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eAdventures – Adirondack Rail Trail
May 7, 2024 - The Adirondack region of New York State is a cycling mecca with fabulous scenic country roads, impressive landscapes and sparkling waters.
The latest addition to their stunning array of cycling opportunities is the new 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail (ART) that is destined to be one of the nation’s premier, year-round recreation trails for bicyclists, runners, walkers, birders and wheelchair users, as well as for snowmobiles, snowshoeing and skiing in winter.
The rail trail is a key component of the recently completed 2020 Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor Unit Management Plan (UMP) Amendment, which provides a blueprint for sustainably developing the picturesque 119-mile travel corridor as both a rail trail and a scenic railroad to bolster tourism and further recreation opportunities.
Phase 1 of the ART from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake, a 9.9-mile section, has been completed. Lake Placid, home to two Winter Olympics, is a major tourist destination, and Saranac Lake is the largest village in the Adirondacks. Both offer many restaurants, inns, hotels, historical sites and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Phase 2, from Saranac Lake to Floodwood, features 15.25 miles and a change in scenery as the terrain becomes wilder, with lake crossings, wetlands, woods and open fields. The Floodwood area has opportunities to swim, fish or picnic.
The final 8.4-mile section takes you from Floodwood to Tupper Lake where you’ll find the Wild Center, formerly known as the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks. This delightful museum has amenities for all ages, a cafeteria and a gift shop.
The planned super-smooth bike surface will initially end here and is slated to be completed in 2025. Featuring no more than a 2% grade, the trail is open to people of all ages and abilities, and Class 1 e-bikes are allowed.
Founded in 2010, the Adirondack Rail Trail Association (ARTA) is a trail-town not-for-profit organization that represents and promotes the business and municipal interests along the trail and represents over 13,000 citizens, 400 businesses and six representative governments. ARTA is funded by grants, donations, member dues, underwriting, sponsorships and merchandise sales.
