has seen recent vandalism to signage along the rail trail corridor. Please respect signage and leave it as you find it, where you find it.