Adirondack Rail Trail: The Complete 34-Mile Guide

ADK Journal / Rail Trail

The Adirondack Rail Trail

Thirty-four miles, three villages, one continuous corridor through the heart of the park. The Adirondack Rail Trail links Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake along a historic rail line — paved in the villages, packed stone dust through the wilderness in between. It's flat, it's finished, and it's become one of the most talked-about trails in the Northeast.

🏆 Named to Outside Magazine's 2026 U.S. Bucket List Adventures
The Adirondack Rail Trail
How We Use It
🚲
Warm Season
Biking & Riding
The main event. Hybrid, gravel, and mountain bikes handle the stone dust easily; Class 1 e-bikes are welcome. Ride the full 34 miles point-to-point or keep it short and villagey.
🚶
Year-Round
Walking & Running
Flat, wide, and dog-friendly (leashed). Great for an easy out-and-back from any of the three depots, or a proper long training run with almost no elevation to fight.
❄️
Winter
Snowshoe, Ski & Sled
The corridor doesn't close for the season. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing take over where conditions allow, and designated stretches open to snowmobiles once there's a base.

Before You Go

Lake Placid Trailhead — Under Construction
The Open Space Institute is building a permanent trailhead near the former Lake Placid depot: 40+ parking spaces, EV charging, a pavilion, restrooms, and bike-repair tools. Work runs late spring through fall; the site is closed to parking until it's done. In the meantime, please park at the snow field lot on Old Military Road, east of the Lake Placid Fire Station (448 Old Military Rd). Get directions →
E-Bike Policy
Class 1 e-bikes (pedal-assist only, max 20 mph) are permitted. Class 2 (throttle) and Class 3 e-bikes are not currently allowed on the trail.
Trail Surface
A 2-mile stretch through the Village of Saranac Lake is fully paved. The remaining 32 miles are compacted stone dust — firm underfoot for hybrid, gravel, and mountain bikes. Expect a few softer weeks near the wetlands each spring as it resettles after winter.
Dogs on the Trail
Dogs are welcome but must stay leashed the entire length of the corridor. Pack out all waste — this is a shared, high-traffic trail through working village centers as much as wilderness.
Trail Etiquette
Keep right, pass on the left, and call it out before you do. Cyclists yield to walkers and runners. It's a shared corridor through several communities — ride and walk it like a neighbor, not a commuter.

Parking Areas

Ten designated parking areas span the full corridor, most with portable bathrooms on site. See the official interactive parking map → for exact pins.

Lake Placid
  • Old Military Rd. Parking (Snow Field)
    Portable bathrooms. Current temporary lot while the permanent LP trailhead is under construction. Get directions →
  • Snowfield
    Includes snowmobile trailer parking.
Saranac Lake & Lake Clear
  • Union Depot
    Saranac Lake. Portable bathrooms.
  • Charlie's Inn
    Saranac Lake / Lake Clear. Portable bathrooms, plus on-site dining.
  • Station Rd Parking
    Saranac Lake / Lake Clear. Portable bathrooms.
  • McMaster Road
    Lake Clear. Portable bathrooms.
  • Route 86 Parking — Fowler's Crossing Trailhead
    Ray Brook / Saranac Lake. Portable bathrooms.
Along the Corridor
  • Ray Brook Rd. Parking
    Between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Portable bathrooms.
  • Floodwood Road
    Mid-corridor, near the St. Regis Canoe Area. Portable bathrooms.
Tupper Lake
  • Washington Street Trailhead
    Village of Tupper Lake. Portable bathrooms and snowmobile trailer parking.

Plan from your phone. The free official Adirondack Rail Trail app has interactive maps, mileage markers, parking, offline navigation, and nearby food, lodging, and gear rentals — get it on the App Store or Google Play.

Suggested Itineraries

From the PureADK Journal

Our Favorite Ways to Ride the Corridor

  • The Family 5-Miler — Saranac Lake's Union Depot toward Lake Placid, fully paved, flat, breweries and coffee shops right off the trail
  • The Wilderness Trek — Tupper Lake's Washington St. lot, 10 miles east into the St. Regis Canoe Area, the quietest stretch of the corridor
  • The Full Corridor — all 34 miles, Lake Placid Depot to Tupper Lake Depot, best done point-to-point with a shuttle
  • The Village Connector — Saranac Lake to Lake Placid, the most amenity-dense section for a first-timer

Full trip reports for each of these are in progress — check back as we add them. For exact mileage and turn-by-turn detail, use the official online trail map →

Shuttle Service

🚐
BikeADK Rail Trail Shuttles

Ride One Way, On Your Schedule

BikeADK runs year-round shuttle service for you and your bike between Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Floodwood Road, and Tupper Lake — the fix for anyone who wants the full corridor without riding it round trip. Book 72 hours ahead when you can; same-day requests are accommodated when possible.

Book a Shuttle →

Become a Trail Partner

🌲
Partnership Opportunity

PureADK Trail Basecamp — 2026

This guide is the #1 resource for independent travelers on the corridor. We're looking for one exclusive lodging or rental partner to feature as our 2026 Trail Basecamp.

Inquire About Partnership →

Annual Rail Trail Events

More rail-trail-specific events are listed on ARTA's events page — check there for the full current-season schedule.

Trail Stewardship

🛠️
Adirondack Rail Trail Association

The Trail Runs on Volunteers

The corridor is maintained largely through volunteer stewardship — culvert clearing, debris removal, drainage work, and invasive species control along all 34 miles. The Adirondack Rail Trail Association (ARTA) organizes work days throughout the season, most visibly around Community Day each June.

  • Culvert Clearing — removing debris to prevent erosion
  • Debris Removal — clearing downed trees and trail obstructions
  • Invasive Species Removal — protecting the corridor's natural habitat
Join a Work Day →

Making It an Overnight

Ride It in Stages, Camp Along the Way

The full 34-mile corridor is an easy multi-day trip if you'd rather not do it all in one push — stay in one of the three trail towns and ride out and back, or camp nearby and split the route over two days. Our Camping page covers nearby sites and reservations.

Explore Camping →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the entire 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail open?
Yes. As of October 2025, the trail runs continuously from the Lake Placid Depot to the Tupper Lake Depot without a break.
Is there construction affecting the trail right now?
A new permanent trailhead is being built in Lake Placid (parking, EV charging, restrooms, a pavilion), expected to finish this fall. The trail itself remains fully rideable — in the meantime, please park at the snow field lot on Old Military Road, east of the Lake Placid Fire Station (448 Old Military Rd). Get directions →
Are e-bikes allowed?
Class 1 e-bikes (pedal-assist only, max 20 mph) are permitted. Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes are not currently allowed.
What's the trail surface like?
A 2-mile section through the Village of Saranac Lake is fully paved. The remaining 32 miles are compacted stone dust, firm enough for most hybrid, gravel, and mountain bikes.
Is the trail dog-friendly?
Yes — dogs are welcome but must be leashed at all times. Please pack out all pet waste.
Where are the best places to stop for food or drinks?
The trail runs directly through Saranac Lake and near the main hubs of Lake Placid and Tupper Lake. Local favorites with easy trail access include RiverTrail Beerworks in Saranac Lake and Raquette River Brewing in Tupper Lake.

Planning Resources

Keep Exploring

Prefer to be on the water instead of the trail? Head over to our Paddling page. Want to explore all six million acres? The Recreation Hub has everything we cover — hiking, biking, skiing, paddling, and more.