When our clients at Adirondack Mountain Land look for real estate in the North Country, one of their chief considerations is access to outdoor recreation. That’s just one reason why the new Adirondack Rail Trail is such a big win for the towns and villages our team works in along the path. The rail trail also creates a special link between local communities from Lake Placid to Tupper Lake and provides a great way for more people to enjoy the Adirondacks.
The Rail Trail is an Accessible Resource
The Adirondack Rail Trail is a multi-use trail that will cover 34 miles through Lake Placid, Ray Brook, Saranac Lake, Lake Clear, and Tupper Lake. Its design promotes accessibility, so the trail features a gentle, two percent grade ideal for all ages and abilities.
The Rail Trail is made up of various surfaces, ranging from crushed stone to sand. The trail is perfect for activities, including running, walking or hiking, fat tire biking, and, in the winter months, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling (note that motorized vehicles are prohibited on the trail except for snowmobiles in winter).
Phase 2 is Open! Completion is Slated for 2025
Phase one of the Rail Trail, 10 miles between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, opened in December 2023. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officially opened the second — and longest at 15 miles — section of the Adirondack Rail Trail ahead of schedule in August 2024. The second, known as Phase 2, covers some of the Rail Trail’s most wild and scenic stretches.
Cycling or walking on Phase 2 from Saranac Lake, you’ll cross Lake Colby on a causeway that offers wooden platforms and benches for resting, taking in the views, or fishing. The next stop is Charlie’s Inn (at the 5.7-mile mark), where trail hikers and cyclist will enjoy meadows, thick forests, and McCauley Pond.
Currently under construction, Phase 3 of the Rail Trail will run for 9 miles from Floodwood Road in Lake Clear to Tupper Lake Train Depot. When finished in 2025, it will complete the Adirondack Rail Trail project.
A Big Benefit for the North Country
When it’s finished in 2025, the Adirondack Rail Trail will provide residents and tourists with a new, greener way to travel between the Tri-Lake Communities. The hard surfaces and easy grade make the bike trip between Lake Placid and Saranac a reasonably easy ride and it’s also open for snowmobiling in the winter.
Locals and visitors will be able to enjoy the trail and the opportunities for dining, shopping, campsites, great fishing spots, and other activities and amenities close to the trail. It will create more of a natural connection between Adirondack communities and provide more access to outdoor recreation, which is a real bonus for everyone in the North Country.
At Adirondack MT Land, our team are big supporters of projects like the Adirondack Rail Trail that bring the Tri-Lake Communities together and improve access to the outdoors. If you’re interested in finding a property located near the new Rail Trail, contact us today to learn more about our listings throughout the region.