Adirondack Rail Trail
The Adirondack Rail Trail is a versatile and inclusive multi-use recreation trail spanning 34 miles through picturesque Lake Placid, Ray Brook, Saranac Lake, Lake Clear, and Tupper Lake. Designed with accessibility in mind, the path features a gentle grade, making it welcoming to a wide range of ages and abilities. The trail is free to use and not only promotes safe and healthy exercise but also provides an opportunity for residents and visitors to connect with nature and absorb the rich history of the Adirondack region.
Recreation on the trail
Enjoy the multi-use scenic trail year round! Trail conditions include a variety of surfaces, ranging from large crushed stone to sand. The trail is suitable for a variety of activities, including running, walking/hiking, birdwatching, gravel and fat tire biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Great opportunities for Adirondack fishing are present in waters adjacent to the Rail Trail. Note that motorized vehicles are prohibited on the trail (except for snowmobiles and Class 1 E-bikes).
Snowmobiling along the Adirondack Rail Trail
Explore the Adirondacks in a whole new way this winter when you snowmobile along the trail. Skipping the roads and heading into the woods, you'll witness the unique and stunning landscapes of the region, blanketed in snow and attracting adventurers from all over. Ride into downtown Lake Placid with ease, making your way to our iconic Main Street for cozy dining, boutique shopping, and Olympic history.
To better help you plan your trips, get the Adirondacks, USA Snowmobile App. With an interactive map featuring the Adirondack Rail Trail, find all the information you need to navigate snowy trails and find gas stations, stores, restaurants, and lodging properties. This app is your "one-stop shop" for all things snowmobile! Download today on the App Store or get it on Google Play.
Year-round rentals
During the non-winter months, you can rent bicycles and class 1 e-bikes from local businesses like Placid Planet, High Peaks Cyclery, Bike Lake Placid, and Silver Birch Cycles (Saranac Lake). In the winter, rent all the gear you need from local sporting goods stores and outdoor outfitters, including cross-country skis, snowshoes, and fat-tire bikes. Fat-tire bikes can be rented from some of the same establishments as warm weather bikes, and there are even outfits that rent snowmobiles.
Community connection
Instead of driving between the Tri-Lake communities, travel between them by your own power — or by snowmobile! The Rail Trail seamlessly connects Lake Placid to Ray Brook, Saranac Lake, Lake Clear, and Tupper Lake, providing a unique opportunity to experience multiple Adirondack communities in a single adventure! The trail's gentle grade makes biking, walking, or skiing between towns and villages enjoyable, and riding between locations on a snowmobile or E-bike is fun and easy. Popular with locals for commuting and recreation, there is a community atmosphere on the trail that makes it even more inviting.
Unlike many of the region's remote trails, the Rail Trail offers ample amenities in close proximity. The miles between communities feature pristine nature, but once you arrive in town you'll find dining, shopping, and other activities just steps off the trail. Discover unique ways of incorporating local businesses into your Rail Trail experience, like multi-community brewery tours or a ride through history when you visit nearby historical sites!
Safety and sharing the trail
If you're planning to visit the Adirondack Rail Trail, come prepared like you would for any other trail. Although the trail connects towns, it can sometimes be miles to the nearest one, so bring the essentials like water, food, extra layers, and first aid kits. If you plan to use the trail at night (or could possibly end up on the trail after sunset) bring a light and wear reflective gear, especially during the winter season when snowmobiles are also using the trail. All users should pay attention to posted signage and heed stop signs. Rail Trail users do not have the right-of-way at all road crossings, so be prepared to stop and wait for traffic.
Sharing multi-use trails
- Be kind to others, and exercise patience if trailheads or access points get crowded.
- Keep dogs on leash & clean up after them.
- Move over to let faster users pass.
- Bikes should yield to walkers/runners/skiers.
- In winter, wear snowshoes or skis to avoid post-holing.
Specific to snowmobiles
- Ride single file, keep to the right, and pass on the left only when the trail is clear.
- Slow down when you encounter other users.
- Slow down in communities and be mindful of nearby homes.
- Yield the right-of-way to skiers, snowshoers, and other non-mechanized forms of travel, as well as those passing or traveling uphill.
Progress toward completion
*Note that the entirety of the trail is open during winter.
The 9 mile section of the Rail Trail from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake, as well as the 15 mile section from Saranac Lake to Floodwood Road through Lake Clear, are open to the public! Lake Clear to Tupper Lake is still closed, and will be open to the public at a later date when construction is finished. For now, please stay off the Lake Clear/Floodwood Road to Tupper Lake section of the Rail Trail.
