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. 

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.

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.

You can park at the Lake Placid Train Station and Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society, as well as along Station Street.

A trailhead is currently planned for the land adjacent to the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society in the old Lake Placid Depot.

In addition to the following parking areas, you can also find public parking in the communities along the trail, then bike to where the Rail Trail crosses in town.

• Haystack Mountain trailhead -  On State Route 86 between Ray Brook and Lake Placid

• Union Depot - In Saranac Lake, on Depot Street near Stewart's

• Little Clear Pond parking area-  Off State Route 30, 3.5 miles west of the Hamlet of Lake Clear Junction

• Fowler's Crossing - On State Route 86 east of Saranac Lake

• Scarface Mountain trailhead - On County Route 32, 0.2 miles south of State Route 86.

• Fish Pond Truck Trail parking area - Off State Route 30, 3.5 miles west of Lake Clear Junction

Yes, the entire trail is of wheel-chair accessible grades.

Before becoming a year-round recreation opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts of all sorts, 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 reopened 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).

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.

Please practice Leave No Trace™ principles while recreating on the trail and carry out what you carry in.

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.

You can park at the Lake Placid Train Station and Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society, as well as along Station Street.

A trailhead is currently planned for the land adjacent to the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society in the old Lake Placid Depot.

In addition to the following parking areas, you can also find public parking in the communities along the trail, then bike to where the Rail Trail crosses in town.

• Haystack Mountain trailhead -  On State Route 86 between Ray Brook and Lake Placid

• Union Depot - In Saranac Lake, on Depot Street near Stewart's

• Little Clear Pond parking area-  Off State Route 30, 3.5 miles west of the Hamlet of Lake Clear Junction

• Fowler's Crossing - On State Route 86 east of Saranac Lake

• Scarface Mountain trailhead - On County Route 32, 0.2 miles south of State Route 86.

• Fish Pond Truck Trail parking area - Off State Route 30, 3.5 miles west of Lake Clear Junction

Yes, the entire trail is of wheel-chair accessible grades.

Before becoming a year-round recreation opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts of all sorts, 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 reopened 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 fat-tire bikes from local businesses like High Peaks Cyclery, Sled & Spoke (Saranac Lake), and Silver Birch Cycles (Saranac Lake).