The Adirondack Rail Trail App gives you access to an interactive map, offline navigation capabilities, and information on local events. This is an invaluable resource, no matter how you decide to recreate on the Rail Trail.
Adirondack Rail Trail
A multi-use trail connecting communities
The Adirondack Rail Trail is a 34-mile, multi-use path through some of the most scenic terrain in New York state. Hike or bike it in the summer, and once winter rolls around you can snowshoe, cross-country ski, or snowmobile along its entire length.
Spring, summer, and fall on the Rail Trail
During the spring, summer, and fall, the Adirondack Rail Trail is perfect for a wide range of activities. In addition to walking, running, and gravel biking, users can find incredible areas for bird watching and fishing along the trail. While motorized vehicles can't be used along the path, Class 1 e-bikes are permitted. Rent a bike and connect the towns of Lake Placid, Ray Brook, Saranac Lake, Lake Clear, and Tupper Lake.
Winter on the Rail Trail
During the winter, the Rail Trail comes alive. Snowmobilers will find towns with easy resupply for gas and food, while skiers and snowshoers have a nicely-graded snowy path to follow. It's important to use the trail responsibly in the winter. Snowmobilers should slow down when approaching other recreation groups, and cross-country skiers and snowshoers should be sure to stick to the side of the trail.
Stories on the Adirondack Rail Trail
Frequently Asked Questions
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. Check in with updates.
Motorized vehicles, aside from snowmobiles, are prohibited on the entire length of the trail in all seasons. You can, however, use class 1 e-bikes during the non-winter months.
Please practice Leave No Trace™ principles while recreating on the trail and carry out what you carry in. There are not any bins for collecting trash along the trail.
Yes! Wildlife commonly found in the Adirondacks that may be present on or adjacent to the trail include large mammals such as moose, black bear, and white-tailed deer, along with large birds of prey such as osprey and many species of songbirds. Please be respectful and observe wildlife from a distance.
There are parking areas and pull-outs found throughout the Rail Trail. Check each region's Rail Trail page for specific locations:
Yes, the entire length of the Rail Trail has a wheelchair-accessible grade. Some sections are even paved, such as through Saranac Lake, making for easier travel around town.
Before becoming a year-round recreation opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts, the Rail Trail started as a a freight and passenger service railway over 100 years ago in 1892 (also the year the Adirondack Park was established). Between then and now, the railroad changed hands and usage many times. In 1974, the State of New York acquired the Remsen to Lake Placid line, and between then and now multiple sections of the railway were used at times for passenger, freight, or both purposes. In 2014, the State announced the management plan for the corridor, recommending that the 34 miles between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake be converted into a multi-use trail, with the APA subsequently voting in favor of this in 2016, and the NYSDOT removing rail infrastructure on the Tupper Lake to Lake Placid section in 2021.
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). You can also rent snowmobiles at places like Sara-Placid Sled & Spoke and Adirondack Snowmobiles.