Contact
Frequently asked questions
Please contact us with any additional questions, comments, or concerns.
What is ARTA?
The Adirondack Rail Trail Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that partners with DEC and the trail towns and villages to support and advise on promotion, management, maintenance and operation of the trail.
Trail Location
The trail extends from Station Street in the Village of Lake Placid (Essex County) to Washington Street in the Village of Tupper Lake (Franklin County). It traverses Lake Placid, Ray Brook, North Elba, Saranac Lake, Harrietstown, Lake Clear, Santa Clara, and the Town and Village of Tupper Lake. It is 34 miles long.
Trail Status and uses
The trail is now open from Station Street in the Village of Lake Placid to the Train Depot in Tupper Lake for year-round recreation.
DEC provides monthly updates on how much use the trail is getting. Check it out here
Trail access
Parking Locations
See this map of current parking areas on the Adirondack Rail Trail.
Washington Street trail head – Village of Tupper Lake
Highway Crossings
All trail users are required to stop and exercise caution 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.
See the following 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 (518) 354-0777
High Peaks Cyclery, 2733 Main St, Lake Placid, NY 12946 (518) 523-3764
Placid Planet Bicycles, 2242 Saranac Ave, Lake Placid, NY 12946 (518) 523-4128
Sara-Placid Sled & Spoke LLC, 255 Broadway, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 (518) 205-7864
Silver Birch Cycles, 77 Main St, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 (518) 354-8497
Shuttle services
Trail Management
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) manages the trail. The Adirondack Rail Trail Association (ARTA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation entered into a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement (VSA) with NYS DEC to assist with trail maintenance, amenities and stewardship.
Allowed Trail Uses
Pedestrian use (walking, hiking, running, wheelchairs, strollers, birdwatching) is permitted.
Cycling including road, gravel, hybrid, recumbent, mountain bikes, and Class 1 e-bikes are permitted. Class 2 and 3 e-bikes are prohibited.
E-bikes are prohibited from accessing trails on State Wild Forest land at Fowlers Crossing. Contact Barkeater Trails Alliance for more information:
Winter recreation including snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, fat tire biking, and snowshoeing are permitted.
Access for People with Disabilities
There is wheelchair access to the trail from the parking lots at the Route 86 Crossing (Fowler’s Crossing) in the Town of North Elba and at the Union Depot in the Village of Saranac Lake. The two miles within the Village of Saranac Lake are paved. The 34-mile trail corridor has a shallow grade (typical slope 2%, maximum slope 5%), wide tread (typical width 5′) and a firm surface of compacted stone dust except in the paved area.
Laws and regulations
Follow all State Land Use Regulations and all Outdoor Safety Practices.
Permits are required for groups of 21 or more using the trail.
Trail Etiquette
Dogs must be kept under the owner’s control and on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Bag and dispose of dog waste.
Wheels yield to heels. This means that snowmobiles yield to all users and bikes and skiers yield to those on foot or snowshoes. Slower and more vulnerable trail users have the right of way.
Practice Leave No Trace™ Outdoor Skills and Ethics:
Plan ahead and prepare and carry in what you carry out.
Respect posted signs and barricades, and respect adjacent neighbors by not trespassing on their property. The speed limit is 15 mph in Saranac Lake and Lake Clear. Access the trail only from designated points.
Respect and keep your distance from wildlife.
Hunting, trapping, and discharging a firearm from or across the trail are prohibited.
Camping and campfires are prohibited.
Camping
There are public and private campgrounds nearby.
Private Camping
Private campgrounds in Lake Placid
Private campgrounds in Saranac Lake
Private campgrounds in Tupper Lake
NYS DEC Campgrounds
Meadowbrook Campround and Day Use Area
Fish Creek Pond Campground & Day Use Area
Rollins Pond Campground
Saranac Lake Islands Campground & Day Use Area
Wilmington Notch Campground & Day Use Area
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
Emergencies and Enforcement
NYS DEC Region 5 Ray Brook Office: 518-891-0235; info.r5@dec.ny.gov
Backcountry Emergencies: 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264) or 911
Enforcement Matters: 1-844-DEC-ECOs (1-844-332-3267) or 911
Volunteer Support
ARTA needs your help! You can volunteer by contacting us
and if you like trail work then help ARTA steward the trail by filling out this form: indvolunteerapp
and emailing it to us or mailing it to ARTA, PO Box 1081, Saranac Lake, NY 12983.
What about the train?
Learn more about the Adirondack Scenic Railroad here
OUR PARTNERS
